THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE THE MOST SENSIBLE MERC YOU CAN BUY SAYS DEBABRATA SARKAR

We've all been impressed by the power and torque that the C220 CDI can dish out. It seems the marketing gurus at Mercedes-Benz were even more convinced, so there had to be an E220 CDI to follow. However, this time it is a bigger car and it is also bulkier, which leaves me doubtful of how good this really will be. But, once you start up the engine and roll off the block, all those apprehensions are washed away.

The E280 CDI is widely considered to be one of the best diesel motors in the business and the 220 has the unenviable job of living up to that sort of reputation. For starters, thel70bhp is about enough for pleasant motoring for the E-Class. But when you step on the gas and hit the 2000 rpm mark 400Nm of torque smoothly flows in to fill up every crevice to satisfy the heavy foot on the accelerator. I say flows in because the response is far more muted on this one compared to the familiar whack that you feel in the C-Class.

That does not stop it from docking a nine-second dash to l00kph or from gathering pace steadily for a top whack of 225 kph then again you will be probably buy the E280 CDI if you wanted more butt-clenching action. So there is another trump that the E220 CDI holds. An overall kpl figure of around 12; which is pretty good by any standards and of course a sticker price below the Forty-Lakh mark. The features list is just as long as you could expect from any of these cars with enough buttons to fiddle with! For a year and numerous electrical aids to prevent you from crashing and then some more to make sure you are safe when you do.

The updated interiors of course are featured in this one as well making it feel every bit a proper Merc. An upgrade for the better and well appreciated. And I don't care how much M-B says that they are not bothered by the advent of the other German giants, these little modifications show us exactly how the rivalries are hotting up. Oh and BMW is munching close on their heels with the announcement of the 520d which manages to undercut the Mere by a couple of Lakh.