How about a large diesel-engine Mercedes-Benz sedan with high fuel economy and none of the old diesel smell, smoke, clattery noise and slow acceleration?
Meet the new $49,075 Mercedes-Benz E320 CD, which comes from an automaker that offered the first diesel passenger car in 1936.
Who needs a small, slow gasoline-electric hybrid car when you can get the larger, roomier and faster E320 CDI, which has an estimated highway cruising range of 784 miles with its 21.2 gallon fuel tank?
Many new cars in Europe are diesel-powered because of high gasoline prices. Mercedes says there's strong demand in America for a new diesel model -- especially from some of the 200,000-plus buyers of its old (run-forever) diesel models.
Many forget that about 75 percent of Mercedes cars sold here in the 1980s were diesel powered, largely because of a spike in U.S. gasoline prices. Few liked American cars with diesel engines because of marginal ones from General Motors. But Mercedes was another story because it was a master at diesels.
Gasoline price stability largely led to the last Mercedes diesel -- the E300 Turbodiesel -- being sold here in 1999. However, diesel engines power about 40 percent of Mercedes cars around the world.
Except for its 3.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine, the early 2005 E320 CDI is aesthetically identical to its gasoline-engine E-Class siblings. But there's quite a difference in fuel economy -- the E320 CDI delivers an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway, compared with 19 and 27 for the 3.2-liter gasoline engine E320 sedan, which has a 221-horsepower V-6.
I put about 100 miles on an E320 CDI during an even mix of city-highway driving, and its fuel gauge barely moved.
The dual-overhead-camshaft, 24-valve diesel engine works with a responsive five-speed automatic transmission. It generates 201 horsepower, but the LE320 CDI is faster than the gasoline E320 because it produces a huge amount of torque.
The E320 CDI takes off like gangbusters. It does 0-60 mph in a swift 6.8 seconds, which is a time that older Mercedes diesels couldn't touch. Its 70-80 mph passing time on tollways made it feel as if there were a strong V-8 under the hood.
Except for a little soft clatter at idle when the engine is cold, things were quiet and smoke-free. Thank the design of the diesel engine, which has Common-rail Direct Injection (CDI). That means its common-rail fuel injection system provides squirts of finely atomized fuel into cylinders at pressures of more than 23,000 psi to virtually eliminate the clatter and exhaust soot associated with old diesel engines. Its electronic fuel injection was considered technically impossible on a diesel until only a few years ago.
The E320 CDI has much lower carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions than gasoline engines, but the car produces more oxides of nitrogen. It thus can't be sold in California, New York, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, which have more stringent emissions regulations than the federal mandates. However, Mercedes thinks the CDI diesel should meet emissions standards in all states when low-sulfur diesel fuel is available nationwide in 2006.
Meanwhile, Mercedes will offer only 3,000 E320 CDI models in America for the next few years.
The E320 CDI isn't a sports sedan, but handles very confidently and has a comfortable ride. While fast, its steering is rather light and feels as if tailored for American luxury car buyers. The brakes are strong, with a pedal that might feel a bit touchy to some drivers until they get used to its action.
The E320 CDI has lots of comfort, convenience and safety equipment. The slickly styled car's quiet, upscale interior comfortably accommodates five tall adults. Front seats are very supportive, and the back seat is especially roomy, although its hard center area prohibits comfortable seating for three.
For the most part, the dashboard is nicely designed. There's a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, and all major controls are easy to use. Gauges can be quickly read, although the tachometer should be larger and the audio system is too complicated.
The front plastic cupholders have an odd pop-up design and don't feel very sturdy. Rear cupholders are in the center fold-down armrest.
The covered center console bin is deep. Storage areas include pockets in all doors, which have large outside handles for easy entry.
The trunk is long and deep, with a low, wide opening. The lid hinges are enclosed to prevent cargo damage.
The big news with the E320 CDI is its engine, which sources say marks the beginning of the automaker's return to diesels in America.
2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 CDI
Price
$49,075
Likes
No old diesel engine drawbacks. High fuel economy. Fast. Solid roadability. Roomy.
Dislikes
Small tachometer. Odd front cupholder design. Complicated radio controls.