Since my wife’s ML has been with the dealers on and off to try to resolve the Airmatic issue, we have had the opportunity to sample quite a few diesel autos in the Mercedes range as loan cars. I tend to travel light, so to avoid swapping stuff from one car to another I have used the loan cars (all just a few months old) and my wife has defaulted to my S.
Most of my journeys are out of town and at least 100miles long and mostly on trunk roads, dual carriage way or motorways. Average speed is normally 55 to 60mph cruising at 70(ish) where legal. I know this does not fit the same profile as most peoples use, but at least it is a constant with the same driver driving in the same (sympathetic?) way, along similar roads.
Car Cost (nearly new)/ Off. Ex.urban /Actual MPG
S320 CDI (Modified)/ £45k/ 47.9/ 46.5
CLS 320 CDI/ £35K / 47.9/ 44.4
E220 CDI / £22k/ 52.3/ 46.5
CLC 220 CDI/ £18K / 54.3/ 47.2
A160 CDI/ £14k/ 60.1/ 52.6
ML 320 CDI/ £35k/ 35.8/ 35.4
The surprise to me is that with the exception of the ML (4WD and town hall aerodynamics) and the A Class (plan your overtakes with a calendar) all the cars use pretty much the same amount of fuel! This may not be the case in town, but on the open road the difference is not great.
The S Class is simply the most stress free way to get around by road. The ability to glide up to 800 miles between refuelling is fabulous.
The CLS is a wonderful looking car, smooth, quiet and powerful but just fails to match the serenity of the S.
The E220 is possibly a nicer place to be than the CLS. I prefer the interior and the latest 4 cylinder diesel is a big step forward from the E220 I had in 05. It’s very responsive and only ever feels out of its depth during extreme overtakes. The refinement and power are not quite in the 320 league, but a lot closer than before. It still looks like a taxi, but sounds much less like one! I was surprised that it seems only a smidge more frugal than the 320.
The CLC shows the age of its platform. Not a bad little car but the hard seats and ride and a very lethargic auto ‘box means it is not the best long distance cruiser.
The A class is not really in its element on the open road. A perfectly acceptable and spacious way of getting around, just don’t try to overtake anything! A much better urban car.
The ML (with suspension!) is a remarkably capable long distance cruiser. The elevated position is good for visibility and comfort and once up to speed the cabin refinement is very relaxed.
Again this clearly demonstrates that the cost of running a Mercedes is not really in the cost of fuel, but in the deprecation of which ever model you feel suits your needs best.
And that is largely dictated by the purchase price.
Most of my journeys are out of town and at least 100miles long and mostly on trunk roads, dual carriage way or motorways. Average speed is normally 55 to 60mph cruising at 70(ish) where legal. I know this does not fit the same profile as most peoples use, but at least it is a constant with the same driver driving in the same (sympathetic?) way, along similar roads.
Car Cost (nearly new)/ Off. Ex.urban /Actual MPG
S320 CDI (Modified)/ £45k/ 47.9/ 46.5
CLS 320 CDI/ £35K / 47.9/ 44.4
E220 CDI / £22k/ 52.3/ 46.5
CLC 220 CDI/ £18K / 54.3/ 47.2
A160 CDI/ £14k/ 60.1/ 52.6
ML 320 CDI/ £35k/ 35.8/ 35.4
The surprise to me is that with the exception of the ML (4WD and town hall aerodynamics) and the A Class (plan your overtakes with a calendar) all the cars use pretty much the same amount of fuel! This may not be the case in town, but on the open road the difference is not great.
The S Class is simply the most stress free way to get around by road. The ability to glide up to 800 miles between refuelling is fabulous.
The CLS is a wonderful looking car, smooth, quiet and powerful but just fails to match the serenity of the S.
The E220 is possibly a nicer place to be than the CLS. I prefer the interior and the latest 4 cylinder diesel is a big step forward from the E220 I had in 05. It’s very responsive and only ever feels out of its depth during extreme overtakes. The refinement and power are not quite in the 320 league, but a lot closer than before. It still looks like a taxi, but sounds much less like one! I was surprised that it seems only a smidge more frugal than the 320.
The CLC shows the age of its platform. Not a bad little car but the hard seats and ride and a very lethargic auto ‘box means it is not the best long distance cruiser.
The A class is not really in its element on the open road. A perfectly acceptable and spacious way of getting around, just don’t try to overtake anything! A much better urban car.
The ML (with suspension!) is a remarkably capable long distance cruiser. The elevated position is good for visibility and comfort and once up to speed the cabin refinement is very relaxed.
Again this clearly demonstrates that the cost of running a Mercedes is not really in the cost of fuel, but in the deprecation of which ever model you feel suits your needs best.
And that is largely dictated by the purchase price.
