Usually halfway through a car's life it will have a minor refresh.
But clearly Mercedes thought its E-Class needed some rather extensive surgery as this is one
of the most extreme facelifts I've ever seen.
Well, on a car anyway...
At the front the two-piece headlamps have been replaced by single unit lights.
In fact the whole front is new and, as with the C-Class, the E-Class is now offered with
two grille designs, though in the UK we only get the sports version, which has a big brash
three pointed star in the middle to leave people in no doubt you own a Mercedes....
And are therefore a success.
On the old version there was a swoop over the rear wheel arch which always looked a
bit rubbish, so I'm glad that's gone.
Also you can now only get the car in two trim levels so it's easier to decide which model
to buy.
There have been some significant changes inside the cabin too.
All cars come with faux leather on the seats that is so realistic you'd never know.
And you can upgrade to have it on the dash too and on top of the door trims too.
The car also has some redesigned heater vents -- which are now made out of metal, apparently
because the Chinese didn't like the old plasticy ones...
The Mercedes has class-leading standard equipment, with
swivel wheel menu control, sat-nav, Bluetooth and USB, DAB radio, heated and electrically
adjustable front seats, automatic LED lights and wipers.
What's more all but this E220 CDI get an automatic gearbox as standard - and now the selector
is on the steering column which is much better.
Speaking of which you can alter the steering electrically.
It's a Mercedes - you shouldn't have to do things manually.
You don't even have to open the boot manually as it operates on the key and then you are
greeted with a large practical space.
Though if you need to carry longer items you can get fold down rear seats -- though sadly
these cost extra.
As for life for rear passengers.
Well it's great - there's loads of head and leg room.
And the seats are quite reclined which makes it easier to nod off... and so I can forgive
the car for this large transmission tunnel which gets in the way of the middle passenger.
But then two's company and three's a crowd.
The E-Class comes with a raft of safety equipment including 9 airbags, anti skid control and
Mercedes Attention assist.
You can also get blind spot and lane departure warning on the options lists and a clever
cruise control which will operate the steering as well as the throttle to keep you in lane
on the motorway.
All that safety kit should leave you feeling safe and sound.
In fact the E-Class is very good at isolating you from the outside world.
It's a very comfy car to travel in.
The adaptable suspension deals brilliantly with bumps, especially in the softer SE trim
and excellent insulation means you don't get much wind or road noise entering the cabin
Most of you will know the E-Class is rear wheel drive and that gives you the sensation
of being pushed up the road.
It handles pretty well too, though to be honest it's more set up for comfort than cornering.
If you want more fun get a Jaguar XF, which also has better steering.
Another problem with the E Class is the entry-level 2.1-litre diesel.
It's a bit noisy and not as clean nor as economical as the 2.0-litre in the BMW 5 series.
And while this auto box is good, if you like using paddles -- the S-Tronic in the Audi
A6 is a much quicker shifter.
Finally there are the small side door bins, the fact E-Class still uses a foot operated
parking brake and what's with the old fashioned dash-mounted clock?
Maybe the Chinese like them.
Overall though, if I'm honest, I like the E-Class and the extensive redesign is sure
to make it even more popular than ever.
Now you've seen our review of the E-Class click here to watch a review of the BMW 5
Series.
Here to watch the Jaguar XF.
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