Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC AMG-Line Coupe Review

Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC AMG-Line Coupe Review

We tested out the Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC AMG-Line coupe, here are our thoughts on the car.

What is the Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC AMG-Line Coupe about?

This might be one of the best sporty diesel coupes currently on the market, and arguably one of the best cars Mercedes makes at the moment. Forget the E63 and the C63. For most of us who can’t afford to shell out a small fortune for a genuine AMG or even afford the upkeep of one, a diesel coupe with sporty characteristics actually makes a lot more sense. It’s exponentially more economical, can be just as luxurious inside, and it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Mercedes’ current model lineup is so similar that distinguishing between each of them can be quite a challenge, even for a lot of car enthusiasts. With coupe variants of the C, E, and S-Class, all looking remarkably similar, spotting the differences is anything but easy. The hints are there however, provided you know where to look. The first one is, obviously, the size. The E-Class Coupe is significantly larger than the C-Class but slightly smaller than the S-Class.

You can’t really go wrong with any of them, but they’re all aimed at different audiences. The C-Class is easily the sportiest of the three since it’s also the lightest, and the S-Class is by far the most luxurious and expensive. The E-Class seems to represent the golden middle, capturing the best of both worlds with almost none of the drawbacks. It’s not as cumbersome as the S-Class but it’s got more space and equipment than the C-Class. For me personally, it just might be the one to go for.

Its natural rival, the BMW 6-Series, feels quite old now and is in need of an update. Parked side by side the age difference is staggering. Apart from a mild facelift we haven’t seen much from the 6-Series in the past couple of years. The Merc seems to be the better-looking car of the two and most of the people I asked seem to agree with me. They’re both understated and fly under the radar most of the time, but it’s the Mercedes getting the nod from other car guys more often.

The E220d comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine producing a healthy 194 bhp and 400Nm of torque. Top speed is a respectable 149 mph and it will hit 62 mph from a standstill in 7.6 seconds. It’s not the fastest car in the world but it can more than keep up with almost anything on the road. An E63 will leave it for dead, but the E63 can’t manage 53 mpg on the combined cycle. With normal motorway cruising, I was able to get 55 mpg. With some effort, I have no doubt you can get over 60 mpg out of this thing, which is absolutely ridiculous.

How does it drive?

Oddly enough it’s more sporty than it is luxurious, and I mean that in the best way possible. In the last couple of years we’ve seen a weird shift where Mercedes started building sporty cars and BMW for some reason went back to a more conservative approach. It’s like they’ve completely swapped philosophies. The E-Class, especially in AMG-Line flavour, is just about the sweetest handling diesel currently on the market.

Despite its hefty 2,370 kg weight, you’d be surprised how easy it is to chuck around bends, in fact I would even say that at the wheel the car even feels light. The chassis is very neutral with a slight tendency to understeer in the wet. The four-wheel drive setup provides a lot of grip, giving you that all weather reassurance.

Paired with the brilliant nine-speed auto, you’re almost always in the power band if you decide to put your foot down. I have to be honest, it doesn’t feel as quick as the stats suggest from inside the car, but that’s more to do with how isolated it is from the outside world and can actually be viewed as a positive thing.

An executive car like this could spend a lot of time on the motorway and this is where the car just works so well, at 70mph the car is just so calm and quiet on the inside. The seats are comfortable and the suspension of the car is perfectly optimised for UK motorways seamlessly ironing out the bumps. You can travel a lot of miles in this car without feeling tired at all.

Other observations with the car also include the various drive modes to help prime the car to meet your needs as when. The car comes with Drive Select that has various drive modes including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. Each of them serves a purpose, that is pretty much self explanatorily.

I was surprised by just how economical and yet how sporty the car can be when you have it in the right mode, I am very impressed with how this one car nails down so many different personalities so well.

For those of you that like the look of the E-Class, but think it might be a bit too big for you, don’t worry about it. Visibility all around is good. It is aided by not having the B-pillars blocking your view. Plus when it comes to parking the test car was fitted with a high quality reversing camera helping you back into even the tightest spaces.

What is it like inside?

Again, here’s where the Mercedes starts flexing on both the BMW and the Audi. Mercedes stepped up their interior game to a whole new level, a level their German contemporary rivals are struggling to achieve.

Take the materials for instance. There are no cheap plastics anywhere inside the cabin. Most of the stuff you touch is either plush leather, brushed aluminium, or gorgeous blackwood.

The build quality is something which really stood out too. It’s typical Mercedes, I know, but it always surprises me how thoroughly thought-out these cars are.

The Burmester sound system is something that you simply can’t overlook in this E-Class coupe. I tested a range of music on these speakers and everything sounds good. The system is so clear and really enjoyable to listen to at booth quiet and loud volumes. It is a great option to have.

The digital screen in the instrument cluster was really easy and simple to use, and so was the infotainment unit. There’s ample amount of room in both rows of seats, but you can only get two people in the rear as there is no middle fifth seat. I doubt people would have used it anyway though, given the nature of these cars.

It is worth noting that our test car has a power tailgate meaning that you can open the boot from the key fob and it will automatically lift up. Once you are done you can press on the button on the tailgate and it will electronically close, zero effort, zero hassle. Perfect.

The experience

It makes you feel special, like you’re somebody. More to the point, it does everything you want it to and so much more on top of that. I don’t think there’s any 2.0-litre coupes currently on the market which can hold a candle to the E220d.

I would say go for the AMG-Line if you can afford the premium, as the added styling features and perforated brake discs are more than worth it in my book.

Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC AMG-Line Coupe Cost

It’s a quality item, and quality items tend to cost a lot with the E-Class being no exception to that rule. An E220d AMG-Line with plenty of added features will set you well in advance of £42,000, but what else is there for the money? It’ll hold its value relatively well in the years to come, so you won’t lose out a lot should you decide to sell it. After spending a few days with the test car I can guarantee you that selling it will be the last thing you’ll want to do.

Another thing to consider would be to look at an Approved used car from Mercedes, Birmingham. They have a wide number of cars in stock, that look and feel nearly new, but have already depreciated down to very reasonable prices and still include a premium buying experience and premium after-sales services.

This car was collected from Mercedes-Benz of Erdington – the new ‘Centre of Excellence’ from LSH Auto UK, part of the world’s largest Mercedes-Benz dealership group.

Mercedes-Benz of Erdington
144 Bromford Lane, Birmingham, B24 8DE

Verdict

What else is there to say? Go and book a test drive and see for yourself. The mix of prestige, power and economy has been perfectly blended into one sleek looking package with a long list of options if you feel the car is missing something to make it perfect. The competition do come pretty close to the E-Class coupe, but right now, I think this is the one to choose.

Specification

Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC AMG-Line Coupe Specs

  • Price: £41,740
  • Engine: 2.0-litre diesel
  • Power: 194 bhp
  • Torque: 400 Nm
  • Transmission: 9G-Tronic
  • 0-62mph:  7.5 seconds
  • Top speed: 149 mph
  • Weight: 2,370 kg
  • Economy combined:  53 mpg
  • CO2: 141 g/km