Test drive Mercedes Benz E-class w212 2013-NV sedan

Complete, go ahead!

On the day of the test, the weather whispered that the shooting would not work. Everything around was gray and darker than gloomy. However, when we put up cars against each other, the world has changed. The curious were sagged around, the patrol police began to pass by more often, and the kidneys on the fellow trees urgently decided to swell and blossom. He, this world, sang in full voice. Because both the company and the S80 AWD are classical music. Equally beautiful, but completely different. Guess what Mercedes music will be? Correctly the name of Johann Sebastanovich. Organ. Tokkata Re minor. But how does Volvo sound? .. Something Scandinavian? Grieg, Song Solveig? Too frivolous. Sibelius? Not suitable for rear lights. But! Strauss Sr.! Classic waltz.
Discussing the upcoming test of these cars, we certainly realized how different they were. And not just different, but diametrically opposite. Ideologically. And the Mercedes E320 4MATIC and Volvo S80 AWD are united by one class, price and all -wheel drive. Mercedes classic is, of course, the rear -wheel drive. Therefore, the all -wheel drive version of the 4Matic as a percentage of the axes is a rear -wheel drive car with elements of all -wheel drive. Whereas in the Volvo front -wheel drive interspersed by the Haldex transmission. Seeking a better, more reliable adhesion to the road, the engineers of each of the companies went to the complete drive of their road samples and errors. For example, the Swedes recently turned to the Haldex system, abandoning Wylian
But what do we have in relation to engines and other things, do we correspond in pairs? I guess, yes. V-shaped 3.2-liter Mercedes six has an advantage in power over the Volovsky 5-cylinder turbo engine of 14 hp. That is, it turned out 210 hp. Against 224. Five cylinders against six. Two 5-speed assault rifles. But at the same time, the firmician is heavier than the AWD for 200 kg, so the factory score from a place to hundreds of 8.5 C VOLVO and 8.3 C of the Mercedes.
Dynamics but God with it, with technology. In the end, any car was created to move a certain number of persons and sciatic from point A to point B. The whole difference in size, nameplate, dynamics and hookomfort. Where does the cost come from, smoothly flowing into a position in society. My situation in society has noticeably strengthened in a luxurious and, of course, quiet E320 salon. This is a standard. The driver's door like an iron curtain burns a person in a Mercedes from the bustle of the mortal world. No need to rush anywhere, do not be nervous, do not jump from a row in a row. And if you need it, everyone will miss, only securing the sight of the hood in the rear view mirror and the persistent round -eyed xenon. But you have to try everything. Both the work of ESP, and the most all -wheel drive, and also confirm the glory of rapid acceleration and maximum speed in the sensations. But first ... snow. Stop. Start ... hmm! The box was puzzled for a split second. Turn off the rear spikes, then the front and pleasant uterine rod is picked up in conjunction with impressive acceleration. It was possible to work out by the box with a manual box, but laziness. And we all accelerate and accelerate. I always liked how to hide any Mercedes. Like a cast -iron slab pressed on the road. He will not move, smoothly, reliably, following the sighting of the sight. And now the left row is clearing ahead ahead of time, the stove underfoot begins to stir up measuredly. 200 km/h. Eh, there would be more places, the road is better and these ahead would be to take somewhere to the damn grandmother. And everything is as usual: a slightly tight gas pedal, first empty, and then powerful, like a brake poured. And therefore, it is difficult to properly dose the effort on the pedal from habit. So over the past three days I did not learn to move without a tangible jerk. Separate to any Mercedes, higher, below the class everything will be the same. Those who know what to expect from him will not have to adapt once again.
But what about Volvo? TOP on the gas pedal! Gosha! Before the box had time to think, and the wheels are already spinning. All four, without slippers, just have time to steer. Who said the AWD is more than a front -wheel drive car? The body presses in the soft sofa skin of the chair. Fu you, do not take a break! A strange sensation that was not on Merin. And in the cabin he has noticeably quieter. Five Volvo cylinders are eagerly blowing into the turbine, in a hurry to disperse the car to the highest possible speed. Sorry, the MKAD is overloaded ...
