2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class petrol vs diesel: Finer differences

MercedesBenz has officially launched the tenthgeneration EClass in India at a price of Rs 5615 lakh exshowroom Mumbai Regular readers may be aware of this but for the uninitiated Mercedes has done something unusual by offering only the longwheelbase version of the new EClass in the country which was Chinaexclusive until nowThe EClass has been one of the best selling nameplates in its segment having been on sale in India for over two decades Most buyers of luxury cars in this segment are chauffeurdriven and it is the prime reason why Merc has offered the extendedwheelbase version of the allnew sedanMercedesBenz EClass Extended Wheelbase Old Vs New Spec ComparisonInterestingly the German automaker has distinguished the petrol and diesel versions of the sedan with some changes to their respective feature lists and aesthetic tweaks The diesel which is the more powerful offering of the two comes with extra goodies over the petrol and costs over Rs 13 lakh more Let us see what the diesel E is packing extra over its petrol counterpartPrices ExShowroom Mumbai E 200 petrol Rs 5615 lakh E 350 d diesel Rs 69 47 lakh AestheticsBoth versions are near identical when it comes to their looks but there are subtle differences To begin with the diesel E gets 10spoke alloy wheels which are finished in lsquoHimalayas Greyrsquo while the petrol model rides on fivespoke alloys finished in lsquoTremolite Greyrsquo However 17inch wheels with 22555section tyres are standard with both modelsOn the inside the diesel E gets an lsquoopenpore black ashwoodrsquo dashboard applique while the petrol version comes with the lsquoopenpore lightbrown ashwoodrsquo trim Speaking of the upholstery both versions are offered with lsquoArticorsquo leather faux leather upholstery available in macchiato beige or black but the quilting pattern is different Also the carpeting in the petrol is black while the diesel offers an option of beige or blackFeatures This is the area where the diesel E really shines in contrast to its petrol counterpart Starting with the USP of the E 350 d Air Body Control air suspension which is not offered with the more affordable E 200 It claims to offer an even plusher ride than the steel spring suspension you get in the petrol The air suspension also comes with a Lift mode that increases ground clearance by 15mm which will really come handy for our road conditionsMercedesrsquo Comand Online infotainment system with a 123inch display is standard in both the models However the diesel version is equipped with a premium Burmester surround sound system The audio is relayed through 13 highperformance loudspeakers along with a 9channel amplifier with a total output of 590 watts2017 MercedesBenz EClass LWB ndash Features We Would Have LikedThough MercedesBenzrsquos Parking Pilot with ParkTronic automatically steers the vehicle into parallel or endon parking spaces with selfsteering and braking inputs is standard in both only the diesel version offers a 360degree camera system The camera usually switches itself on when the reverse gear is selected but can be activated by the driver whenever required It provides a realistic image via the head unitLastly unlike the diesel the petrol does not offer the memory function for the driverrsquos seat But at the back both models offer the memory function for the segmentfirst reclining rear seats the backrest can be tilted up to 37 degreesEvidently MercedesBenz is expecting the diesel EClass to be the main attraction but the petrol still offers good value for a LOT less moneyRecommended Read 2017 Mercedes EClass LWB First DriveRead more onMercedesBenz EClass priceRead the article on cardekhocom