THE new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon is now available to order in the UK, priced from £35,935 OTR, ahead of first deliveries in May – and it looks great for business with benefit-in-kind tax rates from 20%!

Two trim levels are available for the quicker and less-taxing new Mercedes E-Class – SE and AMG Line, and two engines, the E 220 d and E 350 d.

The UK range starts with the E 220 d SE, priced from £35,935, with the E 220 d AMG Line from £38,430. The E 350 d SE starts at £44,930, and the E 350 d AMG Line at £47,425.

The E 220 d uses an all-new four-cylinder 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine producing 195 hp and 400 Nm, with the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox that is standard on all new UK E-Class Saloon models. As well as helping to create seamlessly smooth shifts, the 9G-Tronic gearbox also contributes to the E 220 d’s low 102 g/km CO₂ rating and high 72.4 mpg economy.

By comparison the previous-generation E 220 CDI Saloon, launched in 2009, produced 170 hp from its 2.1-litre engine, and returned a then-impressive 53.3 mpg and 139 g/km of CO₂. Acceleration from 0-62 mph in the new E 200 d takes just 7.3 seconds – 0.4 seconds faster than the outgoing E 250 CDI.

First deliveries of the six-cylinder E 350 d are due in the summer. This produces 258 hp and 620 Nm; making for 0-62 mph in 5.9 sec, while emitting 133 g/km and returning 55.4 mpg. These are improvements over the previous-generation E 350 CDI Saloon of 27 hp; 80 Nm; 0.9 sec; 48 g/km and 14.5 mpg.

The petrol-electric hybrid E 350 e (279 hp; 600 Nm; 6.2 sec; 49 g/km; 134.5 mpg) joins the UK line-up later in 2016.

Standard specification on the SE includes: Garmin Map Pilot navigation system with 8.4-inch display; Parktronic parking sensors with reversing camera and Park Pilot self-parking system; Collision Prevention Assist Plus autonomous emergency braking system; Pre-Safe anticipatory safety system (including Pre-Safe Sound, which helps prevent damage to hearing); 64-colour selectable LED interior lighting; two-zone automatic climate control; three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with dual touchpads; leather upholstery with heated front seats; LED headlights and taillights; electrically folding mirrors and 17-inch wheels (18-inch on the E 350 d).

AMG Line models come with AMG exterior styling including unique bumpers and side skirts; 19-inch alloy wheels; perforated front brake discs; three-spoke AMG steering wheel; and Artico leather and Dynamica microfiber upholstery with seat comfort package.

All E 350 d models come with Air Body Control multi-chamber air suspension as standard, as well as COMAND satellite navigation with 12.3-inch display and remote online services.

Two options packages – Premium and Premium Plus – are available, as well as a host of individual options, colours and trims. Premium (£2,795) includes panoramic glass roof, Keyless Start and a front-seat memory package; and Premium Plus (£3,895), which adds to these features with a 13-speaker Burmester Surround Sound System with 9-channel amplifier and 590-watt output and the Multibeam LED Intelligent Light System.

This uses 84 individually controlled LEDs to provide unsurpassed illumination, with the Active Light System switching individual LEDs on and off to provide maximum lighting without dazzling other road users.

Next-generation driver assistance systems include a Lane Tracking Package (£595) that includes Passive Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Assist, and the more comprehensive Driving Assistance Plus Package (£1,695).

The Driving Assistance Plus Package includes Drive pilot, which combines Distance Pilot Distronic – which can maintain the vehicle at a set distance behind other vehicles – with new functionality that allows it to follow the vehicle in front. In combination with Comand Online navigation, the system also has Speed Limit Pilot, which can adjust the vehicle’s speed to camera-detected limits or those logged in the navigation.

Also included are Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function; Evasive Steering Assist; and Pre-Safe Impulse Side. If a lateral impact has been detected, this last system inflates a chamber in the side of the backrest to move the driver or front passenger further from the danger zone.

Comand satellite navigation with 12.3-inch widescreen display is standard on E 350 d models and £1,495 on the E 220 d. The accompanying 12.3-inch widescreen cockpit display is £495.