Car: Mercedes E200 CGI
Prices: £28,238-£32,233 – on the road
Insurance Group: 14 [est]
Emissions: 171g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 8.4s/ Max Speed 143mph
Fuel Consumption: (urban) 27.7mpg / (extra urban) 47.1mpg / (combined) 37.7mpg
Safety: Nine airbags, ABS, ESP, Brake Assist, PRE-SAFE.
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height (saloon), 4868/1854/1470mm
Real Value for Money
Our Rating: No Rating Available
Mercedes Benz announced the addition a new four-cylinder model to their E-Class stable - the Mercedes-Benz E200 CGI. It is positioned as an entry level estate car for executives, and is expected to compete with the BMW-5 series and the Audi A6. It offers value for money through reengineering and redesigning, and through outfitted with a less powerful engine, does not compromise on Mercedes hallmarks of passenger comfort and safety in any way.
The engine is a 1.8 liter turbocharged V6 with electronically controlled direct injection and a five-speed automatic gearbox. It generates 184 bhp, allowing it to attain 0-60 kmph at a reasonably low 8.4 seconds, and a top speed of 134 mph. clearly; the E200 CGI is aimed more at the safe and sound corporate executive rather than a race car enthusiast. This is accentuated by the sound-proofed interiors and soft suspensions aimed at achieving relaxation for its occupants, especially over long drives.
The design and styling of the E200 also emphasize the corporate look, with reserved elegance and muted luxury, both for the exterior and the interior. The car comes in two variants - the Sport and Avant-garde. Standard issue accessories on the basic SE include 16" alloy wheels, leather multi-function steering wheel, eight speaker stereo with Bluetooth compatibility, large central display screen to access the various functions and services on the car, and the Advanced Parking Guidance system. The Sport variant adds style accessories, while the Avant-garde adds luxury with a lower suspension and firmer adaptive shock absorbers.
As with any Mercedes models, there are a host of innovations to enhance the driving experience. For example the Adaptive High Beam Assist employs a windshield mounted camera to detect approaching vehicles, and if you are driving at night, automatically modify the headlamps to give you an optimum field of vision. Lane keeping assist watches whether the car is keeping to its lane, and vibrates the steering wheel if it starts to veer. Blind spot assist, as the name shows, senses if there is a vehicle in your blind spot, while Attention Assist keeps track of an amazing 70 parameters to sense if you are dozing off while driving. To enhance safety, the E200 has implemented the Brake assist plus, which optimizes braking power and brings the car to a stop without skidding or judder in case of an emergency braking. Mercedes have also added a stop/start system that kills the engine when it is stationary, and restarts it when you start driving; and employed advanced aerodynamics in order to increase fuel efficiency and bring down the running cost of the car. It has a rating of 27.7 mpg on urban roads and 47.1 mpg on extra-urban roads, while fuel emission is a modest 171 g/Km of CO2.
So what are the negatives of the E200? The five-speed gearbox is not very efficient, and the ride quality could have been smoother.
Still, if you are looking for a good company car at optimum an value-performance point, this one is for you.
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