2017 Mercedes-Benz E 220 d All-Terrain Review | A Benz Wagon With The Soul Of An SUV
Is Mercedes-Benz fashionably late to the party with the E 220 d All-Terrain? It could be argued that Audi has had the large crossover wagon market almost entirely to itself while rivals like BMW and Benz have had no answer for the jacked-up Audi Allroad.
In Australia at least, Mercedes-Benz has seen the writing on the wall for the traditional wagon, and in the latest generation E-Class there’s no traditional estate. Instead buyers looking for more space and flexibility in an E-Class have this as their sole option - or one of Mercedes’ many SUVs.
That’s a bold move compared to the last generation which provided options ranging from four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesels, up to a twin-turbo V6 - although none with the all-wheel drive capabilities and added ride height of this new breed of E-Class Estate.
Vehicle Style: Large crossover wagon
Price: $109,900 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 143kW/400Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo diesel | 9sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 5.7 l/100km
OVERVIEW
The formula is recognisable; take a regular family wagon, raise the suspension, add all-wheel drive, apply more rugged-styled bumpers and wheel arch flares and ride the wave of popularity enjoyed by SUVs.
Audi excels at it in the prestige market, Subaru pioneered it in the mainstream market, and even companies as diverse as Skoda and Holden have attempted it in the past - with Holden set to try again with it’s new fully-imported Commodore range.