Motoring | 26 October 2002

I confess bias: I like Mercedes. I’ve owned several, though by the time they got down to my level they were getting on a bit. But they last, these beasts with the three-point star, which is one of the reasons we respect them. How many other up-market breeds do you find serving out their last decade as African taxis bouncing along pot-holed dirt roads, and still getting you there?

It’s a treat, therefore, when a brand new one comes to stay for a few days, delivered to your door. This is the chief perk of being a motoring correspondent, regarded by everyone else as compensation for inadequate pay. When the car is the new E-Class saloon, it’s hard to argue.

I had the petrol E 320 V6 model. Having driven its earlier S-Class variant, I knew this engine was powerful and flexible but was still surprised by the electronic tweakings they’ve contrived for this model.