The fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class, also known as the W213, was unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show and went on sale for the 2017 model year. A significant departure from its predecessor, it uses a brand-new architecture and styling language based off the S-Class full-size sedan. More comfortable and efficient than ever before, the new E-Class also debuted a handful of new Mercedes-Benz technologies, including a semi-autonomous system. The sedan was followed by a beefed-up AMG version and a wagon variant with two-door coupe and cabriolet models also set to follow. But unlike its predecessor, the W213 also spawned crossover-like model. It goes by the name E-Class All-Terrain and it is aimed at the likes of the Audi A6 Allroad.

When Mercedes-Benz called 2016 "the year of the SUV" and announced a further expansion of its already large collection of SUVs and crossovers by 2020, most people expected more niche models like the GLC Coupe or the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. As it turns out, Mercedes-Benz was considering competitors for the Audi A4 and A6 Allroad as well. The news initially came straight from Mercedes-Benz vice president of sales and product managements, Matthias Luehrs, who said that the company is essentially "looking at everything." What was just a possibility in 2015 became certainty in 2016, when Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Audi A6 Allroad fighter ahead of the Paris Motor Show.

Dubbed E-Class All-Terrain, the new vehicle follows in the footsteps of Audi’s midsize Allroad model, blending the styling of the utilitarian, yet still sexy E-Class wagon with the taller ride height and cladding of a crossover. Described as a "flexible all‑rounder for unpaved roads, family and leisure time," the All-Terrain gives the German brand access to a previously unexplored niche and likely opens the door for a similar model based on the C-Class too. But until that happens, let's have a closer look at the brand-new E-Class All-Terrain.

Continue reading for the full story.

Exterior

While the basic shape of the All-Terrain remained identical to the base E-Class Wagon, several new features turn the regular grocery getter into a vehicle with enhanced capabilities in not-so-smooth terrain. Apart from the higher ground clearance that comes with Mercedes’ Air Body Control multi-chamber suspension system, a number of design elements usually found on off-roaders make this Audi Allroad competitor stand out from its brethren. There’s wider wheel arches engulfed in plastic cladding, redesigned front and rear bumpers with crossover-style skid plates, and new side skirts.

The skid plates are electroplated in silver-chrome, while the lower part of the bumpers are finished in grained black plastic, as are the wheel arch covers and the side skirts. These contribute to the car’s robust appearance. What’s more, the All-Terrain ditched the elegant front grille of the wagon in favor of an SUV-style, two-fin element painted Iridium Silver. Rounding off the perched wagon are three exclusive light-alloy wheel sets in 19- and 20‑inch sizes. These feature higher sidewalls, giving the vehicle more ground clearance and enhanced comfort on rough roads.

COMPETING DESIGNS

The offerings are pretty limited in this niche, but there are two solid competitors to choose from. Arguably the most iconic proposition is the Audi A6 Allroad (left). Introduced all the way back in 1999, it's one of the oldest nameplates in this niche and the most popular choice as of 2016. Much like the E-Class All-Terrain, the A6 Allroad is built around the standard A6 Avant (wagon) with all the extra goodies you can find on a crossover. The package include cladding around the wheel arches, protection for the bumpers and side skirts, and redesigned lower aprons front and rear. The large headlamps and the "singleframe" give it a rather sporty appearance compared to the E-Class, a feat that a lot of customers will most likely continue to enjoy despite the All-Terrain joining the market as a fresh model.

The second model to consider is the Volvo V90 Cross Country (right), and just like the E-Class All-Terrain, it's brand-new for the 2017 model year. Designed around the V90, a nameplate Volvo introduced as its range-topping wagon, the Cross Country follows in the footsteps of the competition, bringing together the utilitarian yet stylish looks of the standard model with the ruggedness of SUV-sourced parts. I don't usually say this, but picking between any of three cars above is just a matters a taste. The All-Terrain and Cross Country are obviously fresh designs, but the A6 Allroad is by no means dated on the outside. Maybe the E-Class All-Terrain is the more elegant choice, but the cladding will always remind you that this isn't the kind of car you'll want to parade at a fancy event. My vote goes to the V90 Cross Country, but only because I have a soft spot for the Swedish automaker and I'm pretty much nuts about the new S90/V90 series design-wise.

