Walking out of our hotel in the heart of Vienna’s historic Petersplatz square, a fellow journalist and I head towards our press car for the day, the all-new, sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and attempt to open the door. The salient word here being ‘attempt’, because it’s only when the retractable door handles fail to deploy from their recessed cubbies that we realise we’re trying to jump inside a Mercedes S-Class support car.
Mistaking one car for another is a rather embarrassing faux pas for an automotive journalist, but in our defence Mercedes has designed the new E-Class to resemble its big brother quite closely. More conservatively styled than its electric parallel, the Mercedes EQE saloon, it retains a classic ‘three-box’ design with a long bonnet, a large grille (two grille designs are offered in Europe with an optional illuminated surround), and a traditional selection of wheels depending on spec.
The new E-Class is offered with mild-hybrid or plug-in power, and all models receive a nine-speed automatic transmission. Mild hybrids start with the 201bhp E200, which uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine boosted by a 23bhp electric motor. Then there is the perennial E220d (available with all-wheel drive), whose 2.0-litre diesel engine makes 195bhp.