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IMO a touch screen in a vehicle for driver's use is a major safety hazard. One must take eyes off the road to locate and/or scroll to the menu item needed and select it. Physical buttons do not relocate and can be sensed by touch without taking eyes off the road.
While driving in traffic have you ever tried to change the entertainment system from radio to playing music from an SD card? It cannot be done safely.
I am with the folks who don’t like touchscreens in cars, and consider that a safety hazard.
However, the entire industry has moved in the direction of big-screens already, and Mercedes will be left behind, if they don’t follow that trend……whether we like it or not. Mercedes is already known as a fuddy-duddy grandpa-era brand, and the last thing they want to be associated with, is a further reinforcement of that image. So they go overboard with hyper-screens……essentially out-screening everyone else, to show they are staying ahead of the technology curve.
My first impressions:
Exterior
- Side profile looks sleek and I’m not going to lie - the door handles are sexy. I really did enjoy them in the S-Class
- The front headlights are a step down - too many curves and DRL in my opinion. They should have kept it simple. Less is more.
- DRL on the grill?! No thanks please - I am not driving a Kia.
- The grill itself - hard to say, maybe it will grow on me. I do not like the black border.
- Taillight design (when turned off) is very nice - I love the chrome border on the top.
- Taillights when switched on….horrendous, I mean they don’t even match the overall design language. It’s 3 arrows too tacky - whatever happened to understated elegance?
Interior
- The super screen is just too much, I agree with someone who said that the passenger is meant to have conversations - not to watch movies.
- The games, selfie camera etc? I mean that’s bull**** - they are targeting a generation which cannot afford to buy a Mercedes (and when they eventually will, they won’t care about Angry Birds or selfies I assure you).
- The new MBUX is nice, I tried it in the S-Class - the only update I am looking forward too.
- Gimicky AC vents - no thanks - I would rather use my hands to move it.
- Lack of buttons is disappointing but is inevitable.
- Ambient lighting is nice, I like how it can be customized.
Conclusion
I think it will grow on me, I still have my MY21 for 2 more years - I will keep it and not upgrade for the time being. Maybe the facelift will improve many of the design decisions (especially the headlights / taillights). As of now, the taillights will be a deal breaker.
Last edited by alizansari; 04-26-2023 at 05:14 PM.
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 OM642 ; R107 M117, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Originally Posted by JTK44
Point of interest:
I now own a 2019 E450 and prior to that a 2016 E350, both with a V6 engine:
I find the interior of the 2019 vastly superior to the interior of the 2016. The 2109 is elegant: If you look closely you will note that there is not a straight piece of wood anywhere: each piece of wood has a slight curve to it. Not having flat surfaces is extremely pleasing to the eye. It is expensive to do vs. the straight wood surfaces on the 2016. I see no difference in the interior quality - if anything the interior quality of the 2019 is better than the interior quality of the 2016.
Having said that, and as I have posted, I prefer buttons which are tactile to having almost everything on a huge touchscreen. This race to the biggest screen makes no sense to me. But what do I know: I have been driving Mercedes since the early 80's, am old and Mercedes is looking to sell to the younger generation - many of whom do not even know what a ignition/car key is!
Mercedes used to be function over form, superior engineering. Now luxury seems to be defined by who has the most gadgets, electronics, etc. all of which are a distractions when you are actually driving.
Just my $.02
I do think the interior of the W213 looks pretty damn nice, I'm just comparing materials quality. I will note that my mother's E350 is not nearly as nice on the inside as my E400, so it may be an apples to oranges comparing the "base-ish" model to the "middle" model.
I am with the folks who don’t like touchscreens in cars, and consider that a safety hazard.
However, the entire industry has moved in the direction of big-screens already, and Mercedes will be left behind, if they don’t follow that trend……whether we like it or not. Mercedes is already known as a fuddy-duddy grandpa-era brand, and the last thing they want to be associated with, is a further reinforcement of that image. So they go overboard with hyper-screens……essentially out-screening everyone else, to show they are staying ahead of the technology curve.
MB has been on the iPad-in-the-car theme since W166 facelift in 2016. It has gotten old.
My first impressions:
Exterior
- Side profile looks sleek and I’m not going to lie - the door handles are sexy. I really did enjoy them in the S-Class
- The front headlights are a step down - too many curves and DRL in my opinion. They should have kept it simple. Less is more.
- DRL on the grill?! No thanks please - I am not driving a Kia.
- The grill itself - hard to say, maybe it will grow on me. I do not like the black border.
- Taillight design (when turned off) is very nice - I love the chrome border on the top.
- Taillights when switched on….horrendous, I mean they don’t even match the overall design language. It’s 3 arrows too tacky - whatever happened to understated elegance?
Interior
- The super screen is just too much, I agree with someone who said that the passenger is meant to have conversations - not to watch movies.
- The games, selfie camera etc? I mean that’s bull**** - they are targeting a generation which cannot afford to buy a Mercedes (and when they eventually will, they won’t care about Angry Birds or selfies I assure you).
- The new MBUX is nice, I tried it in the S-Class - the only update I am looking forward too.
- Gimicky AC vents - no thanks - I would rather use my hands to move it.
- Lack of buttons is disappointing but is inevitable.
- Ambient lighting is nice, I like how it can be customized.
Conclusion
I think it will grow on me, I still have my MY21 for 2 more years - I will keep it and not upgrade for the time being. Maybe the facelift will improve many of the design decisions (especially the headlights / taillights). As of now, the taillights will be a deal breaker.
to your point about the air vents, they can adjusted electronically or manually without causing any harm to the system. I personally hate electronic air vents like in the model 3. INFURIATING to use as you can never set it just right the same way you can with you fingers. It also takes 45 seconds as opposed to 2. Luckily they gave us the choice. Those little grab nubs aren’t just for show.