Interior

Changes compared to the standard model are less extreme on the inside, where the All-Terrain makes use of a cockpit nearly identical to the regular E-Class. There’s a similar dashboard, which uses many elements previously seen in the S-Class, but the instrument cluster, large display in the center, and the four round A/C vents slotted between the infotainment unit and the center console are also identical.

It also makes use of the E-Class' new steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons -- a world-first in any segment. The new function can detect horizontal and vertical swipes just like the screen of a smartphone or tablet and allows the driver to control features of the infotainment system using only their thumbs.

The new model also features all of the intelligent luggage space solutions of the E-Class Estate. These include the standard-fit cargo position of the rear seat backrests, making it now possible to position the backrest at an approximately 10-degree steeper angle, which creates an additional 30 liters of cargo volume, increasing the total to 670 liters (23.6 cubic feet). Also, the rear seat backrest folds down in a 40:20:40 split as standard, opening up a wide range of configurations between transport capacity and seating. Total boot space with the seats folded flat is 1,820 liters (64.3 cubic feet).

|

On top of these E-Class Wagon-borrowed gadgets, the All-Terrain has aluminum-carbon look trim, stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs, and floor mats with "All-Terrain" lettering. Mercedes-Benz says that the equipment of the All‑Terrain is based on the Avantgarde interior line, but Exclusive and Designo appointments are optionally available.

As far as the infotainment system goes, the All-Terrain benefits from all the features available in the regular E-Class. Opt for the Comand Online and you'll be able to use CarPlay and Android Auto, USB and GPS with online capability, and Bluetooth hands-free. The Audio 20 GPS offers entry-level navigation on an SD card, but it can be optionally supplemented with the Garmin MAP PILOT navigation system. COMAND Online comes with fast 3D hard-drive navigation with topographical map display, photo-realistic 3D buildings, 3D map rotations, and an animated compass.

Another interesting feature that's also exclusive to the E-Class in this niche is the iPad Rear Steat Integration Plug & Play. Essentially a plug-in solution for iPads, it's compatible with iPad 4, Air, and Air 2. The holder, which is optional, comes with a power supply and USB port, basically giving rear-seat passengers access to an entertainment system during long trips.

THE COMPETITION

Although not as fresh as the E-Class All-Terrain, the A6 Allroad is a pretty solid car on the inside. Granted, the design feels a bit dated now that Audi has introduced a new styling language for its interiors, but there's enough leather, wood, and aluminum trim to keep even the most demanding customers happy. As far as tech goes, the German wagon is equipped with MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, which includes an eight-inch display with 3D map. The instrument cluster also includes a high-resolution, seven-inch display that provides information about the driver assistance systems, media, phone menu, gear, and temperature. The Audi Phone Box makes phone calls easier and keeps the driver focused on the road ahead thanks to its compatibility with the MMI control panel and the multi-function steering wheel. Much like any premium car, the A6 Allroad features 4G internet and wireless hotspot for up to eight mobile devices. In the trunk, you get 565 liters (20 cubic feet) of storage room, which is decent given the size of the car, but significantly less than what the E-Class All-Terrain can offer. On the other hand, when the rear seats are folded flat, the A6 offers 1,860 liters (65.7 cubic feet), a bit more than the Merc.

Moving over to the V90, the Swedish estate is surprisingly luxurious given that the previous model was far from impressive. With this new model, Volvo made a big step up the premium ladder, now offering a nine-inch touchscreen, smartphone support with Apple CarPlay, genuine wood, numerous soft-touch materials, and fine leather. The V90 is also pretty good with passenger space, but cargo room is far from impressive. With the rear seats in place, the Volvo can store up to 558 liters (19.7 cubic feet) of luggage, a figure that increases to 1,526 liters (53.9 cubic feet) with the seats down.

All told, both the Audi and Volvo are worthy competitors for the E-Class All-Terrain, but the Mercedes-Benz has the better technology, the larger displays, and the more flamboyant styling.

