Have just returned from a trip to Melbourne.

Please see attached fuel figures.

10.47 hours driving averaging 96 km/hr

Fuel consumption of 5.3 L /100 km ( 53 mpg) ( Imperial)

When refueling there was still 7.4 litres left in the tank which would give a range of over 1170 km if using it all & nearly 12 hours driving.

I believe the new MB diesel will do quite a bit better.

We are amazed that after 11.5 hours of driving that day how comfortable the seats are. Absolutely no aches or numb bums on our 64 year old frames. !!

The 220CDI is a very comfortable,economical,safe & enjoyable car to drive over long distances.

 

By coincidence, we did a one day round-trip of 466 miles yesterday, average speed 64mph, and achieved 30.8 mpg, per the cluster read-out. Not quite diesel figures, but I am still delighted with my Mercedes "economy" car's performance. The seats are great, and, indeed, better for my shape than in our E Class.

 

I got 30mpg in my C350 last year on a 500 mile trip to Dallas, TX. Not bad for a big V6 in a heavy car without fuel-injection! I am getting 24-26mpg on my 22 mile one way commute everyday now.

 

@MBnewby: Sorry you DO have fuel injection in the 3.5L engine.
I got 27.5 MPG on a trip that included going from sea level over a 10,000 foot pass, winding roads and speeds up to 125 MPH. The trick is to let the torque do the work work and keep the engine under or at 3000 RPM (obviously at 125 MPH the engine revs around 3700 RPM in 7th gear).
This on a 1000 km (625 mile) trip.