In the Indian subcontinent, there are three major types of cars in terms of body style – hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs. Apart from these three, there is one more style called an estate. In the past, there have been only a few vehicles in this body style in India. And with E-Class All Terrain, German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is trying to get into this segment with all forms of luxury.
Exteriors – The new front grille and black cladding on wheel arches give the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain a very appealing look. This vehicle isn’t very long as it is based on the standard E-Class. The black treatment done to the lower section along with the wheel arch claddings gives the car a proportionate look. The scuff plates with the faux exhaust pipe housing on the rear completes the exteriors of the car.
Interiors – The Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain gets a similar interior as the regular E-Class. The material quality and the fit-finish levels in the cabin are top-notch. The ambient lighting inside the cabin provides a very soothing environment. However, the instrument cluster looks dated when compared to the fully digital units which are offered on the rival vehicles. Another thing that's missing on this vehicle is the touch input for the COMAND infotainment screen.
Though this car is based on the regular E-Class, the rear space isn’t substantial but it is sufficient for two passengers. The car misses out on reclining rear seats and soft pillows on the headrests. The pockets on the side door are large enough to accommodate 1-litre bottles. The E-Class All-Terrain gets a massive boot along with a powered tail-gate.
Performance – Powering the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain is the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine that puts out 194 HP of power and 400 Nm of torque. The car returns a noticeable fuel efficiency of 12 km/l. Though the power from this unit is sufficient, a bigger engine would have been even better. This is the first car with the 2.0-litre diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz which complies with the BS-VI norms even on BS-IV fuel.
The engine is very refined and silent as it doesn’t scream even at its 5000 RPM redline. The power delivery is linear with a strong mid-range, but the turbo lag is well present. The 9-speed gearbox is very smooth and one can manually change the gears with the help of steering-mounted paddle shifters. The weight of the car has increased to 1900 kgs due to the addition of the 4-wheel drive system. The behaviour of engine, gearbox, steering and suspension can be altered by the different driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual and All Terrain.
Driving Dynamics – The All-Terrain mode increases the ride height by 35 mm and enables the 4MATIC system. The ride height can be raised by the press of a button but as the speed crosses the 35 km/hr mark it will automatically lower to the initial position. This car isn't meant for off-roading but it can do some amount of soft-roading. Moreover, it instils more confidence while driving on mud. 
The default suspension setup on the All-Terrain is on the stiffer side and doesn’t feel plush when compared to the E-Class. However, there is no loss of traction even on the wet roads. The car maintains its line while cornering but there is a slight amount of body roll due to the extra weight it carries. The steering is stupendous, offers a great amount of feel and feedback. The steering weighs up perfectly in the Sports mode. The brakes are phenomenal and offer sure-footed stopping power.
Verdict – The Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain is a more practical version of the E-Class sedan, it offers a huge boot along with a 4-wheel drive system. This car will find it hard to attract buyers in India because of its body style. The Volvo V90 Cross Country is the only rival to this car in this segment. Purchasing a Mercedes-Benz GLE over the E-Class All-Terrain will be a smarter choice, as the GLE and All-Terrain share many features and the former's body style is more appealing to our audiences.
