Saar: A fitting rival to the Volvo V90 Cross Country, the E-Class All-Terrain will be available in just one variant – E 220d.

After launching the mid-life update of the C-Class, Mercedes-Benz India will launch its first ever estate model on September 28, 2018. Dubbed as the E-Class All-Terrain, it made its world premiere at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The hunkered-up estate was officially confirmed for India when it was showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. The tag All-Terrain gives us a good hint on what this iteration of the E-Class family is all about.

To create the E-Class All-Terrain, Mercedes-Benz took the standard E-Class estate, which is not underpinned by the longer wheelbase (LWB), and gave it a rugged makeover. And it is evident. The E-Class All-Terrain will come with hardened plastic cladding all around, adjustable air suspension and big 19-inch wheels. Mercedes might offer 20-inch alloys as an option. Compared to the model it is based on, the E-Class All-Terrain’s tyres will have higher sidewalls to withstand light off-roading. The underbelly is protected by a skid plate to keep the engine safe and sound over rough terrains.

At the time of launch, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain will be available in just one variant – E 220d. It will be powered Mercedes’ new-gen 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine which will produce 194PS of power and 400Nm of torque. It is the same engine that will debut in the upcoming C-Class facelift. Transmission duties will be handled by a 9-speed automatic unit which will route the power to the road via Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. The company claims that the setup is enough for the estate to hit 100kmph from a standstill in 8.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 232kmph.

As you’d expect, the E-Class All-Terrain’s interior is nearly identical to the standard E-Class sedan. In terms of features, the new model will get Mercedes’ Comand infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and a powered tailgate. Unlike the E-Class LWB, the rugged estate will not get reclining rear seats. But, the loss of rear seat comfort is counterbalanced by a more practical cabin. Sure, the seating area is best for four adults at max but the cargo space can gulp 640 litres of stuff. That figure goes up to 1,820 litres with the rear seats folded down.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain will land in an extremely niche segment in India. Once launched, it will compete with the Volvo V90 Cross Country, which is being brought on our shores as a direct import and is priced at Rs 65.31 lakh (ex-showroom). We expect Mercedes-Benz to undercut the Volvo product by a noticeable margin. After the E-Class All-Terrain, the Stuttgart-based automaker will launch the new Mercedes-AMG G 63 in India.