UPGRADED INTERIOR WITH TECH ENHANCEMENTS 

Matching its style and power is the cabin that offers class-leading innovative features combined with the finest materials, a hallmark of Mercedes’ engineering and design. 

This ranges from the new multifunction steering wheel in genuine leather to the high-gloss black finish. The E 200 features trim elements in light aluminium while open-pore black ash wood trim can be found in the E 300.

Drivers will be pleased to find a new capacitive touch control buttons that can be used to interact with the instrument cluster and the media display. The touch surface is also thankfully less susceptible to attracting fingerprints.

To give the seats a consistent appearance, the colours of the centre section of the seat backrest and cushion are matched with the overall sculpture of the seats. Numerous material combinations are used in the vehicles, ranging from Artico man-made leather in the E 200 to genuine leather in the E 300.

The centrepiece of the interior upgrades is the latest generation MBUX multimedia system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) nestled within the cockpit and consisting of two 12.3 inch displays. It’s worth noting the information shown are large and easily legible on the high-resolution screens. In case you want to pair your smartphone to the car, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported.

See also: The 2021 Mercedes-AMG Merges Power And Comfort

REDEFINING SAFETY

Safety is a priority at Mercedes-Benz and the new E-Class boasts improved driving assistance systems that enable the car to react even if the driver doesn’t. A new hands-off recognition feature works on a capacitive basis, enhancing its user-friendliness when driving in semi-automated mode. 

There's the new steering wheel with hidden sensors that can detect whether the driver is holding the wheel. The system will activate the Emergency Brake Assist if the driver continues to be inactive.

Another useful safety feature is Active Brake Assist, which now comes standard with the E-Class. It works by using autonomous braking to prevent collisions or mitigate its severity. Practical applications include braking for stationary vehicles, as well as crossing pedestrians when driven at typical city speeds. 

Helping drivers enter and leave parking spaces automatically is the new Active Parking Assist with Parktronic feature. The included 360° camera on the E 300 transmits an even more realistic image to the media display, which includes an expanded side view. Also, when leaving a parking space, the system warns drivers of oncoming traffic behind the vehicle and applies the brakes when needed.

Protecting the new E-Class is the new Urban Guard Vehicle Protection package, a combination of hardware and digital solutions that provide round the clock monitoring. This includes an anti-theft alarm system along with tow-away protection that detects changes in the vehicle’s position. Should the vehicle detect movement within the interior, it will trigger visual and audible warnings that notify the driver via the Mercedes me app.

As part of the model refresh, Mercedes-Benz offers the E-Class in two new colours: grey metallic and high-tech silver. The new Mercedes-Benz E 200 Avantgarde and E 300 AMG Line retail at RM326,943 and RM375,432 respectively. For more information, visit Mercedes-Benz’s official website.