Relax and enjoy your time.
The Autobahn world is overcrowded with super-fast cars reaching unbelievable speeds. It’s amazing, but it’s also important to enjoy the ride when high-speed driving is involved. TopSpeedGermany took a Mercedes E-Class E220 wagon for a spin on de-restricted Autobahn.
Although the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon may only have a 150-horsepower (112-kilowatt), turbodiesel, 2.2-liter four-cylinder motor, it delivers power in a unique way. We can’t speak for the car as we aren’t there, but we can tell that the powerplant is smooth and powerful.
We’ve never had such a relaxed top-speed run from a sensory perspective. Although you might expect a warm soundtrack from a diesel it seems to deliver surprising performance. The engine can travel at a speed of 127 mph (204 km/h) without encountering traffic. Once the traffic clog is cleared, the engine returns to its original speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).
You could argue that the car’s top speed is lower because it is less powerful, but that doesn’t negate the fact that smaller turbodiesels have such a unique powerband. It’s not clear if the German car could reach higher speeds, as many runs were hampered by traffic. However, these vehicles seem to be more concerned about range than performance.
The Autobahn is still one of the best roads where your car can go to its limits. Although it isn’t a free-for all, the ribbon of asphalt remains one of the most beautiful roads in the world.