When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Yes, the interior is nice, and that's the big differentiator here.
The exterior looks exactly like the C. There's no way around it. That's disappointing.
There isn't an ounce of character to this car that the W205 C doesn't have from the outside looking in. From the inside looking out, it's a different story.
All that being said, I bet the new E coupe will be HOT - it will probably be pillarless and even sexier than the new C coupe.
Compared to the 2014+ W212, the W213 has rather boring exterior styling. The hood looks far too bulbous, the rear end looks messy with red reflectors inserted into the bumpers, the one-piece taillights look like they belong on a C Class and those alloy wheels do nothing for this car. The W213's rounded rear window with a wide blacked out border will certainly restrict rearward vision. Excellent all round vision is one of the many outstanding features that I truly appreciate when I'm driving my W212. The W212's wide, horizontal tail lamps with their light pipes stand out when seen on rainy nights. The much smaller triangular W213 tail lamps will not be as obvious to following drivers.
I much prefer the dynamic lines of the facelift W212 in Sport trim. Both the front and rear ends of the W212 Sport are leaps and bounds ahead of the W213. Also, the fact that the W213 has grown about 2" in overall length is another negative for me. It remains to be seen whether the new interior design will be enough to overcome the very disappointing exterior.
Last edited by DerekACS; Feb 25, 2016 at 10:01 PM.
Agree. The 2014-16 W212 E (Sport) exterior is not inferior to that of the W213, but then W213 is all about the interior and in that regard they're just not on the same playing field. I'm sure the new large-C/small-S exterior will grow on me while seating in a superbly crafted W213 cabin. I will even consider moving (down) from E550 to E400. I like new interior that much.
It looks just like a bigger size C...Kinda boring though.
I don't feel sporty at all. But it looks more luxery feel. Maybe thats the true MB form.
I am dying to see the new E63.
Hopefully, new E63 has much more sporty look.
The car looks decidedly lackluster in red IMO and I think that speaks to its sportiness or lack thereof. But when I see these two angles I think the E63 will look really, really good.
Wow that is disappointing that the w213 looks identical to the new c class. The new C class looks great but I was hoping there is something different that you can distinguish between an E and C class.
if i have one of those ill paint those reflectors body color straight from the dealer. i dont care if it loses its purpose. shouldnt have been there in the first place.
but so far thats the only thing i dont like about the new E. oh and I prefer the other meaner looking front bumper btw.
The first Spy Shots showing the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class L completely naked in China. The E-Class L is the China-only long-wheelbase version of the 2017 E-Class. It will debut on the Beijing Auto Show in April and launch on the Chinese car market in the second half of the year.
E300L badge top-left.
The wheelbase of the E-Class L is extended by an impressive 14 centimeters, total length increased by 14.2 centimeters. That adds up to: 5065/1860/1467, and wheelbase is 3079. New news on the engines: the E-Class L will initially only be available with a 2.0 turbo. In E300L form it will deliver 245hp, and in E200L form 184hp. Transmission is a nine-speed automatic.
The E-Class L will be manufactured in China by the long-running Beijing-Benz joint venture. Price will range from 400.000 to 600.000 yuan.
The Beijing-Benz badge is oddly located on the bottom of the boot lid, instead of on the far right of the top. Very strange. The badge isn’t even straight, it is moving along with the rounded edge. Thick chrome bar between lights almost touches the star.
The steering wheel seems different from the European version. The E-Class L also gets a few extra luxury goodies including a ’64 color ambient lighting’ system in the ceiling, an NFC enabled smartphone integration system, and a Burmester 23-speaker 3D-surround sound system.
2014 E350 Coupe (previous), 2016 C450 AMG Sport (previous), 2020 GLE450 (previous), 2021 S580 (now)
Maybe it's just me, but I can fairly easily differentiate between the new E-Class and current C-Class design? They are obviously similarly designed, but there are several subtle (yet notable) differences between the two exterior designs. Either way, MB knocked it out of the park with both the recent C-Class and S-Class redesigns, so it makes sense that they wouldn't deviate from those designs too much.
I do wish the Sport design was a little more aggressive in some ways, but I'm glad that it's not overly aggressive or over-designed like most Lexus sport models (which often look like Hot Wheels toy cars to me).
