2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 CDI
After a five-year hiatus, Mercedes-Benz has brought
back the turbodiesel engine, and it’s the popular E
Class that gets the nod. The new CDI engine is a
3.2-litre inline six cylinder, and it’s coupled to a fivespeed transmission. The mid-size E320 cannot be
ordered with the 4MATIC AWD transmission, which
is available in all other E Class versions except the
E55. The CDI engine is not available for the station
wagon.
Interior and trunk
The E320 provides easy access to the front, and with
their high-backed seatbacks and fairly long cushions,
the seats are very, very comfortable. A (power) tilttelescoping steering column assists in obtaining an
excellent driving position. The inside rear-view mirror
is close to and may feel like it’s crowding the driver.
Entering and exiting the back is complicated
somewhat by the tight space between the base of
the seat and the B-pillar. The comfortable bench
seats two adults, who enjoy good headroom and leg room. The seatback does not fold
down. A ski pass-through is available as a free option, but you have to pay for a 60/40
split-fold seat.
The trunk is quite roomy, with a flat floor and wide opening.
Convenience and safety
Interior fit and finish are very good but some uneven gaps are apparent. The cabin is
very quiet, except for road noise. The glove compartment is small, but there are lots of
other, more roomy storage spaces. The high-mounted cup holder does not adapt to all
sizes of containers and looks fragile. It seems out of place in a Mercedes.
Instruments and controls are nicely located and easy
to use, with the exception of the windshield wiper
control on the turn-signal stalk. You have to press the
end of the stalk just so to obtain the MIST mode;
we’ve seen better systems than that. The climate
control system works very well. All controls are lighted
at night.
As usual, Mercedes presents an impressive list of
Photos: Daimler Chrysler
options. You have to pay to obtain xenon headlights, for example, despite this vehicle’s
substantial base price.
Safety features in this particular Mercedes include dual front air bags, four side-impact
air bags and two (full-length) head-protection curtains. All five head restraints adjust for
height but not enough for tall people. Oddly enough, Mercedes vehicles do not have
child-proof locks. Headlight intensity is good. The left mirror does not open wide enough
to allow tall drivers to obtain a 360o view adjustment. The top of the dash reflects off the
windshield almost all of the time.
Engine and transmission
The 3.2-litre inline six-cylinder CDI (Common Rail Direct injection) engine churns out
201 hp and a monstrous 369 lb-ft of torque between 1,800 and 2,600 rpm. With this
common-rail injection system fuel can be pulverised under 23,200 pounds of pressure.
After a slight pause in a fast start, in-gear and through-gear accelerations are powerful
and instantaneous, performance that is unmatched by many gas engines of similar or
even larger size. A slight diesel clacking is audible when you turn off the radio or are
outside the vehicle. Otherwise, the engine is very quiet. Some hesitation is perceptible
at times in fast in-gear acceleration. This is an impressively smooth, quiet, highperformance engine.
On the road
The fully independent suspension provides a
superbly smooth ride that is firm yet compliant on
even the worst pavement. Suspension travel is a rare
mix of assurance and silky comfort. Road holding is
very good but the weight of the vehicle makes itself
felt, which is slightly detrimental to agility. This is a
vehicle that feels very solid.
The steering is very well weighted, stable, precise
and quite quick. It re-centres rather slowly at low
speed, especially after a 90-degree turn. The turning circle is short.
The four-wheel disc brakes are very powerful and resistant to fade. When the
windshield wipers are on, the braking system sweeps moisture away from the discs by
lightly applying the brakes. If the accelerator is released quickly, the system reduces the
space between the linings and the discs for faster response. There’s no stopping
progress where safety is concerned.
In an inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre, the vehicle proved to be
very well assembled and sturdily built underneath. We noted that the anchor towing
point is on the right side; it should be centre.
Photos: Daimler Chrysler
Conclusion
The E320 is built for comfortable, fatigue-free long-distance driving. The CDI engine
performs remarkably well and should widen the appeal of the diesel engine to a larger
customer base. Of course, a turbodiesel engine in an E Class Mercedes is not hard to
take.
Strong points: comfortable seats, handling, engine performance, ultra-smooth
transmission, powerful brakes, big trunk
Weak points: perfectible soundproofing, reflections in windshield, cup holder design,
windshield wiper location, slow low-speed steering re-centering
2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 CDI
Engine: 24-valve, 3.2-litre, inline 6-cylinder turbodiesel
Horsepower: 201 hp @ 4,200 rpm
Torque: 369 lb-ft from 1,800 to 2,600 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Suspension: fully independent
Brakes: 4-wheel disc
Length: 481.5 cm
Width: 181 cm
Height: 145.2 cm
Wheelbase: 285.4 cm
Weight: 1,740 kg
Tires: 225/55R16
Towing capacity: non-recommended
Air bags: dual front, four side impact and two curtain air bags
Fuel consumption:
− Transport Canada rating: city: 8.9 L/100 km (32 mpg); highway: 5.9 L/100 km (48
mpg)
− Test result: 8.0 L/100 (35 mpg)
Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 8 seconds 60-100 km/h: 5.4 seconds
Competition: Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Infiniti M, Jaguar S-Type, Lexus GS
Warranty:
− Full basic coverage: 4 years/80,000 km
− Powertrain: 5 years/120,000 km
− Surface corrosion: 4 years/80,000
Photos: Daimler Chrysler
− Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited mileage
− Emissions control system: 4 years/80,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000
km (catalytic converter, electronic control module and onboard diagnostic device)
Factory replacement parts:
Rear bumper: $816
Brake pads: $183
Front fender: $607
Front brake disk: $133
Muffler: $681
Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claimfree insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $1,311 to $2,951
Price according to trim line:
$74,400
Main options:
Navigation system: $1,475
Heated steering wheel: $460
Audio upgrade: $1,490
Power rear screen: $740
60/40 split-fold rear seat: $1,050
Keyless Go entry: $1,865
Zenon headlamps: $1,465
Panorama sunroof: $1,850
Price as tested: $76,605
Freight and preparation: $1,450
Dealers: Quebec: 8; Canada: 41
 CAA-Quebec, October 2004
Photos: Daimler Chrysler