2017 Mercedes E 350 d All Terrain first drive

The Mercedes-Benz E 350 d All Terrain is a not entirely unexpected addition to the E-Class line-up that has been conceived to compete with the long-established Audi A6 3.0 TDI Audi AllroadAudi Audi quattro and the more recent Volvo V90 D4 Cross Country.

Due in mid-2017, the new high-riding five-seater builds on the standard E 350 d Estate, receiving standard Air Body Control suspension and 19in wheels that provide it with a nominal 29mm increase in ride height. It also has Mercedes’ 4Matic four-wheel drive, among other features to help extend its ability away from the bitumen and make it an attractive alternative to the myriad of dedicated SUV offerings on sale.

The E 350 d All Terrain is visually differentiated from the latest E-Class Estate by a series of exterior styling changes, all of which aim to provide it with a more rugged appearance than its road-biased sibling.

Included in the exterior makeover is a redesigned front bumper with a central chrome look kick plate, an altered grille with uniquely styled blades, black plastic cladding within the wheel arches, integrated roof rails, beefed-up sills underneath the doors and a new rear bumper with chrome-look protection within the lower section as well as integrated trapezoidal tailpipes.

Predictably, the styling changes made inside are less distinctive than those outside. They include unique brushed aluminium trim within the dashboard, stainless steel pedals and floor mats with All Terrain lettering. The equipment level is based on the AMG Line of the standard E-Class Estate.

As with the latest E 350 d Estate that has been on sale in the UK since early 2016, the new E 350 d All Terrain does not want for versatility. There are 640 litres of nominal boot capacity underneath the cargo blind at the rear, increasing to a generous 1820 litres overall when the 40/20/40-configured rear seat is folded away.

Power for the new model comes from Mercedes’ long-running OM642 diesel engine. Already used by the standard E 350 d Estate, the turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, produces 254bhp and a solid 457lb ft.

Drive is channelled as standard through Mercedes-Benz’s 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox with a conventional torque converter and the German car maker’s familiar 4Matic four-wheel drive system. The nominal drive split on right-hand-drive versions is 31% front and 69% rear, as opposed to the 45% front, 55% rear split of left-hand-drive variants. However, it can be altered to provide up to 55% of drive to the front and the remaining 45% to the rear if required.

Underneath, the E 350 d All Terrain receives Mercedes-Benz’s latest Air Body Control suspension. Featuring three-chamber plungers, as opposed to the single-chamber design used by the earlier Air Matic system, it has been specifically tuned to suit the new model’s dual on-road/off-road role with its own unique mapping ensuring tauter damping in order to offset a the increase in height compared with the E 350 d Estate.

At the same time, the Air Body Control suspension provides an additional 15mm of ground clearance over the regular E 350 d Estate. In combination with standard 19in wheels shod with 245/45 tyres that add a further 14mm of ride height, this raises it by 29mm over the E-Class Estate at 156mm, together with a fording depth of up to 300mm.