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2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI Diesel Mid-Size Luxury Sedan

Review of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI Diesel Mid-Size Luxury Sedan

Base MSRP Range: Not Available

Base Invoice Range: Not Available

MSRP As Tested: Not Available

Versions: E320 CDI

Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Luxury Sedan

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Rear-Wheel Drive .

Engine As Tested: 3.2-liter, inline, six ">cylinder Deiesl, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves, W12>, 201-horsepower at 4,200rpm and 369 lb-ft torque between 1,800 and 2,600 rpm.

Transmission As Tested: 5-speed Automatic .

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Not Available

Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger airbags, power-assisted disc brakes, ">Antilock Braking System (ABS) brake assist, antiskid system, TeleAid emergency assistance system, emergency inside trunk release, daytime running lights.

Competition: BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS 330, Infiniti G35, Volvo S60, Audi A6

Review

Bandera, Texas - Mercedes-Benz invented the diesel-powered passenger car in 1936. Diesel Mercedes were available in the U.S. for forty years, and they were popular. In 1982 diesel cars made up 82% of Mercedes’ U.S. sales. However they fell out of favor. The last model offered here was the E300 turbo-diesel. The company stopped offering diesel products in the United States in 2000.

Drive the E320 CDI with the windows up. You’ll never know you are driving a car with a diesel engine.

Gone is the noisy, diesel-truck rattle. We used to live across the street from a neighbor who fired-up a diesel RAM pickup truck at 6:00 am to go to work. The first time we heard it we thought a German Panzer tank had pulled into our driveway. But that is not the case with this car. At idle the CDI is only 2 decibels louder than a gas-powered E320 -- 44 versus 42. At full throttle the CDI is quieter than the gasoline version, -- 72 versus 76. For comparison sake, doorbells are usually around 75 decibels, normal conversation is 60, and a lawnmower is 90.

The 2005 E320 CDI is the first diesel product offered by Mercedes-Benz since 2000. It is neither noisy, slow, or dirty. Mercedes has delivered the luxury car experience in a car with a diesel engine. It is pleasant in all the ways the old products were not.

Diesel Background

U.S. drivers today have relatively little experience with diesel fuel vehicles: And what we have, isn’t positive. Most of us recall Mercedes, Volkswagen, and the disastrous GM products spewing nasty-smelling, black smoke. Fortunately new diesel engines, and fuel technologies have changed that. In fact, more than 70% of all passenger vehicles sold in Europe now, have diesel engines.

European manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, are pressing the reintroduction of diesel cars in the U.S. right now. They see the current rise in fuel prices, increased awareness for higher mileage cars, and the rollout of hybrid powered cars, as the perfect opportunity to sell Americans on diesel. Though diesel fuel is only slightly less expensive than gasoline, diesel engines provide about 30% better fuel economy than gasoline ones and which is very close to what most consumers experience with the hybrids. So, the timing is indeed good.

Diesel cars are currently not available in all states including California, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. It is expected that they will be available in all 50 states in 2007. But new technology still needs to develop as the maximum allowable sulfur levels in diesel fuel will be reduced in some of those states to 15 parts per million, down from (an average of) 350.

Diesel and gas engines differ from one another significantly. Gas engines fill the combustion chambers with the gas-fuel mixture, and a spark ignites that causes the explosion that drives the car. Diesel engines instead compress the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chambers, but under much higher pressure than in a gasoline engine. When the air-fuel mixture is highly compressed, it generates sufficient heat to ignite it creating the explosion that drives the car.

Diesels offer better mileage than Gasoline-Electric Hybrid cars, especially for highway driving. So if you are looking for a higher-mileage vehicle it is more likely you will save money in the long run by purchasing a diesel rather than a hybrid. Both types of cars, diesel and hybrid, cost more than those that run on gas as there is premium charged for the special engines.

Exterior

The Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI looks like any other E320 sedan. It has the vertically-positioned, oval headlights and more gently sloped front end and hood of the gasoline power version. The E320 is one our favorite Mercedes-Benz products because it is the perfect size and it is more sporty and elegant that other products in the lineup.

The only difference that we are aware of between the two is that the CDI is available with a new panoramic sunroof. It’s fabulous and gives the E320 even more style and panache. It costs about $1,500.

