When a BIGGER engine is not for going faster

The Mercedes-Benz E230E uses all that extra capacity to make it a calmer, more civilised car.

The E230 badge is sacred, no matter what size engine Sindelfingen thinks they want to shove under the bonnet of their ubiquitous E-Class, they still have to have the 230 badge on the rump of one variant.

This is why this car is called the E230 when, by convention it should be called an E250. The V6 motor that hums quietly under the well insulated engine bay displaces 2.5-litres and die-hard fans have been waiting for this extra capacity just so that they could have a ‘230’.

The strange thing about this car is that despite the larger motor compared to the E200 Kompressor, it does not feel significantly faster or more energetic and yet buyers are queuing up to get their hands on the car. I have had friends asking me about the E230 for months because they are looking for replacement company cars.

Of course the typical buyer of the E-Class is over 35-years old, successful, conservative and not likely to be found suning themselves on the pit wall of the Sepang Circuit on track days but even taking this into account I felt it strange that buyers would be waiting for a bigger engine just so they could have the right badge on the boot.

It seems that the E200K badging and the fact that it has a four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine under the bonnet is a bit of a downer for some buyers of the E-Class, they find it difficult to bear the fact that their car is powered by an engine smaller than those found in the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and even the Proton Perdana.

These buyers are status conscious and the three pointed star on the hood is not enough,

They also need a matching E230 lettering on the boot.

And lots of goodies in the cabin

And they are willing to fork out nearly Rm400,000 for the privilege.

Before you laugh at these middle-aged buyers for their seemingly petty considerations, I think it we should look at the actual benefits of having a bigger engine.

Firstly a bigger engine is generally more powerful and torquey and they run at lower rpm. Usually this makes a world of difference when you are looking for comfort and refinement. Even a drop of 200rpm can create a car that feels a lot more luxurious that one that has its engine turning over at a slightly higher speed.

People who buy the E230 are not usually in a rush to get anywhere and what they want is a cabin that allows them to relax and maybe even do a bit of paperwork, if they have a driver.

These buyers want the status of the bigger engine but they think an E280 is a bit over the top. These are traditional conservative Mercedes-Benz buyers, these people live in the M-B heartland.

The badging is nice to have and no doubt there are those who would have sold their E200K so that they could buy this car but the reality is that the bigger engine with two extra pistons also make the right sound. A V6 makes a nicer hum compared to the rougher noise of a four-cylinder engine. This is especially true when you gun it hard. Plus, some people simply cannot stand the supercharger whine on the E200K

The inclusion of the E230 badge into the line-up is not just a marketing bright spark, it is part of a Mercedes-Benz tradition of finding ever thinner slices of the market and giving them exactly what they want. No other company can match the number of variants that Daimler produces from their model range. Someone once joked that all it takes to launch a new Merc variant is a single customer letter expressign disappointment that they could not find a model that suited their needs to a ‘t’. Truth is, Mercedes Benz is still the biggest name in the luxury segment because it has something for everybody.

Those who buy the E230 do get a lot of kit for their money, apart from the usual entertainment system, automatic air conditioning and all the mandatory equipment, they also get satellite navigation, which has recently become the must-have item in the Malaysian luxury segment thanks to the availability of sufficiently detailed digital maps of the country and its road system..

However, for me, the best thing about this car, the reason why you should buy this rather than the E200K is the glass roof. Admittedly, it is a piece of equipment that looks more like a gimmick than a real improvement but once you have sat in a car with glass roof and enjoyed the sunlight without the heat, there is no turning back. I waxed lyrical about the glass roof when the W211 was first launched in 2002 and I continue to think it is one of the biggest innovations in terms of cabin luxury in recent years.

You feel like you are in a cabriolet but no wind is threatening to put a hair out of place and the sun’s heat has been filtered out so that you don’t feel the burn on your skin. You feel just enough warmth of the sun but you don’t sweat or feel uncomfortable because the air conditioning is keeping your perspiration-free.

If you are sitting at the back, you look up and you see views like this passing by, the heavy tinting gives even the most boring cloud a moody and menacing look. If the sky is absolutely clear, then you see nothing but deep blue.

If you are really afraid of the sun then you can always pull the cloth liner and everything turns back to normal, like the glass roof doesn’t even exist.

The E230 is for people who are appreciative a finer and more tranquil existence where everything is set out just right.

Is it any wonder that Daimler Malaysia took us to Tanjung Jara to better understand the car and the people who would buy them.

This high-end resort excels in keeping guests in a semi sedated state with its beauty and tranquility.

It is not a place for excitement seekers, Tanjung Jara is for bringing down the blood pressure and not for cranking up the heart rate.

And so is the E230.

If you want more info on the car and want to read all the gory technical details, may I suggest the E230 Avantgarde page in the Daimler Malaysia website.

Below is the tech-spec of the car

E 230

No. of cylinders/arrangement              6/V

Total displacement (cc)                      2496

Rated output (kW at rpm)                    150/6100

Rated torque (Nm at rpm)                   245/2900-5500

Compression ratio                               11.2

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (s)   8.9 (9.1)

Approx. top speed (km/h)                   248 (240)

Fuel                                                     Petrol

Fuel consumption (l/100km)              

Urban                                                  13.3-13.5

Combined                                            9.2(9.7)-9.4(10.0)

Steering                                               Rack-and-pinion power steering (Speed sensitive power steering)

Turning circle diameter (m)                11.4

Tyre size, front/rear                            245/45 R 17

Tank Capacity (/) incl. reserve,          65/8 approx.

Boot capacity (l)                                 540

Kerb weight (kg)                                 1680

Perm. GVW (kg)                                 2180

The E-Class AVANTGARDE Saloon is a step ahead of the times. Wide radiator louvres in high-gloss black lend the front end an extremely distinctive aura, while chrome-ringed fog lamps and two chromed louvres now form part of the front bumper panelling. The AVANTGARDE line also has its own specific 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels available in either 16-inch or 17-inch format, depending on the engine variant. Add to this the striking rear apron and side skirts, and the overall picture is one of sheer dynamism all round, as also reflected by the sports suspension which has been lowered by 15 mm.

There is an air of assured sophistication about the interior of the E-Class AVANTGARDE Saloon. The seats feature the “Biarritz” design and are upholstered in a combination of fabric and ARTICO man-made leather – in either black or sierra grey – which blends in perfectly with the bird’s-eye maple interior trim. Optional extras include leather seats with a choice of exclusive colours or colour combinations: black, sierra grey, cashmere beige, black/sahara beige and black/cognac brown. High-grade nappa leather in black, sierra grey or cashmere beige is a further option.