2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec Sedan – First Look and Review – The Diesel Driver – The Joy of Diesel Driving
The big news with the E250 BlueTec is its exemplary fuel economy, an EPA rating that we estimate should be in the mid 40s (mpg) when the car is released next month.
The first 2014 E250 BlueTec sedans are starting to appear on these shores and The Diesel Driver was afforded the opportunity to spend a day driving a Lunar Blue Metallic one on a leisurely round trip from Portland, Oregon to Mount Hood.
During the drive, which involved roughly a dozen similarly equipped sedans, many of the drivers managed to get excellent fuel economy, the high being 44.4 mpg (5.3 l/100 km). A combination of a propensity to drive at ridiculously high speeds and time spent stuck on two-lane roads trying to pass trucks going 40 mph (64 km/h) led to fuel economy figures of only 33.1 mpg (7.1 l/100 km) on the first leg but I strongly suspect that a more even-handed drive on my part would have resulted in better numbers. After all, I was able to get 35 mpg (6.7 l/100 km) in the less fuel efficient E350 BlueTec.
While the new E-Class looked good when I saw it presented on stage at the Detroit auto show in January, it looks stunningly good up close. The interior is elegant, comfortable leather seats that provide just the right amount of support, and (in the car I had) handsome natural wood that stretches across the entire dash. A new center-mounted analog clock adds an additional touch of retro-elegance.
BOTTOM LINE
A mid-40s (mpg) highway fuel economy rating for the diesel E-Class will not only be a milestone for Mercedes but is a harbinger of things to come, at least when it comes to diesels in the U.S.
This year we’ve already seen the introduction of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze that came in at 46 mpg (5.1 l/100 km), the highest rating for a non-hybrid car on the market, and of the 2014 BMW 328d, rated at 45 mpg (5.2 l/100 km) and, with a 0-to-60 elapsed time of 7.2 seconds, is a bit faster than the E250, which gets there in an estimated 7.9 seconds.
The 2014 E250 BlueTec should be hitting showrooms next month and will clearly make a statement. With an MSRP of $51,400, it’s also the entry-level E-Class as the gasoline-powered E350 sedan starts at $51,900. The 2010-2013 E-Class never felt outdated but the extensive makeover in both looks and diesel powerplant will go a long way in helping the E250 BlueTec leave its mark in the diesel landscape of the U.S.
THE DETAILS
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec | |
| Base price/price-as-tested | $51,400/TBA |
| Drivetrain | Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2.1 liter four-cylinder |
| Horsepower/Torque | 195 / 369 |
| Transmission | 7-speed |
| Curb weight (lbs) | 4,409 |
| Wheelbase (inches) | 113.2 |
| Length x width x height (inches) | 192.1 x 73.0 x 57.1 |
| 0-60 mph (seconds) | 7.9 (estimated) |
| Fuel economy (mpg) (highway) | 44 (estimated) |
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