For a complete review of the E320 read the review of the gasoline powered product in the Car Reviews section of this site.

Interior

Again the E320 CDI looks just like any other E Class product. It does not differ in any significant way from it’s gasoline powered sister. The current E Class products are more luxurious than their predecessors and have taken many interior styling cues from Mercedes’ top-of-the-line products, the S Class.

Performance

Powered by a 3.2-liter, turbocharged, 6-cylindar diesel engine the E320 CDI gets 201-horespower at 4,200 rpm, and 369 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,800 and 2,600 rpms. The diesel E320 has 20 horsepower less than the gas engine version, but it has 137 lb.-ft. more torque. The additional low-end torque gives the E320 CDI a faster 0-60 time -- 6.8 seconds -- than the gas powered version -- 7.1. It used to be the case that diesel cars provided significantly poorer performance than their gas-powered counterparts. That is no longer the case, and the Mercedes E320 CDI proves it.

Highway mileage is the reason to buy this car. During our test drive we, and our fellow journalists, did a fuel-economy run of 108 miles. These focused on getting the best possible mileage, rather than the best performance. Some journalists were able to get 45 miles-per-gallon on the highway: Though some of the techniques used would not normally be done in daily driving. Rolling through stop signs rather than making complete stops, drafting other cars -- considered tailgating when not on a race track --, and coasting downhill are common mileage-enhancing techniques, but they are neither safe, nor practical for normal use.

However even when we drove normally, with modest awareness of our mileage, the E320 CDI got 35 to 37 miles-per-gallon on the highway. That’s great!

And just in case you want to know some driving techniques that increase mileage consider these. Hold the vehicle’s speed as constant as possible, especially on the highway. Accelerate as smoothly and slowly as possible. Keep to normal highway speeds.

Ride and Handling

The handling is terrific; balanced, nimble and accurate. The chassis is the perfect size to provide both comfort for passengers, while also being small enough for great handling. The four-wheel disc brakes are excellent.

The ride is as smooth as you would expect from Mercedes. We felt the road just enough to know its precise condition, but the chassis absorbed bumps, and the accompanying harshness, nicely.

Driving the winding roads of the Texas Hill Country the E320 CDI took every turn just as we told it to. This is an area we test-drive vehicles in often. We have driven many fine autos there, Audis, BMWs and more. This car was as good as any. Great brakes, great handling and lots of torque make for a fantastic driving experience.

Safety

Mercedes makes some of the safest cars on the market. The CDI has all the same safety features as the gasoline version. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the E320 its highest rating of “good” in their front-offset crash test. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the E320 4-stars out of 5 on the frontal impact crash test, and 5-stars for side and rollover resistance.

The E320 CDI comes standard with dual front airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, head-protection curtains for both front and rear passengers, antilock brakes, traction control, and much more.

Conclusion

If you live in one of the states where the Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI is available they are certainly worth considering if you are looking at mid-size, luxury sedans. The cost of the diesel is only $1,000 more than the gasoline version. If you commute on the highways, the mileage and fuel cost savings could offset the engine premium over the time you own the car.

Pros: Better mileage than the gasoline version. No loss of comfort or performance with the diesel engine. All the luxury expected from Mercedes-Benz.

Cons: Nothing, if you can afford one, and there are gas stations with diesel fuel available where you drive and travel to.

Editors Ratings

  • Style: 8
  • Performance: 8
  • Price: 8
  • Handling: 8
  • Ride: 8
  • Comfort: 8
  • Quality: 8
  • Overall: 8

More Data

Where Built: Germany.

Major Options: Premium Package $3,950.00, Keyless Go $1,060.00, Panorama Sunroof $1,560.00

Seating: 5

Number of Rows: 2

Length in Inches: 196.4

Warranties: 4 years/50,000 Comprehensive warranty, 4 years/50,000 corrosion, unlimited roadside assistance program, 4 years/50,000 Free scheduled maintenance.

Weight in Pounds: 3,835.

Maximum Payload in Pounds: Not Available .

Maximum Gross Vehicle Weigh in Pounds: Not Available

Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not Available

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 21.1

Destination Charge: $720