2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Review

Detailed Review

The Mercedes E-Class was first introduced into the market in 1993 and has been in production for five generations. It has undergone significant changes in that period both in style and performance. The 2013 model falls in the fourth generation and is available in saloon and station wagon body styles. It introduces new efficient engines, assistance systems and a host of comfort and safety features.

The 2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Engines

Petrol

1. The 2.0L Turbocharged 184 HP Petrol engine – In the E200
2. The 2.0L Turbocharged 211 HP Petrol engine – In the E250
3. The 3.5L V6 Turbocharged 252 HP Petrol Engine – In the E300 and E300 4MATIC
4. The 3.0L V6 Turbocharged 333 HP Petrol Engine – In the E400 and E400 4MATIC
5. The 4.7L V8 Turbocharged 408 HP Petrol Engine – in the E500 and E500 4MATIC

Diesel

1. The 2.1L Turbocharged 136 HP Diesel Engine – In the E200 CDI
2. The 2.1L Turbocharged 170 HP Diesel Engine – In the E220 CDI and CDI Edition
3. The 2.1L Turbocharged 205 HP Diesel Engine – In the E250 CDI and E250 CDI 4MATIC
4. The 3.0L Turbocharged 231 HP Diesel Engine – In the E300 BlueTec
5. The 3.0L Turbocharged 252 HP Diesel Engine – In the E350 BlueTec and E350 BlueTec 4MATIC
6. The 2.1L Hybrid 204 HP Diesel Engine – In the E300 BlueTec HYBRID

These are linked to two transmission options; a 6-Speed manual transmission and an automatic 7G-TRONIC PLUS transmission and available in both 2WD and 4WD(4MATIC).

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Grades

1. The SE – This comes with 17-Inch alloy rims, LED Intelligent Light System, Direct Control suspension, speed sensitive Direct Steering, ECO start/stop feature, front and rear Parktronic with Active Park Assist, LED rear tail lights, Thermatic automatic climate control, ambient lighting, Bluetooth, leather upholstery, heated front seats and nappa leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel.
2. The AMG Night Edition – This grade adds 18-Inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG body styling with exterior mirror housings, louvres and beltline trim strips in high-gloss trim, upgraded front brakes with Sports braking system featuring perforated brake discs and calipers with ‘Mercedes-Benz’ lettering, upgraded Sports suspension, twin-pipe exhaust system with trapezoidal tailpipes, sport seats, AMG sports steering wheel in nappa leather.

Interior
Legroom & Space

The E-Class has a luxurious cabin that features high grade materials and modern instrumentation. At the first row, both seats have excellent legroom and can be adjusted to any desired position. At the second row, the legroom is executive class with plenty of room to recline.

Cabin Storage

The E-Class is well supplied with storage compartments in the cabin that are useful for storing items such as smartphones, beverages, goggles, handbags etc. At the first row there are 4 cup-holders, door panel storage , a storage shelf below the dashboard, a glovebox and the center-box. For the second row, there’s storage on the front seat jacket pockets and door pockets.

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Boot Space

The saloon has a spacious boot with a volume of 540 Litres, which is enough space for four golf bags for example. The station wagon is unrivaled in its spaciousness and sets the standard with 695 Litres of space.

Other Extras: Advanced Parking Guidance, Artico Upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, LED daylight running lights, automatic climate control, Audio 20, multi-function Nappa leather steering wheel.

Safety Features: SRS Airbags, Curtain airbags, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Departure Warning

Exterior
The E-Class is available with two different front ends the ELEGANCE equipment come as standard with the classic, three-dimensional saloon radiator with three-louvre look and the star on the bonnet. The AVANTGARDE incorporates the sporty front end with a central star. At the rear, the lights and bumper have been revised with horizontally structured LED lights with a two tone look. 

