Walk up to the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and you’d swear nothing has changed since 2002.  You’d think that Stuttgart has slacked off and lost their touch with modernity.  Wrong.  You’d be surprised that although the aesthetic changes are relatively minor more than 2,000 parts have been changed or improved.  Of course, with a highly loyal clientele and a commanding 38 percent market share in its segment in Western Europe (60 percent worldwide), it seemed that Mercedes engineers didn’t want to tamper too much with a proven formula. 

From the outside, the most noticeable difference (relatively speaking) is the larger front grille.  The four ovoid headlamps, introduced first in the W210 model have been refreshed with new a reflector design incorporating a new LED-type park lamp.  At the back, the slats on the triangular tail lamps disappear and in come a lengthy chrome strip first in the company’s S-Class model.  Indeed, for all intents and purposes, the E-Class is the wallflower of the luxury car segment—not too flashy, but with still enough gravitas to make every police man and village guard salute.

Inside, the evolutionary take on the E-Class is carried on.  Designers eschewed gimmickry controls for a clear layout with intuitively operated switches.  Some may not like the button-filled cabin, but it’s relatively easy to understand and everything is within easy reach.  Everyone agrees though that the cabin feels solid and well-executed.  The burr-walnut trim stretching the entire length of the cabin from the center console to back is particularly a nice touch as is the split three-piece center console and supportive leather seats.  The instrumentation is clean but a bit odd with a large analogue clock taking as much space as the tachometer (it seems that Germans are anal with time).  The trim level tested, Elegance, is the E-Class’ most popular line.  It feels a bit too geriatrics, but it does give new meaning to ‘occupant pampering’.  There’s a power moon roof, active rear blinds, a high-fidelity audio system with Harman Kardon speakers and a quad-zone climate control system.

On hand for the test is an E 280—representing the local E-Class’s most powerful variant.  Despite what is says on the boot, it’s powered by a new 3.0-liter V6 with 231 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque.  It certainly doesn’t wet your appetite on paper, but it propels this 1,785 kilogram sedan pretty well thanks to its fat torque band (peak torque from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm).  Off the line, the E 280 feels quick on its feet and the brand-new 7-speed automatic mates itself well with the engine producing smooth and responsive acceleration.  What’s more, it easily adapts to your driving style holding gear when necessary and changing gears with little hesitation.  There are 2 pre-programmed shift modes called “Comfort” and “Sport”, but even after a long drive, there’s no discernable difference between the two.

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