Drivetrain

Under the hood, the All-Terrain comes with fewer options than expected. Although initially thought to receive a handful of gasoline and diesel powerplants, Mercedes’ press release speaks of only two oil burners. The wagon will be launched as the E220d with 194 PS (191 horsepower) and 295 pound-feet of torque, to be followed by a six-cylinder diesel version "a short time later." Although the German brand didn’t nominate an engine, it is most likely talking about the E350d and its 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 258 PS (254 horsepower) and 460 pound-feet of twist. Both models will use the new 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission and the company’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.

The Dynamic Select feature is also standard, enabling five driving programs to be selected with different engine, transmission, ESP and steering setup. Among them there’s All-Terrain, a special model-specific feature that offers settings for off-road driving based on those of the GLE. Specifically, the All-Terrain driving program raises the chassis in conjunction with the standard Air Body Control by more than 20 mm (around 0.8 inches) up to a speed of 35 km/h (about 22 mph). It also has a special indicator in the vehicle display, showing information about steering angle, position of the air suspension, the angle of slope and the angle of inclination, the accelerator/brake position, and a compass.

Furthermore, the air suspension provides three levels from zero to more than 35 mm (nearly 1.4 inches). The highest level can also be selected manually by pressing a button on the center console. Depending on the settings, the car’s ground clearance is 121 to 156 mm (4.7 to 6.1 inches).

COMPETING PERFORMANCE

If you're disappointed that Mercedes-Benz doesn't offer a gasoline engine in the E-Class All-Terrain, be prepared to feel the same about the A6 Allroad too. Even though it's available in three flavors, all are powered by 3.0-liter V-6 oil burners. The base model is animated by 218 horsepower, while the mid-range version comes with 272 horses. Those looking for more oomph can get the bi-turbo version that sends a whopping 320 horsepower to the wheels. This is where the A6 Allroad is unbeatable, as Mercedes-Benz doesn't have any plans to offer a 300-horsepower anytime soon. Of course, speed is not something people are actually looking for in a perched-up wagon, but it's nice to have a bit of grunt now and then. Like the Merc, the A6 Allroad is equipped with a revised suspension system that makes the wagon suitable for rough terrain, as well as a permanent all-wheel-drive system. Given that Audi pioneered this niche, I have a feeling that the A6 Allroad is tough to beat in this department.

The V90 Cross Country is the only car that gets both gasoline and diesel engines, as it shares its drivetrains, save for the hybrid, with the S90 sedan. However, there's no six-cylinder, with all unit using four cylinder and displacing 2.0 liters. On the gasoline front, you can have the T6 with 254 horsepower and 258 pound-feet and the T6 with 320 horses and 295 pound-feet. As far as diesels go, the D4 cranks out 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, while the D5 comes in at 235 horses and 354 pound-feet. Should Volvo also offer the T8 hybrid in the future, the V90 Cross Country could benefit from a whopping 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet. AWD is standard obviously, while off-roading abilities are provided by a double-wishbone, coil-spring system up front and an integral axle with a transverse composite leaf spring to the rear. Both axles have hydraulic shocks and stabilizer bars.

Safety

Just like the rest of the E-Class model lineup, the All-Terrain is packed with Mercedes’ latest safety technology, including several airbags, as well as numerous driver assistance systems. The main novelty here is the Drive Pilot, a function that enables the vehicle to follow the car in front at speeds of up to 130 mph. The systems uses automatic braking and accelerating, as well as the Steering Pilot function to handle moderate bends. There’s also a Speed Limit Pilot function that can automatically adjust the car’s speed according to existing speed limits, which are detected by a camera. These feature can be selected with the optional Driver Assistance Package Plus feature and turns the E-Class into a semi-autonomous vehicle. While the V90 Cross Country comes with similar technology, Audi has yet to implement semi-autonomous drive in the A6.

Other driver assistance systems include Active Brake Assist, Attention Assist, and Remote Parking Pilot. The latter allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely using a smartphone app. The E-Class All-Terrain will also get the sedan’s Car-to-X function. The mobile phone-supported system exchanges information with other vehicles further ahead on the road and enables the driver to receiving warning in the event of imminent danger, such as a broken-down vehicle at the edge of the road, heavy rain or black ice on the road.

