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The only Mercedes-Benz E-Class body style sold in Australia will remain the sedan, as the wagon – and its higher-riding All-Terrain twin – remain off the cards for the new model.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon has been unveiled in Europe – but it is not planned for Australia, even though the E-Class wagon posted a modern sales record in its final years in showrooms.
Mercedes-Benz has advised the only body style planned for the new sixth-generation E-Class in Australia – due here early next year – is the sedan.
The traditional E-Class wagon was discontinued in Australia with the end of the fourth-generation ‘W212’ model in 2015.
The German car maker switched to offering the All-Terrain – a higher-riding version of the E-Class wagon with ‘rugged’ plastic body cladding – for the first half of the current fifth-generation model’s life from 2016 to 2020.
The E-Class All-Terrain – sold in E220d four-cylinder diesel form – was formally dropped from the line-up with the facelift in 2020, however a small batch of six-cylinder E400d All-Terrains destined to become Victoria Police highway-patrol cars were sold to the public in 2021 after the police order was cancelled.
It is despite sales of Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagons growing in their final years in showrooms – and accounting for up to 10 per cent of four-door E-Class sales (excluding coupe/convertible models).
Two decades ago the E-Class wagon accounted for three to six per cent per cent of sales; in 2018 the share was 10.5 per cent, when 160 long-roof E-Class vehicles were sold, more than any other year this millennium.
E-Class wagon sales held steady or grew between 2000 and 2020 – even as sales of the sedan dropped from a 21st-century high of 2702 cars in 2003, to 1371 in 2018.
The new E-Class wagon unveiled overnight in Europe is almost identical to the sedan aside from the longer rear end and larger boot.
Mercedes-Benz says the new model rides on a 22mm longer wheelbase (distance between the front and rear wheels) than its predecessor, and is 28mm wider for increased passenger space.
There is up to 615 litres of boot space in petrol models with the rear seats up – compared to 540 litres in the sedan. The plug-in hybrid cuts boot capacity to 460 litres (with the seats up).
Air suspension on the rear axle is standard – to keep the car level when fully laden – with adaptive air suspension on all four wheels available as an option.
A range of petrol and diesel engines will be available in Europe, with mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology.
The Australian model range for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan is due to be confirmed closer to its local arrival early next year.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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