The estate version of the current sixth-generation has made its debut. Innovative engineering and a compelling conception of space make it the most intelligent estate that Mercedes-Benz has ever built.
In terms of the interior space on offer, the E-Class Estate continues to be one of the favourites in its segment, with a cargo volume of up to 1820 litres and, in spite of a sportier roofline, best-in-class headroom and elbow-room in the rear. Later in the year, the new Mercedes estate will again be available with a third, folding bench seat for children.
For the market launch, the newcomer will be available as the E200 model with a 4-cylinder 184bhp petrol engine and the E250 model with a 4-cylinder 211bhp petrol engine. All models are equipped as standard with the new 9G‑Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission.
There is also the Mercedes‑AMG E43 4Matic Estate. With its powerful 401bhp 3‑litre V6 biturbo engine, 9G‑Tronic automatic with shortened shift times, AMG Performance 4Matic all-wheel-drive and model-specific sports suspension, the E43 Estate boasts the AMG brand’s hallmark driving performance and increased agility.
With a capacity of 670 to 1820 litres, the new E-Class Estate’s load compartment is one of the biggest in the segment. As standard, the rear bench seat has new cargo-related functionality: the backrest can be positioned at an approximately 10‑degree steeper angle. This creates an additional 30 litres of cargo volume while continuing to enable full use to be made of five seats.
In addition, the rear seat backrest folds down in a 40:20:40 split as standard, opening up plenty of potential configurations between cargo capacity and occupant capacity. To release the backrests, there are electric switches located in the load compartment and to the right and left next to the backrests.
The developers paid particular attention to practical dimensions and innovative management of the load space. The boot’s minimum load compartment width between the wheel arches is 1100 millimetres, and the proven combined cargo cover and net is back, offering both security from prying eyes and safety on the move. Thanks to the electric drive, the load compartment cover moves upwards when the tailgate is opened.
The Easy-Pack tailgate provided as part of the standard equipment can be opened and closed very easily at the touch of a button, for comfortable loading/unloading. Operation is electro-mechanical. To prevent the tailgate making contact with the garage roof, for example, it can be halted in any position and its opening angle limited.
In April 1978, the Estate 123 model series entered production and started a long success story – well over a million Mercedes estate saloons have been built to date. In Germany, the Estate is known as the T-Modell, and although the “T” suggests tourism and transport, it also stands for trendsetter. For Mercedes-Benz, the estate model is an integral part of the luxury segment and has a loyal fan base, particularly in Germany. There has been a T-Modell in every successive generation of the E‑Class, and the latest W213 version continues the lineage. 
Read our review of the W213 E-Class saloon.