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Fuel Consumption
The 2.0L E200 fuel consumption: 17.24 Km/L
The 2.0L E250 fuel consumption: 17.24 Km/L
The 3.5L E300 V6 fuel consumption: 14.49 Km/L
The 3.0L E400 fuel consumption: 13.33 Km/L
The 4.7L E500 fuel consumption: 11.23 Km/L
The 2.1L E200 CDI fuel consumption: 20.40 Km/L
The 2.1L E220 CDI fuel consumption: 21.27 Km/L
The 2.1L E250 CDI fuel consumption: 20.83 Km/L
The 3.0L E300 BlueTec fuel consumption: 18.18 Km/L
The 3.0L E350 BlueTec fuel consumption: 18.8 Km/L
The 2.1L E300 BlueTec HYBRID fuel consumption: 24.39 Km/L

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Acceleration
The 2.0L E200 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 sec.
The 2.0L E250 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.4 sec.
The 3.5L E300 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.1 sec.
The 3.0L E400 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 sec.
The 4.7L E500 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 sec.
The 2.1L E200 CDI accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.5 sec.
The 2.1L E220 CDI accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 sec.
The 2.1L E250 CDI accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 sec.
The 3.0L E300 BlueTec accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.1 sec.
The 3.0L E350 BlueTec accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 sec.
The 2.1L E300 BlueTec HYBRID accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 sec.

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 Litres

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Ground Clearance
The 2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class has a ground clearance of 4.8 Inches(123 mm) which is below the minimum recommended clearance of 6.5 Inches for Kenyan roads. It may be necessary to modify the ground clearance to adjust the car to Kenyan roads. Read our guidelines here on how to safely increase a vehicle’s ground clearance.

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Stability and Handling
The Mercedes Benz’s stability and handling exploits are well chronicled in the automotive lore. It’s been immortalized as the hallmark of perfection thanks to the exceptional German engineering. The E-Class does not disappoint; the acceleration is brisk and power delivery is consistent across the speed spectrum. Around corners, there’s no hint of body roll whatsoever and the car holds the tarmac like glue.

Service Intervals
Minor Service: At 10,000 km for petrol and 5,000 km for diesel. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, and Engine Oil
Major Service: At 15,000km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter, ATF Filter, Cabin Filter, Plugs, Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Pads, ATF Oil, and Engine Oil

Spare Parts Availability, Cost & Where to buy
Service parts are fairly priced and available in major towns in Kenya. Body parts are expensive and mostly available in Nairobi. You can get listings for Mercedes Benz spare part dealers in this link

2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class Reliability
The driving conditions in Kenya are significantly different from those in Japan and Europe.  Reliability reviews done for those markets largely do not apply to the Kenyan market. There are differences in roads, fuel, climate, spares, and technical expertise. To give you accurate and reliable local insights, we interview experts such as mechanics and car dealers, who have in-depth knowledge of the Kenyan market. We also test the cars ourselves. Our aim is to give you the right information to enable you make an informed decision when buying a car.

When it comes to Mercedes Benz, proper maintenance is critical to its long term reliability and longevity. If well maintained, the E-Class can run for years without problems but if you skimp on maintenance, things can get nasty. The E-Class is an advanced car with lots of electronics and sensors that control pretty much everything from simple tasks such as turning on wipers to complex tasks such as monitoring lane activity and blind spots. If something goes wrong with these sensors and this usually happens if the car is poorly maintained, the consequences can be serious and costly.

Resale Value: Average

Mercedes Benz E-Class Competitors: BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus ES and Volvo S90.

Cost of Ownership
Purchase Price: from Ksh.3,000,000
Comprehensive Insurance: Average Ksh. 120,000/ per annum- Or
3rd Party Insurance: Ksh. 7,000/- per annum
Change of Tyres(If neccessary) Ksh. 24,000/- for 4 Tyres
See Latest Mercedes E-Class Prices here

What we like about the 2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class

1. Spacious
2. Refined
3. Powerful

What we don’t
Low ground clearance

Conclusion
The Mercedes Benz E-Class precedes its reputation. This is one of those cars everybody dreams of owning. Apart from its luxurious looks, it also has superb handling and offers a pleasant driving experience for both the driver and passengers.

Where to Buy the 2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class in Kenya
If you are looking to either import or buy the E-Class locally, we can help you with this process. Over the years, we have developed a network of trusted dealers both in Kenya and UK who supply us with exceptional cars. Simply call us or send us a message through our contacts below and we’ll get you the right car at the right price.