THE E-Class is the backbone of everything Mercedes does - so it's no surprise the company has thrown everything bar the kitchen sink at the new model.

The UK range starts with the E220d SE, priced from £35,935, with the E220d AMG Line from £38,430. The E350d SE starts at £44,930, and the E 350 d AMG Line at £47,425.

The fuel economy champ has to be the four-cylinder 2.0-litre found beneath the bonnet of the E220. Thanks to its bi-turbo, this engine produces 195 hp and 400 Nm - perfect for 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 E220d’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. That's progress for you.

Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes just 7.3 seconds – 0.4 seconds faster than the outgoing E250CDI.

First deliveries of the six-cylinder E 350d 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.

Gone are the days when German cars came with a gaping hole in the fascia where you fitted a radio.

Standard specification on the ever-popular SE trim level includes: a Garmin Map Pilot navigation system with 8.4-inch display; Parktronic parking sensors with reversing camera and the innovative 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 E350d).

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 satellite navigation with 12.3-inch display and remote online services.

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. This could be a life-saver if you have points on your licence and can't afford a silly speeding mistake.

Other safety tech includes: 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.

The Drive Pilot is truly impressive. It uses a digital camera, radar sensors and a black box hidden away behind the rear wing to take over the driving when you can't be bothered. The system controls the acceleration, braking and lane swapping. It can even roll to a complete halt without any intervention if the traffic suddenly stops moving.

You can't leave Drive Pilot completely to its own devices.

If you take your hands off the wheel to read a book or something, the car sounds a warning. If you ignore the irritating bonging sound for more than a minute it assumes you've nodded off (or got to a really good bit in the story) and brings the vehicle to a safe stop.

Nevertheless, Drive Pilot is a genuine innovation - a glimpse of the future when driverless cars will do all the wheel work while we lounge around checking Facebook or tweeting about the weather.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the new E-Class will be a snooze to drive.

Mercedes boffins regained their mojo on the last C-Class and officials say the E-Class is just as engaging to drive.