It was the W124 E-Class that started Mercedes-Benz’s journey in India in 1995, and today, almost 30 years later, we welcome the sixth generation of the sedan. How far has the E-Class come?
Highlights:
Mercedes-Benz’s entry into the Indian passenger car market began in 1995 with its first model, the now iconic W124 E-Class. Almost 30 years later, Mercedes launched the sixth generation of the E-Class in India with the latest car, the V214, considered the best iteration of the luxury sedan. The W124 was not a commercial success, although the E-Class became the company’s best-selling car in India. And this thought got me thinking about some key questions. How has the E-Class changed over the years? and was the W124, a car known for its reliability, as effective at its job as a luxury sedan like the current E-Class? We brought the two together to find out.
Style & Substance:
One of the reasons why the W124 wasn’t a huge success in India is that the model was nearing the end of its global production run. At the time, the model was due to be replaced by the new W210 E-Class and Indian buyers seemed to be loathing the idea of buying an older car. However, things are a bit different these days. Resale values of the W124 have started to rise in India in recent years and you can see plenty of examples on the road, ranging from the Indian-made E220 and E250 to private imports like this E300 diesel here.The classic three-box design of the W124 E-Class has a timeless beauty and still looks great today.In terms of design, the W124 has aged well. The classic 3-box dimensions, the long, flat hood, and the slightly sloping rear give it a timeless look. Unique elements of this generation of the E-Class include plastic covers on the lower part of the doors and the air intake on the front fender on the driver’s side. unique to the 124 diesel. The sedan’s high ground clearance also allowed it to overcome almost any power or large speed bump on the road.A lot has changed in 30 years. At that time, the W124 rode on 15-inch wheels; the sixth generation E uses significantly larger 17-inch wheels.The wheels are also quite well proportioned, even though they are only 15-inch units wrapped in 195/65 section tires. In any case, this W124, finished in white, looks special to this day; it still gives off the aura of an important person walking around town..The latest E-Class looks large in comparison. It is significantly longer than the old W124, which is similar in size to the modern C-Class. The design is also much more rounded, with flowing lines and smooth contours. The new E also borrows design cues from Mercedes’ EQ range, especially at the front, while the taillights benefit from a unique three-pointed star graphic. Of course, the new E also benefits from much larger wheels that fill the wheel arches well. In short, the new E perfectly fulfills the role of a modern luxury sedan, although it’s not as likely to turn heads as its granddaddy in many ways. The newE-Class is large compared to the W124; Mercedes’ latest design language sees the new E borrow some design cues similar to the EQ, especially at the front.
