Yeah, does anyone know if it's a 7-seater?

 

To me, other than some cosmetic and a few other knick-knacks, the new All-Terrain is near-identical to the S213 All-Terrain. I expected this new version to be more “All Terrain” than just a wagon.

 

It really sucks that MB is turning the e-class into a coach bag from the outlet mall with those logos everywhere. This would have been my fourth e-wagon purchase but I can't get over their ridiculous decision to cover everything in logos.

 

 

The below is my car (S213)…….I am still trying to figure out some REAL difference between this and the S214 shown above. Looks near identical to me, in fit, form and function and I’d be disappointed to know that this is the NEXT generation.

 

MB and most German gas cars have always been evolution over revolution, especially a top seller (in Europe at least) like the E-Class, so I wouldn't expect the overall design to change drastically. To me the S214 looks much more refined, sleek, and upscale, and the roofline looks much sportier now (very CLS Shooting Brake), even the cladding looks to be improved. The front of the 213 facelift just never worked in my opinion.

 

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I agree that cosmetically, the front-end of the new car looks better than the S213…..in fact, I think the front-end of the pre-facelift S213 is more substantial looking than the facelifted S213 like mine. The roofline to me, looks identical even though I don’t have a picture of my car shot from the top (I have a panoramic roof too, and in my white car, it looks identical to the above posted picture of the white S214).

I also agree with the evolution/revolution aspect. But I think these kinds of mild changes are acceptable in mid-cycle facelifts or refreshes, but in a re-design, they should go much further than what has come out in the S214 above. JMHO.

 

I just walked out and shot an iPad picture of my car showing the roof……a bit dusty, but to me, looks close enough to the above S214 roofline

 

 

I am far more happy with a subtly sleeker redesign than the hideousness coming out of, say, Bavaria right now...or the blobular EQ division of Mercedes. And also very happy the I-6 lives on!

 

Oh, I agree. BMW is desperately trying to find a cohesive design language, and they still seem to be lost. The EQ side is a design disaster and probably indicative of Ver.0.0. Happy about the I-6 too and that they are committed to IC, at least for the foreseeable future.

I personally like re-designs to be re-designs. Not cosmetic adjustments masquerading as re-designs. The S214 to me is not a “redesign” but a series of cosmetic adjustments designed to not offend…..is that enough in a competitive market space ? I think not.

 

Except the mid-size luxury wagon is not a competitive market. You have maybe two to three choices, ranging from MB to Audi and Volvo all of which sell in very very minuscule numbers.

 

 

I think the idea was to take the big leap in tech, while maintaining more traditional design language for the ICE 'Mercedes-Benz' vehicles; the 'Mercedes-EQ' sub-division taking the lead with exterior design. Not that I would or will opt for any of it, but for sure the tech in this new car is leaps and bounds ahead of the 213, C8 Audi, and any Volvo.

 

The All Terrain really needs an option to paint match all that black cladding. I don't mind the cladding look but I think I might prefer an overall cohesive look. Audi offers it in select colors on the A6 Allroad for $1k.

 

Agreed, paint matched fenders would be nice, but unlikely. Although weirdly on the A6 Allroad they are a matte finish so they don't match 100%, but on the A4 Allroad it is a gloss/paint finish and matches 100%.

 

I believe the All-Terrain in Europe, has the option to be paint matched. So you could have an All-Terrain (with paint-matched fenders) and a regular Wagon in Europe, sitting side-by-side, and you’d only realize the difference via the increased ride-height on the AT. Of course the AT also comes standard with the Air suspension (and several other differences), while the standard wagon may not.

 

To each their own, some of us actually want a more normal wagon looking wagon.

Edit: At least here in North America, when there is only an all-terrain now as the regular wagon is discontinued as you know at the same time, MB probably thinks the younger generation likes this look. So if they are able to balance it well and attract SUV customers over yet still have current customers of the regular wagons to consider when upgrading, that will be the ideal situation.

 

In black with the Black Pack, 20” wheel option, and in the low suspension setting, the S213 looks “cohesive” and “normal”. A lot more ‘big GTI’ than ‘upmarket Outback’. Seems like it will be the same with the S214.

 

Hmmm, it does now you mentioned it.

 

 

 

Thanks! Such an elegant looking car. Here is the video:

 

A small few reviews have dropped:


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