The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

Intelligent (E)state-of-the-art

•Functional: top marks for load capacity and ease of operation
•Safe: nine airbags as standard, plus innovative driver assistance systems
•Comfortable: adaptive damping and self-levelling rear suspension
•Powerful: choice of eight engines with more output and improved fuel consumption

From early 2010, Mercedes-Benz is launching the Estate version as another highly distinctive member of the E-Class family. Like the Saloon and Coupé, the Estate combines its own, elegant design with leadership in safety, comfort, quality and practicality. A number of technical innovations have entered series production in the E-Class which no other car in this class is able to offer -- from drowsiness detection to automatic emergency braking when an accident is recognised as imminent, and from Adaptive Highbeam Assist to the active bonnet. Naturally the Estate also features all these innovations. Air suspension with self-levelling at the rear will be standard as will unique new load compartment management features, including an EASY-PACK automatic powered tailgate and EASY-PACK Quick Fold rear seats.

The E-Class Estate is seen as the founder of the premium lifestyle estate segment with a history spanning over more than 30 years. Since the launch of the first Estate in 1977, more than one million customers have discovered their enthusiasm for this practical way of driving a luxury Mercedes-Benz. This success story is set to be continued by the fifth generation of the E-Class Estate – at the same time following up on the successful launch of the Saloon. Launched in Europe in spring 2009, the E-Class Saloon had already achieved worldwide market leadership in its segment by May 2009.

The performance of the Saloon and Coupé in the 2009 AutoBild Design Awards shows how well the striking lines of the E-Class have been received: more than 100,000 readers of this German motoring publication recently voted the four-door model the most beautiful car in the world, and gave the two-door model first place in the Coupé/Convertible category.
Design: new Mercedes-Benz handwriting combined with E-Class styling features
The new Estate immediately makes an athletic and practical, but also serene and safe impression. Its distinctive design character is based on the new Mercedes-Benz style, which had its debut in the S-Class and is now also represented in the C-Class. One of its characteristics is the interplay between concave and taut surfaces, which are met by dynamic edges and structured contours.

The side view reveals many new features, leaving no doubt about the identity of the new Estate. The B and C-pillars appear to merge into the background thanks to glossy, black trim panels, making the entire side window area look like a single unit. This leads to an expressive arch leading from the A-pillar to the dramatic roof line and the downward-tapering D-pillar, all resting on the athletic shoulder-line of the Estate. The intriguing design of the door sill panels, which are visually understated in the centre but feature a prominent light-catching contour towards the wheel arches, accentuates the dramatic overall effect of the side aspect. This is additionally emphasised by the muscular, sweeping line on the rear section in front of the rear wheel.

When forming the rear end, the Mercedes-Benz designers took care to give expression to the great practicality of the new model. They did this by emphasising horizontal lines, for example the band formed by the tail lights and the chromed tailgate handle. The new LED tail lights are of two-part design, and create a visual continuation of the side wall into the tailgate itself. Both by day and night, their distinctive design is a major recognition factor for the E-Class family. This is the largest estate car in the premium segment, and it makes no secret of the fact.

Functional: top marks for load capacity and ease of operation


The innovative quickfold system enables the rear seat backrests to be folded down from the load compartment, using two operating handles, one on the left and one on the right. The two backrest sections are unlocked and folded down by a bowden cable, creating a level loading surface. As another useful feature, either the left or right backrest sections, or both together, can be folded down. This enables the rear seat unit to be used by passengers even when long and bulky items are being carried. An unusual aspect of this system is that unlocking and folding down is also possible from the side.
With a load capacity of up to 1950 litres, the new E-Class Estate (length/width/ height: 4895/1854/1471 millimetres) sets the standard in its class. Apart from the load compartment capacity itself, other dimensions of great practical importance, such as the rear aperture, rear sill height or maximum load length, demonstrate the expertise of Mercedes-Benz in estate car engineering.

It is not only in the load compartment that has seen an improvement in the already generous dimensions of the preceding model, there are also improvements in other respects as well. Two examples in the interior illustrate this: the elbow width in the rear has been increased by 50 millimetres to 1505 millimetres. Rear headroom with the large tilting/sliding sunroof installed has also improved by 50 millimetres to 1010 millimetres, and is almost as generous as in versions with no sunroof (1012 mm).

An exemplary load management system is on board as standard. Features include the automatically opening and closing EASY-PACK tailgate with automatic raising of the load compartment cover and the EASY-PACK folding load compartment floor. The latter considerably increases the usable height of the load compartment. It can be folded up and secured in various positions. Standard equipment also includes the EASY-PACK load compartment cover with a load securing net. When extended, the load compartment cover can be hooked into electrically powered carriers on the D-pillars. When the tailgate is opened, the load compartment cover is automatically raised to allow unobstructed loading and unloading. The optional folding bench seat for the load compartment is also a unique feature in this vehicle segment.