The spacious cabin feels opulent and tastefully designed, while high screen dependence can feel laborious, though the ample boot space, featuring a space-saver spare wheel, adds practicality

In recent years, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has moved away from making headlines. It’s not the kind of car that feels the need to grab attention and that’s exactly the kind of buyer it attracts as well. The E-Class is a no-nonsense formula for when you’ve decided that life is about much more than being the talk of the town. In a way, the E-Class isn’t a car you buy, it’s what you become.

Cruising at the expressway speed limit on a rainy morning, I was surprised at how quiet the E220d’s cabin felt. The tachometer needle was barely above its resting spot and there was no indication that the car I happened to be piloting down the highway was diesel-powered. While its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produces a respectable 194.4 bhp, it feels more at home being driven in a stately manner rather than spiritedly. So, rather than digging for an outwardly sporty flavour, I instead derived great satisfaction from the DTE indicator, which stated I had 1,094 km to go before needing a refuel. The only thing amiss was a chauffeur, which denied me the chance to sprawl out in the backseat before the eventuality of a deep slumber would arrive.

Practical car

It’s been around for a while, of course, but having only recently gotten my hands on it, I was quite keen to spend time with a car that boasts among the world’s most revered nameplates. The E-Class rests on a long-standing reputation of being a dependable luxury sedan and this E220d, with its manners and subtle opulence, was making a point rather effortlessly. This still is — yes, despite all of the world’s attempts at reinventing the wheel — a perfectly practical car with a seemingly natural ability to deliver premiumness.

In the front row, your view is most certainly dominated by the three screens, which also feature many of the important controls. I wish it weren’t that way, because it just gets in the way of the otherwise sublime and intuitive driving experience the E220d has to offer. Outward visibility is just fantastic, courtesy the large glass areas and the front-row seating is beautifully configured for long driving days. The seats offer great support and adjustability, although the exclusion of ventilation is a sore miss.

The backseat is, undoubtedly, the star of the show with its reclinable backrest and tremendous legroom. However, set against an SUV-dominated world, ingress and egress can feel a bit challenging given its inherently low stance (as a sedan, that is). The seat base is well-designed, offering great under-thigh support and the centre armrest feels substantial and well-appointed. There’s also an excellent ambient lighting suite, which is a sight to behold at night!

Comfort class

On less-than-ideal roads, the E220d is remarkably composed and while you can feel the relative (to an SUV — sigh!) lack of suspension travel, it still offers a fairly plush ride. On a great road, the E220d will convince you it’s all the car you’ll ever need. While it may be a step (or two) lower than the S-Class, mechanically speaking, it has inherited the same character of wafting in a finessed manner that makes it immensely endearing. Watch out for ill-designed speed breakers, though!

On the whole, it’s a really easy car to drive, in the city or otherwise. I, for one, admire the respectful distance the E220d maintains from aggression; that may be fun in short bursts, but over a long day of business travel, and an even longer tenure of ownership, comfort is what will mean much more to you. A couple of years ago, I had grudged it the lack of screens for the rear row, but given how much I don’t want to look at a screen anymore, it now feels like a very good thing. With its ₹83.5 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag, the E-Class faces competition from all quarters, including its own siblings, but buying one is still among the wisest calls you’ll ever make.

@TheMotorGram

Published on August 28, 2026