By Samuel Ee

YOU can always count on a new Merc to set a new standard, but the latest E-Class has raised the bar so high, that it is making the competition look old and tired. With its outstanding comfort and innovative safety, few will argue that the ninth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the new benchmark in the mid-sized premium saloon segment. But just by looking at it, you can hardly tell.

Its twin headlamp face has been re-interpreted yet again, this time with a pair of rectangles for a more distinctive, almost handsome, look. But walk around the car and you will discover a profile that is somewhat ungainly. Mercedes says the rear flank is inspired by the classic Ponton model from the 1950s but in truth, it looks incongruous. As for the rear, the pair of full-LED tail lamps makes it look like a big Nissan at best, or an old Volvo at worst. But all that is forgotten the moment you slide into its massage seats. Depending on whether it is a four-cylinder or V6 engine, there may or may not be a gear lever on the centre console.

Two petrol models were available during the press launch in Madrid last week - the E250 CGI BlueEfficiency and E350 CGI BlueEfficiency. The former has a new direct injection 1.8-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine.

A five-speed automatic transmission is standard and it is operated with the conventional Merc gear stick on the lower centre console. The latter is a 3.5-litre V6, and from behind the wheel, it will be apparent to the driver that he or she is in a six-cylinder model because of the column-mounted gear lever and shift paddles.

BlueEfficiency may be a particularly lengthy suffix but Mercedes uses it to denote the engines' considerable fuel savings. The E250 CGI BlueEfficiency, for example, claims a more than 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption to 7.3 litres per 100 km under a combined cycle. No mean feat for a unit which also boasts a credible 310 Newton-metres of torque.

On the road, the rear-wheel-drive E250 has good low-end oomph during the urban commute, while the turbo expands the 1.8-litre engine's lungs for faster cross-country excursions. Whatever the destination, the E-Class should take you there in relaxed fashion. The ride comfort is truly outstanding, with its adaptive shock absorbers providing a kind of cushioning that seems to glide over undulations like a hovercraft.

But this comfort bias means the softly sprung E-Class doesn't score as high in the handling department. Fast corners have to be planned so they can be taken neatly and smoothly to minimise body roll. Fortunately, this is helped by the amazingly responsive steering, which is accurate and well-weighted. If you've come from a recent E-Class model, this new car is like a different planet.

The platform is brand new and the torsional rigidity is up by 30 per cent. More importantly, the body structure has been optimised for lower noise, vibration and harshness levels. As a result, the cabin is remarkably hushed, with a tranquillity that comes close that of the bigger and top-of-the-line S-Class. In the E350 with its silkier V6 engine and even smoother seven-speed auto, the in-car experience is further heightened.

The new-generation E-Class is only marginally longer than the car it replaces, but is more than 30 mm wider with a 20 mm longer wheelbase. This means a more spacious interior with improved elbow room. And although the new car is almost 20 mm lower, cabin height is increased by 10 mm thanks to more efficient packaging. You can tell that passenger comfort is clearly an E-Class priority. For example, the optional multi-zone climate control system has "Diffuse", "Medium" and "Focus" modes to adapt the air volume and distribution. Even the aesthetics have been further refined. On wood trim, the nougat-coloured open-pore brown ash has a cool matte finish.

There is no doubt that the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class has pushed the envelope in the executive saloon segment. No wonder 40,000 Europeans have ordered one before it is launched without even a test drive. When the car arrives here in the fourth quarter, don't be surprised if it generates the same kind excitement.

samuelee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Business Times.