No question that the 2017 E-Class interior is among the best interior designs of any manufacturer in recent memory, though.
Maybe it's just me, but I can fairly easily differentiate between the new E-Class and current C-Class design? They are obviously similarly designed, but there are several subtle (yet notable) differences between the two exterior designs. Either way, MB knocked it out of the park with both the recent C-Class and S-Class redesigns, so it makes sense that they wouldn't deviate from those designs too much.
I do wish the Sport design was a little more aggressive in some ways, but I'm glad that it's not overly aggressive or over-designed like most Lexus sport models (which often look like Hot Wheels toy cars to me).
No question that the 2017 E-Class interior is among the best interior designs of any manufacturer in recent memory, though.
Totally respect your opinion as I do others on this forum. I just can't find one discernible difference between them at-a-glance exterior-wise, besides the dual headlight LED lines, which is EXTREMELY subtle. What are the notable differences you see? I would definitely notice the difference between the two up close as would any other MB fan, but from a stone's throw away I think it would be tough.
Finally! The W213 is a HUGE styling improvement inside and outside over the mistake of the W212.
Unfortunately MB is tying to force a 4 cylinder turbo on everyone. Dumb idea.
With respect to the exterior styling of the W213, many W212 owners would disagree with you. To my eyes, the W213 Sport version on the outside looks rather boring, too much like the W205 C Class. The W213 Luxury version looks simply dreadful; the ugly wheels (seen on the W213 Sport version above in Post #176) do not help.
MB offering a 4 cylinder engine in its basic model E300 is no different than the BMW 528i and Audi A6 2.0L. At least two 6 cylinder and diesel models for W213 will follow.
Last edited by DerekACS; Mar 11, 2016 at 10:47 PM.
With respect to the exterior styling of the W213, many W212 owners would disagree with you. To my eyes, the W213 Sport version on the outside looks rather boring, too much like the W205 C Class. The W213 Luxury version looks simply dreadful; the ugly wheels (seen on the W213 Sport version above in Post #176) do not help.
MB offering a 4 cylinder engine in its basic model E300 is no different than the BMW 528i and Audi A6 2.0L. At least two 6 cylinder and diesel models for W213 will follow.
Styling will always be subjective, so we can certainly disagree on that. However, I always hated the "boy racer" look of the current W212. The new W213 looks like a return to classy.
My point regarding the 4 cylinder is that is the ONLY engine option available at launch. The A6 and 5 Series were widely available at launch with very nice 6 cylinder supercharged and turbo options respectively. I can't imagine either Audi or BMW introducing a new mid size sedan and introducing it with a 4 cylinder only.
IMO this is one of the reasons that MB seems to be losing its way and jumping from trend to trend.
With respect to the exterior styling of the W213, many W212 owners would disagree with you. To my eyes, the W213 Sport version on the outside looks rather boring, too much like the W205 C Class. The W213 Luxury version looks simply dreadful; the ugly wheels (seen on the W213 Sport version above in Post #176) do not help.
MB offering a 4 cylinder engine in its basic model E300 is no different than the BMW 528i and Audi A6 2.0L. At least two 6 cylinder and diesel models for W213 will follow.
Thought nobody would ever mention the wheels. When did Mercedes start taking design cues for wheels from Honda Civics? Please give us back classy multispokes and sporty-but-not-spaceship 5-spokes!
I assume that the dealer was aware of this. If not I would be concerned about buying a Benz from them. It does beg the question of why put this in the showroom with this obvious defect in workmanship.
I assume that the dealer was aware of this. If not I would be concerned about buying a Benz from them. It does beg the question of why put this in the showroom with this obvious defect in workmanship.
You have too much trust for the dealers. Itīs all about selling, in Sweden the majority of the new MB are sold as company cars. Those buyers donīt care about the cars and these kind of details. Very few people would notice this anyhow.
If i commented this to the dealer i would just get a "get out of here" stare.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Both the front and rear ends of the W212 Sport are leaps and bounds ahead of the W213. Also, the fact that the W213 has grown about 2" in overall length is another negative for me. It remains to be seen whether the new interior design will be enough to overcome the very disappointing exterior.
