Is this the country’s most stylish, safe, sophisticated but unwanted mode of transport? We left the hordes of crossovers behind to take a smooth ride in this beautiful Benz…
You should know: To be more precise, this is a W214 Mercedes-Benz E220d in Patagonia Red Metallic with obligatory AMG dress-up kit, enormous wheels, zero ground clearance, white blonde leather and a dashboard made entirely out of screens… in other words, a terrible idea for most of our crazy, messy, outdoorsy Southern African families.
More info: Despite its enormous wheels and low-profile rubber, the ride is velvety and smooth. Or sporty, at the touch of a button. Ditto for the fairly quiet 2L turbo-diesel 4-cylinder with mild hybrid boost. It also steers with unexpected gusto or u-turns its 5m length in just over 11m, no thanks to rear-axle steering.
Why you shouldn’t: You get to play with up to 162kW or 440Nm through a lightning-quick 9-speed automatic gearbox… and people will quickly ask you why you didn’t buy the GL-insert-letter-here SUV instead?
Show them all the space-age gadgets, triple screens or cutting edge driver aids… and they’ll drift off to the crossover section.
What else? Mercedes claims 0-100 in 7.6 seconds (we got 7.5) and top speed of almost 240km/h, yet nobody buys these accomplished sedans anymore. Nope, not high enough off the ground, and that enormous 540L boot is still inferior to those in our oh-so-beloved SUV’s.
Why you should: Have I mentioned its party piece yet? An E220d can average 5L/100km from the 66L tank, gifting you a range of 1320km between fill-ups.
Of course that is an ideal scenario, but with that mild electric shove behind you, this car is not just smooth and clever to operate, but can be hilariously efficient too.
In summary: If, like us, you still love a good sedan, this is one of the best and most advanced ones. Prices start around 1.5 bar and include a 2yr unlimited mileage warranty with 5yr/100k maintenance plan.
FULL SPEC LIST
| Engine: | 1,993cc i-4 turbo-diesel hybrid |
| Transmission: | 9-speed Automatic, RWD |
| Max. Power: | 162kW @ 1,800rpm |
| Max. Torque: | 440Nm @ 3,600rpm |
| Avg. cons.: | (claimed 5L/100km) |
| 0-100km/h: | 7.48 seconds (claimed 7.6) |
| Top Speed: | 238km/h (claimed) |
| List Price: | R1,529,737 |