Prices

Pricing for the All-Terrain is not yet available, but it shouldn’t differ too much than similarly equipped models with 4Matic all-wheel-drive. An extra couple of grand should suffice, which means that a U.S. spec model — given that Mercedes-Benz will bring the crossover to North America, that is! — could cost around $65,000 before options. In Germany, pricing should start from around €52,500 for the All-Terrain E220d.

COMPETING PRICES

Unfortunately, the A6 Allroad isn't available in the U.S, where Audi chose to offer the A4-based version only, so I can only compare it to the V90 Cross Country. The Swedish wagon starts from $55,300, which makes it a bit more expensive that what I expect the E-Class All-Terrain to cost. If this proves to be accurate, it might seem a bit weird for a Volvo to fetch more than a Mercedes-Benz, but I'm willing to look past the $3,000 premium considering that the V90 also features semi-autonomous drive and offers both gasoline and diesel engines.

In Europe, the A6 Allroad is available on just about any market. In Germany, it retails from €55,800, a bit more than the E-Class All-Terrain. The V90 Cross Country is the most expensive model in the country, fetching €56,350 before options. However, it remains to be seen whether the All-Terrain will actually cost under €53,000 in base trim.

What Other Options Are There?

None to be honest, because this premium niche is limited to just the three cars discussed above. And unless BMW is planning a similar version of the 5 Series, we won't get new options any time soon. However, if you're willing to settle for a slightly smaller car, there are two more propositions to consider.

Audi A4 Allroad

Although the A6 Allroad isn't available Stateside, Audi does offer a similar version based on the A4. The story is pretty much similar here. This Allroad is a standard wagon with extra cladding and protection, but because it's smaller than the A6 Avant, it comes with less cargo room and passenger space. But the wagon is equally attractive on the outside and it can be used on the unbeaten path given you don't want to tackle extreme roads that are more suitable for a Jeep. The A4 Allroad comes with just one engine option, in the form of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The turbocharged four-pot cranks out 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet, making the wagon quite the performer. Sprinting from 0 to 60 mph takes only 5.9 seconds, while top speed is limited at a solid 130 mph. The main advantage of the A4 Allroad is its sticker, which comes in at a very attractive $44,000 compared to the larger models above.

Learn more about the Audi A4 Allroad here.

Subaru Outback

Pretty much a Legacy wagon on stilts, the Subaru Outback is about the same size as the A4 Allroad and Audi's main competitor in this niche. But unlike the sporty looking A4 Allroad, the Outback has a more utilitarian appearance. Paired with the excellent chassis and suspension and the Symmetrical AWD system Subaru is known for, the Outback is actually closer to a crossover than a wagon, if you ignore the relative small size of the car. Two engine are offered, starting with a 2.5-liter boxer-four rated at 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet. The range-topping model comes with a 3.6-liter flat-six that's good for a solid 256 horses and 247 pound-feet. Priced from $25,645, the Outback is arguably the most affordable vehicle you can buy, but you must bear in mind that it's nowhere near its competitors when it comes to premium features and gadgets.

Find out more about the Subaru Outback here.

Conclusion

I'm a big fan of this type of crossover, and I'm actually looking forward to more carmakers exploiting the niche that the AMC Eagle line pretty much created in the late 1970s. Thinking about it, a cross between a station wagon and an SUV makes quite a bit more sense than one between a four-door coupe and an SUV, even if it's not as fancy-looking. On the other hand, the two Audi Allroad models are already well-established on the market and the new Volvo V90 Cross Country is loaded with state-of-the-art tech, so the new E-Class All-Terrain may have a difficult time at giving them a dent.

Update History

Updated 09/20/2016: Mercedes dropped a teaser video for the upcoming E-Class All-Terrain and announced that an official debut will happen at the 2016 Paris Auto Show. However, we will get the first official details in a couple of hours. Continue reading to check the video.

Update 08/01/2016: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain has been caught in the wild during its first test session. Check out the review to see them for yourself!

Teaser Video

Spy Shots

First Testing Session: 08-01-2016