Fit for the executive elite The Mercedes-Benz E280 Elegance is the consummate epitome of the executive elite.

THE Mercedes-Benz E-Class connotes images of a classy and powerful Teutonic four-door saloon, coming hand-in-hand with choice comforts for the controlling conglomerate chief, albeit in manageable dimensions for local roads (read: a smaller alternative for the S-Class). Whether it can impress buyers looking past what the Audi A6, Volvo S60 and BMW 5-Series offer is the reason for this test drive. 

Elitist execution excellence

The E-Class provided to this writer (an E280 Elegance) shows onlookers that its occupants are of the landed gentry, due to the pearl luster obsidian black paint, large dimensions, silver star hood ornament, four-eye headlamps and distinctly Mercedes-Benz grille. Inside, the E280’s tan interior is a welcome contrast to the unit’s exterior, with a love-it-or-hate-it wood trim beltline. For the driver, a big menu screen in the gauge cluster’s middle helps monitor engine and outside inputs, helped largely by steering wheel-mounted controls for the said menu screen and the best auto audio system (including a hidden motor-driven panel for the CD changer) this writer has heard to date. For the shotgun (front) occupant, the easy-to-reach audio system, climate controls and hidden dual cup holders in front of the center console help the driver focus on the road. And for rear riders, there’s a hidden rear armrest within the seat backrest with two cup holders and a 12-volt outlet behind the center console. After all, typical E-Class owners prefer to be driven while in the rear.

The creature comforts of the E280 are generally great for the midmanagement big shot, but there are quirks. The easy-to-reach power-assisted front seat adjustment has no lumbar support, the horn takes effort to punch, the hazard and lock/unlock buttons are hard to find and the sunroof is rather small. Also, the aforementioned hidden front dual cup holders only handle small plastic bottles, deterring the driver from lunching in McDonald’s or Jollibee drive-through areas while waiting for his master. 

Fair enough performance

Despite the seven-speed A/T and great power stats, the power curve is steep and the gearing feels tall. As a result the 3.0L DOHC V6 lumbers through the tachometer’s bottom end, but the car is mighty fast when the powerband (2,500-plus rpm) is reached. Warning for speed nuts: there’s a delay in shifting when using the A/T’s manual mode. Upshifting tends to make the rev counter spend lots of time at the powerband’s fringes, while going down a gear tends to occur at inopportune times (such as on the apex of crests).

The E280 Elegance is composed even as midtarmac alterations try to knock it offline. You can hurl the car at 120 to 125 kph on turns with the traction control off thanks to the surprisingly strong grip from the test unit’s Dunlop SP Sport 9000 225/65 R16s, with tire squeal at 130 to 139 kph and understeer occurring at 140-plus kph. The steering gets heavier as speed increases and turn-in is sharp, but overall it tends to be slightly vague. And for a car with a considerably small wheel (the E280 Elegance totes 16-inch light alloy wheels) and tire combination, the ride tends to be “floaty.”

One thing that stands out in the E-Class is its safety. A bevy of secondary safety systems—including brake assist, crash-sensitive central locking, seatbelt-force limiters, head/neck restraints fully secure occupants in case an accident occurs, but equally up to the task are its primary safety systems. The brakes grab hard without wheel lockup or waking up the antilock system (even at three-fourths brake pedal effort) and the lighting from the headlamps and fog lamps are bright enough that there’s no need for the “bright” setting. One problem: using the windshield wiper stalk can be a bit confusing, and may require a trip or three to the owner’s manual.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is still capable of attracting customers from the crème de la crème. Oodles of safety systems and creature comforts, decent acceleration and handling make it an option to consider for the corporate middle or top management blue collar. It may have some serious power and ride deficiencies, but the E-Class is still one of the best at providing the essence of executive elitism.

Always copied, never outdone. The E-Class’ rear has always inspired back end designs for certain cars but can truly lay claim to be the original proponent.

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