The controllability of the most interesting began during our pirouettes in order to check the handling and full -wheel drive. I’ll tell you honestly, Mercedes scared me. He is strange, by golly. At first, I, like a smart Fedya, turned off ESP for the most important importance. Say, professionally check what and how. And there was no high speed, only a few turns on the snowy asphalt. And then the gelding went, went to demolish the rear axle. Excellent ... And suddenly he jerked and somehow very suddenly headed for the drift turned towards the drift. There is also a roadside, ejected! Where are you going, Masha? Rather, the steering wheel is in the other direction. And he, the steering wheel, the dog, took and rested! Before the pump had time to pump hydraulics. It’s good that the speed was small. What's the matter? Maybe I'm just a shitty kettle, gentlemen? It was already ashamed. I saw my reddened physiognomy in the salon mirror and showed my tongue. You slow down, muzzle! Well, let's try again. Everything was repeated. Only the steering wheel is already with effort, but it worked back. And this is all the track control. Somehow he enters too unexpectedly. Jogan Sebastianich would not approve. Fake, see, scoundrel, violates elegant harmony. And with the ESP turned on and at all, there is no interest in the gelding about drifts and other twists. The system simply reduces engine speed, and that’s it. Once I wanted to have time to get a handbrake to crap to where it should be theoretically, and, only making a grasping movement, I remembered that it was not a handbrake, but a scabric. No, I'm probably still a stop clock. This is all specially done so that the driver does not even try to provoke extreme. Why do you need this, asks him between the ESP case, in a affordable tearing off the car, contrary to forecasts and expectations. Go calmly, without twisted. Under your horses, horses are in abundance, on the hood itself an important asterisk think about good, do not be nervous and relax. And all -wheel drive? So this is if the earth suddenly comes across in the form of mud, if the snowfield fell deep over the night in the country, or some other petty trouble happened ... Volvo was an order of magnitude more precious. Aggressive and restless. He does not have ESP, but DSTC is the same, only in profile. It comes into effect very neatly, showing obsession only in case of emergency. Here it is possible to play with a hand with a hand, and upset the steering wheel in different directions. Of course, the focus of the front -wheel drive is felt. DSTC is tightly connected with the Haldex hydraulic coupling, and without it nowhere. If necessary, the coupling can redistribute 70% of the torque on the rear axle. We tried, running on the ice with front wheels. 100 milliseconds, and everything worked as it should. And in general, AWD on the bare ice feels quite sane and predictable. Get out and waltzed to health. But, maestro Strauss, cut your waltz, we have not yet shared, as it is inside.
The ergonomics of Mercedes looks more luxurious from the inside, as befits a grand and authority in the classroom. A tree and pleasant understandable devices, hard, traditional leather do not bake with heating and ventilation. The first for frost, the second for the heat. The music of excellent quality what kind of sound! Slogging! The electroregulation buttons arranged on the upper door panels are convenient to make it impossible. Great. Nevertheless, the taming of the seat took a lot of time for itself, including along the way and the electrical tuning of the steering column in height and departure. But on the other hand, the established parameters are then entered in one of the memory buttons, and the head is freed, sorry, from hemorrhoids to tune in every time. What is the most inconvenient is the left side of the column overloaded with steering wheel switches. Such a number of service functions collected in one place is alarming and annoying. Hard seats, they say, are good for the back and spine less voltage. But still I would like softer.
Volvo, with almost the same, with a Mercedes, is a little easier. There are no wooden inserts, and the panel is trimmed with expensive plastic, but how conveniently a beard is made! Delight! And the steering wheel is understandable and pleasant to the touch, thick, correctly selected diameter. Although Merinov the steering wheel is also super. But I liked the Volvian seats more. Just a chair from the living room. Soft, covered with like leather, which, of course, does not allow to fully feel all four wheels with the spinal cord, but ... and do not. And in general, Volvo, perhaps, is too soft along with seats and shock absorbers and it is clear why. The main consumer of the Scandinavian cars, who has become a pretty much -lived American in this world.
The summary of our metropolitan contemporary soberly look at the surrounding the heavy burden of mentality interferes. He, as a potential buyer of such cars, would be glad to turn on his head and soberly reflect on the practical investment of capital and other and, what a sin to hide, sometimes does this, but the correct analysis of what is happening is broken about the concrete of the wretched shores of the surrounding world and the addictions of the fellow tribesmen to the baseless outfit . All of the above does not force the recognized merchants of the Mercedes, but calls for some stubborn citizens to revise their positions about Volvo. We just found the strength to maintain neutrality during the test. However, we, in all likelihood, are too cruel to the same Volvo. After all, this is also a well -deserved brand, for which they pay for the nameplate. And in terms of practicality ... acquiring for 59,000 euros Volvo S80 2.5 AWD, we do not pay extra 10 thousand to the cost of the basic Mercedes E320 4Matic. But Volvo, in our opinion, really needs someone who is accustomed to dynamic comfort, is firmly standing in the gained positions and tired of banalities. While Mercedes acts as a super -reliaxant for restless, purposeful and restless talents that succeed in business, for those who are not indifferent to social status.
HOW DO THEY LOOK
Nikita Rozanov
 
