Test Drive: 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI Turbodiesel

Where "really fast" meets "really frugal"

Pssst. I gotta secret for you. What if you were told there's a roomy new car being sold, with great prestige, safety and comfort features, that runs on a fuel 20 to 25 cents cheaper per gallon than the lowest-grade regular gas and gets fantastic mileage? Interested? Check out the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI, with its new diesel power plant. Prices: US $49,075 base; as tested, $53,385. Warranty :4 years/50,000 miles.

First Glance

Crank up a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI and there's no tell-tale black cloud coming from its exhaust pipe. From a distance, nothing signals that this isn't a regular -- already excellent -- E-series model from the German automaker. Only close inspection reveals "CDI" among the badging – the "D" being diesel. For under the hood of this particular model is a 3.2-liter, turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine making 201 clattering horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque. As luck would have it, we recently tested a gasoline-powered 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 with a final sticker price within $1,000 of this model. But it returned 19 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway; the CDI model posts figures of 27 mpg/city and 37/highway. Even better, it does it on diesel fuel that, where I live, is at least 20 cents a gallon less expensive than rock-bottom regular gasoline. Combine fuel efficiency with cheaper fuel and a driver can realize a savings of $1,000 or more each year. This savings might be more important for less expensive cars, but the owner of a CDI will never wait in gas lines either. Just head for the truck pumps, usually vacant, and fill up that huge 21-gallon tank. Now, drive 780 miles!

In the Driver's Seat

As with other Mercedes-Benz models, the 2005 E320CDI has a remote key fob that doubles as the ignition "key". Insert it into the dash and turn. Clatter, clatter, clatter. You're running. Yes, you'll know this is a diesel-powered car right away. It's quiet inside, but diesel engines still register their signature clatter to those inside. Think of it as the sound of "smart". The tester had a 5-speed automatic transmission, so move the gear selector to drive and press the accelerator. The 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI doesn't leap away. But it doesn't dawdle either (0 to 60 in 6.6 seconds). Yes, it is slower to launch than the gasoline-powered E320, but think of the fuel savings and you'll settle for slower. Our tested CDI did not have the navigation system found in the gasoline model, so our interior was basic Mercedes-Benz, which is to say not bad at all. There are leather seats that are heated, a sunroof, and a premium sound system that added $970 to the base price. The seats adjust easily with miniature seat controls. Power windows are one-touch down and up. All mirrors are auto-dimming. And there are air bags in front, on the sides and along the roof lines inside.

On the Road

Few cars have the "solid" feel of a Mercedes-Benz. Each tested model seems carved from a single piece of steel. At highway speed, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI centered nicely and was unaffected by crosswinds or passing trucks. The windows seal tightly and outside noises are not bothersome. Set cruise control and let the diesel engine settle to low rpm for maximum fuel efficiency. Automatic climate control assures comfort (but the air conditioning struggled to cool with an outside heat index above 100 degrees). The nine-speaker audio system proved very good playing CDs, not so good at sorting out distant radio signals. The E320CDI is not a "handler" in the sense that it can be tossed through turns. It feels too big to encourage such behavior. Yet it's really a mid-size vehicle, masquerading as a large-size sedan. It seats five in comfort and the interior seems bigger than it really is. The trunk can store several sets of golf clubs. Still, there is a Spartan feeling inside this car that doesn't co-exist easily with a price tag north of $50,000. And there are features missing that we've come to expect for this lofty luxury kind of car. Face it, the E-series is aging and we can't wait for the makeover.

Journey's End

Prestige is not the only reason to buy a Mercedes-Benz. Safety is a primary concern of many and Mercedes works tirelessly to make safer vehicles. The 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI has so many advanced safety features that they all can't be mentioned. But electronic stability control uses a computer to help correct that too-fast-into-the-turn problem. Braking is not just anti-lock (pumping 30 times a second), but has such features as moving the pads nearer to the disks if you lift abruptly on the accelerator. The brakes dry themselves if the windshield wipers are working hard (but the dual wipers couldn't handle a Florida thunderstorm!). The headlights and night lighting inside and outside the car are as good as it gets. There's even what's called "tunnel mode"; press one button and all windows go up, the sunroof closes and the outside air intake closes so you won't get fumes in the car as your headlights pop on automatically and you drive through a tunnel. What's to dislike? Putting audio controls on a screen, instead of easy-to-use buttons; too many expected features are optional cost. We need to note here that because of diesel emissions, this model cannot be sold in California, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts or Vermont.