Sector: Executive  Price: €40,430-€121,023  Fuel: 4.1-10.5l/100km  CO2: 107-246g/km

While the rest of the Mercedes-Benz range has steadily got younger in feel, the E-Class has until recently stuck firmly to its roots. A 60-year lineage has shown this to be a car for those who like the traditional brand hallmarks of high-quality, premium saloon cars – solid, reliable and comfortable rather than sporty.

But, as the brand’s recent efforts show, sportiness sells. Since the outgoing E-Class launched in 2009, key rivals from Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Lexus have all been renewed, and each has its own sports-styled trim level. By comparison, even the outgoing E63 AMG wasn’t a radical departure from its ultra-conservative siblings.

There’s been a very noticeable effort to change this. Despite the heavily updated styling, most of what’s under the skin of the new E-Class is unchanged. That’s not a bad thing, as it means the fleet-friendly engines and ultra-efficient diesel-electric hybrid are carried forward. The difference is, they’re now packaged in a much sharper, far more youthful body shell.

Visually, very little of the old car is left. The bulge over the rear arches, inspired by the 1950s Ponton which kick-started the E-Class series, has been replaced by twin swage lines adopted from the carmaker’s latest models. Also absent are the quad headlamps found on the last three generations of E-Class, replaced by two units with LED daytime running lights giving an outline impression that they’re split into four.

This is also the first time Mercedes-Benz has offered two different grilles on the E-Class saloon. In line with the C-Class, buyers can now choose from the traditional chrome slats or a thicker-slatted option with a prominent three-pointed star. In some markets – the UK, France and Italy included – most trim levels are equipped with the latter.

Inside, the E-Class is now closer in style to the CLS, inheriting a column-mounted gear selector for automatic versions and a central analogue clock backed by silver air vents. Unusually, the interior can be customised irrespective of the exterior trim.

From the driver’s seat, what is new is a full package of assistance systems adopted from the S-Class. The E-Class is available with options including a camera system offering a bird’s-eye view of parking spaces, lane keeping and accident avoidance systems and a twin-camera forward scanning device at the top of the windscreen. A step forward from radar or laser-based systems, this can view the road ahead in three dimensions, recognising white lines, direction of movement and the differences between pedestrians and other traffic.

Engines range from the most efficient E300 BlueTEC hybrid, which uses a 2.1-litre diesel engine and electric motor to offer 4.1l/100km economy and segment-leading CO2 emissions of 107g/km, to the hot-blooded E63 AMG super saloon. These also include two highly efficient four-cylinder petrol units with CO2 emissions of 138g/km and a single Euro6 compliant six-cylinder diesel.

But it’s the core diesels that offer perhaps the best all-round package for European buyers. Even the most efficient E220 CDI, with its 170hp 2.1-litre unit is an incredibly refined way to travel – comfortable, effortless and incredibly quiet at high and low speeds, only feeling like it needs a little extra power when accelerating away from short slip roads. Fuel consumption, at 4.7l/100km with CO2 emissions of 123g/km, means there’s still an efficient E-Class without opting for the pricier hybrid.

Verdict:

Ultimately the E-Class offers a slightly softer and less involving drive than the 5 Series, but a thorough facelift has turned the conservative executive car into a real head-turner.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class video