Outside: as can be seen from this test, the wolves row not only in sheep skins, but also in the usual ones in appearance of the business class sedans. The specifics and advantages of all -wheel drive, which in this case is entirely aimed at the safety of active and dynamic driving, is not manifested in design or in the style of cars. Moreover, the secrecy of the 4x4 system is presented by manufacturers with a conscious charm, and if inadvertently after night parking in the yard the car will lose a modest nameplate 4Matic or AWD, then the disaster will not happen. After all, this is not an aerodynamic body kit or forged discs, after the loss of which your car will lose almost the most important thing. Cognitiveness of cars at a height. The icon-like German sedan is identified thanks to the invariable set of signs of Mercedes and the bright S-class style, which since 1998 has been feeding the design of the entire model line. Volvo is also not a blunder, and that has become a canonical V-shaped line of the windowsill or the shoulders of Horbury (as you like) is on equal terms with the eternal value of the radiator of Mercedes and its hypnotic look. The silhouettes are dynamic, and thanks to the step is solid and fully (front view) correspond to the declared corporate content. At the back, both cars demonstrate correspondence to both the class and the image, but at the same time, each dispersed their home blank in the form of characteristic and original rear lights. So do not worry, your departure will not be confused with anyone from anyone.
Inside: not forgetting for a minute that both cars are primarily the brightest representatives of the business class, we open the door. The skin is not everywhere, but only where it is very necessary and noticeable. In other places, plastic, which can vary from under wood to metal. The amount of wood on the verge of reasonable sufficiency in a German car, and Volvo at the same level is minimalism of the Scandinavian design. This difference does not prevent both cars from having a very similar design of the instrument panel. Both T-shaped panels in shape and have a central console that descending on the floor tunnel. There is no number buttons and switches, but this annoys only in the first instant. The graphics of the devices with its own highlight: Volvo has a graduation and small, as on an expensive chronometer, and Mercedes has clear and graphic arrows in white-enamel rounds. The rudders are solid and decorated with a scattering of service buttons, and the relief of the door upholstery strives to bake on the instrument panel. Naturally, there is silence about all -wheel drive and in the interior.
Summary: a business class is this situation, it obliges, and, apparently, to a lot. Hence even some identity of details and techniques. At the same time, the solidity and respectability of the style cannot be shaken even by such an emotional option in its idea as all -wheel drive.
Text Nikolay Ushanov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

 

A source: Cars