First drive: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E 300 in the UAE

We were on the lookout for a smooth rental highway runner on a restrained budget, but something with more poise than a regular Camry. The cheapstakes in us intentionally never looked beyond a basic Dodge Charger or a Ford Taurus, but what ultimately and least-expectedly came our way was something cheaper and more premium — a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E300.

Our white E-Class Mercedes was a 2013 Avantgarde model, understandably basic yet decently decked up. Talking about looks and cabin design, the 2013 E-Class never seemed to rouse any interest in its segment, with its boxy exterior profile and staid interior setup. Heck, apart from the hotel valets, our car did not manage any respect on the road too, with everything from Corollas to Wranglers tailgating and flashing us like speeding morons.

The edgy exterior stance continues into the cabin dash panels as well, although it is admittedly functional and equally boring – think of a late 80’s Mercedes-Benz interior minus the excessive clutter of buttons, gear-stick and the cassette player. We even have the release lever for the foot-operated parking brake borrowed from decades ago. The multimedia screen looks more like an aftermarket fit, and the ergonomics are a bit weird with the oddly-positioned wiper and light stalks. The column-mounted gear shifter is a love-hate thing, but we have no complains with that. And the goose-neck hinged boot-lid looked cheap in a luxury car.

On the positive side though, there’s generous amounts of soft-touch material in all the right areas, while the lower panels are all hard plastic. There is a faint white LED mood lighting along the mid-panel lines, extending from the dash to the rear doors. The moderately-bolstered leather seats in the Merc are more plush and comfortable than its German rivals. The cabin space is decent too, with lots of headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The electric rear shades and the manually-operated rear-window shades are a boon for the rear passengers in the hot sun. And the E300 impressed us with its smooth ride and whisper-quiet interior, easily putting the BMW 5-series and the Audi A6 to shame in that regard.

The E300 boasts many safety features as standard, including an array of airbags, traction and stability control system, brake assist system, attention assist, blind spot warning, and lane assist system with steering vibration alert. Other features include the Comand infotainment system with Bluetooth and satnav, bi-xenon headlamps with auto high beams, electric boot lid, a strong tri-zone auto a/c with rear vents, panoramic sunroof, and electric front seats with 2 memory presets.

Propelled by a V6 3.0-litre engine mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission, the E300 boasts 252 horses and 340 Nm of torque on tap. We expected our E300 to be a fair runner, but it disappointed us with its lethargic performance. Consistently doing the 0-100 kph dash in about 9.4 seconds during a September afternoon, the engine seemed lazy and lacked any punch. Despite fully turning off the traction and stability control systems, wheelspins were out of question just because the engine did not have the guts. That said, the fuel efficiency figures were great for a V6, at a steady 10.2 l/100 km in mixed driving conditions.

Whether driving around in the city or on motorways, the car exhibits admirable composure. The controls are responsive, but feedback is light. The steering is mildly-weighted, making driving in tight city traffic a breeze. The suspension is well-tuned, more so for smooth highway cruising than sports-car handling, although it still boasts very good limits with only mild body roll. The brakes are strong too. But if it is rear-wheel sliding fun that you seek, then the E300 is clearly not your cup of tea. Pay more and get the AMG beast.

For the little money that we busted on our rental Mercedes-Benz E300, we could not ask for anything more. It never really disappointed us either, with its amazingly smooth and quiet ride, well-tuned suspension and a capable chassis. But there were a lot of factors that played things down for the E-Class in this market, such as an unimaginative exterior and cabin design, and rather weak base engines. Even the new facelifted E-Class does not bring any significant changes to the overall interior and exterior design profile. Pouring a little more thought into the E-Class could actually turn things around for Mercedes-Benz in the luxury mid-size segment dominated by its German peers. We hear there’s a new model on the way in less than two years.

For detailed prices and specs, visit the Mercedes-Benz buyer guide.

Photos by Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury.