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Mercedes has every base covered with the engine choices for its new E-Class Estate. There’s everything from the fuel and tax efficient 220 CDi model right the way up to the crazy 517bhp E63 AMG wagon. The AMG is a rare treat for the lucky few, but many will be keen on the 220 CDi, which Merc reckons will be one of the big sellers in the range. With a manual six-speed manual gearbox, this engine provides 49.6mpg, 150g/km CO2 emissions and still manages 0-62mph in a reasonable 8.8 seconds. If you want more acceleration and mid-range punch coupled to an automatic gearbox, the E350 CDi V6 turbodiesel is the best bet and delivers 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds along with superb refinement. A 200 CDi completes the diesel line-up, while the petrol range spans the 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine in the E200 and E250 CGi models, an E350 with 3.5-litre V6 producing 292bhp and a smooth 5.5-litre V8 in the E500 bristling with 388bhp.

Refinement and comfort are the watchwords for the E-Class Estate and, boy, does it watch them carefully. At any speed and on almost any road surface, the E-Class wagon is eerily hushed and every bit as good as its saloon sister at excluding wind, road and engine noise from the cabin. The engines are smooth operators and both the manual and automatic gearboxes gel from one ratio to the next with ease. For such a large car, the E-Class Estate also makes light work of lumpy roads, though the handling is not as adept as a BMW 5-Series Touring’s. Still, the Merc has a tight turning circle, is easy to park and whispers down motorways in a very stable fashion.

To say that Mercedes was stung by the quality problems of the previous E-Class generation would be an understatement. For this latest model, they really have gone to town in an effort to redress the balance and claw back their hard-won reputation as the favoured car of Munich taxi drivers. We can assure those Munchen cabbies that all is well in the world of the E-Class once again, with even the shape of the upper dash designed to hark back to the good old days of blast-proof E-Classes. All of the materials, fixings and panel gaps are spot on, so the new E-Class wagon looks like it should soldier on for years. The engines are all tried and trusted units with subtle updates, while the manual gearboxes are much better to use. The load bay of the E-Class Estate is constructed from hard-wearing fabrics and plastics, so it’s more than up to the task of satisfying those antique dealers who have loved the Merc wagon over the years.

It’s hard to see how Mercedes could fit any more safety kit into the E-Class wagon without resorting to taking up some of its huge boot capacity. It comes with nine airbags as standard, ABS brakes and ESP traction and stability control. There’s also Mercedes’ Pre-Safe fitted to all models, which works by anticipating an accident and then preparing the car for it. This works by tightening the seat belts and priming the brakes if a collision seems like and, if it’s about to happen, the car can even apply the brakes without the driver touching the pedal. There are also plenty of safety options, including night vision, Blind Spot Assist, Attention Assist to prevent the driver nodding off if he or she is tired, and all E-Class Estates with a manual gearbox have a Hill Hold Assist to stop the car rolling back when in stop-start traffic on a slope. Add in the top notch alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks, and this Merc is a top scorer.

If you want more space on a set of wheels, you’d better call Eddie Stobart because the Mercedes E-Class Estate has a huge boot. Every model has an electrically opening tailgate, which is handy when you have your hands full, and once opened it reveals a massive 695-litres of load space in its standard configuration. If you want more room, the 60/40 split and fold rear seats drop down at the pull of a lever in the boot, so no stretching into the rear to release the seats. With all of the rear seats folded down, there’s a cavernous 1950-litres of luggage capacity and a flat floor for easy loading. Rear seat passengers have more than enough leg and head room, while up front the driver is treated to superb comfort and masses of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel. The classy dash is simply laid out with no gimmicks and Merc has provided lots of storage cubbies all around the cabin to keep smaller items from rolling free.

Mercedes has worked hard to bring down the cost of the E-Class Estate compared to its predecessor and says the new model works out £1400 cheaper on average but with a higher level of equipment as standard for the new model. The UK gets its own specific trim options, starting with SE that includes air conditioning, CD stereo and electric windows. The Avantgarde gains leather seats and fancier alloy wheels, while the Sport has half-leather seats and an AMG body kit. Used values should work out well for the new E-Class Estate thanks to its much improved quality over its predecessor, but only time will tell if buyers rediscover this.

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