I see the trunk for the hybrid still has the same size 370 liters, which is pretty small for such a big car.
But lucky it's now a flat surface and no longer a hump like this:
Head lamps...... one line C class, two lines E class and three lines S class - simple......... you knew who's behind you.....
Then they made them look all the same and now it's the BMW look......
The headlights look more like it copied Infiniti’s headlights design, definitely a downgrade look wise.
My son would probably see this car and say, dad is that the new Mercedes in front of us? My response would be, of course it is, can’t you tell by the 5 Mercedes logos in the back of the car.
I wash my own car. I can tell you that cleaning those multi spoke wheels will be a b*tch!
I am a traditionalist: I prefer the luxury grill and star on the hood. If it become available in the US, I would opt for it.
Hyperscreen or whatever Mercedes will call it: TMI!!! I cannot imagine a passenger watching a movie. The passenger is there for conversation and company - not to "veg" out on a movie
Lack of buttons: Using buttons is intuitive: Using a screen takes your attention away from driving: you must LOOK at the screen to change functions. I fully realize that there is a cost savings by having as much as possible on the screen rather than buttons. I wonder when the first law suit will happen when the driver, passenger or driver/passenger of the other vehicles sues claiming distraction because of looking at the screen to change the temperature, the radio, etc.
I think the new design is elegant. But I also think my 2019 E450 is elegant and I love the full screen and wood in my car!
Just my $.02!
BOOM 💥💥💥
Could not agree more, @JTK44
I love my new ride and from the looks of it, it appearsI just bought the last of the "good ones!" 👍🏻
The car pictured is the luxury not the sport. Shame we in the US will not be getting the luxury.
The article notes a larger interior, always a plus and an PHEV: does anybody know if the PHEV will be coming to the US?
I take long trips to Vermont to ski in the winter and a BEV, with limited charging stations and range limited by cold weather, is not practical. A PHEV E class, except for the omission of the luxury model, checks all my boxes.
I was hoping they’d keep the two half circle DRL for the base lights too but they didn’t, oh well. Shame because it helps a lot with distinction. Also that “base” interior without the massive screen is the way to go imo. Still a landscape oriented screen (wohoo) and the wood adds a lot of character. It might not be to everyone’s taste but I do like the ambient lighted star wood pattern, it looks really cool at night and the little details during the day give more visual excitement. E450 AMG line + digital lights + rear wheel steering + “base” interior with star pattern wood would be my spec. So many good interior and exterior colors that’s it’s too hard to choose, which is good because they really limited the W206 compared to the outgoing W205. Super happy they kept around the 450 with the I6 and even gave it a slight power bump, was scared they were gonna leave the I6 only to the AMG.
I also like that the screen is not vertical, Range Rover also have it positioned like that but Range Rover at least calls it the floating screen apparently in their marketing while MB is silent on the base screen. I also agree with the I6 on the E 450 that was a surprise and a good surprise! Might be our next vehicle once the taillights grow on me...
Very nice so this is the new MB O.S right? I wonder what platform it is based on, I think they mentioned but I forgot, was it Linux?
Mercedes says this is MBUX 3, a precursor to MB OS.
A precursor to MB.OS will already be available in the new E-Class starting in 2023 with the third generation of MBUX. A new MBUX API for Android allows the installation of third-party apps, offering a better user experience compared to mirrored apps.
IMO a touch screen in a vehicle for driver's use is a major safety hazard. One must take eyes off the road to locate and/or scroll to the menu item needed and select it. Physical buttons do not relocate and can be sensed by touch without taking eyes off the road.
While driving in traffic have you ever tried to change the entertainment system from radio to playing music from an SD card? It cannot be done safely.
Precisely, someone did a study to see how each touchscreen in different makes and models is operated during driving, which is the quickest to just change simple functions: https://www.vibilagare.se/english/ph...ars-test-finds
I am with the folks who don’t like touchscreens in cars, and consider that a safety hazard.
However, the entire industry has moved in the direction of big-screens already, and Mercedes will be left behind, if they don’t follow that trend……whether we like it or not. Mercedes is already known as a fuddy-duddy grandpa-era brand, and the last thing they want to be associated with, is a further reinforcement of that image. So they go overboard with hyper-screens……essentially out-screening everyone else, to show they are staying ahead of the technology curve.
I remember prior to the X253 GLC facelift (I guess back in 2018-2019), MB were stubborn and didn't want to go the touch screen route while there were many competitors already offering touchscreen in their cars.
Which they finally gave in with the facelift GLC (someone actually called in head office and asked why everyone has touchscreens while MB doesn't and their reply was something along the lines of "Because we are German" I mean I don't know if that was meant to be a joke or not but, well I mean the A-Class had it first which makes sense for the younger generation.
Not so many years later, you have all this capacitive touch and touch screen as well, talk about how things changed fast.
Head lamps...... one line C class, two lines E class and three lines S class - simple......... you knew who's behind you.....
Then they made them look all the same and now it's the BMW look......
I am only confused about why they put four dots on the GLE and three dots on the GLC, and then you have the EQ models all over the place the EQS sedan had three dots and the EQE sedan had two "X" shaped strips of LED lights but their SUVs, EQS SUV and EQE SUV they just three dot everything.
The headlights look more like it copied Infiniti’s headlights design, definitely a downgrade look wise.
My son would probably see this car and say, dad is that the new Mercedes in front of us? My response would be, of course it is, can’t you tell by the 5 Mercedes logos in the back of the car.
They definitely collaborated at some part, and with Nissan too, the C118 CLA pre-facelift looked very similar to the Q60 with the taillight and the headlight design as well. Infiniti sometimes do make nice looking cars, the interior was always they low point in my opinion.
04-26-2023, 11:07 AM
