They couldn’t just not do it. Daimler is following the crossover trend with the new E-class All-Terrain?a model that won’t come to the U.S. immediately but could pave the way for car-based crossovers to eventually make it over here. The recipe is relatively simple: Take your existing station wagon, raise the ground clearance visibly, add unpainted body cladding, and find an appropriate name that evokes the romance of the great outdoors. It’s done by Subaru (Outback and Crosstrek), Audi (Allroad), Volvo (Cross Country), and Volkswagen (Alltrack). “All-Terrain” was still available; here it is, in its full glory.
The Mercedes-Benz E-class All-Terrain comes with standard all-wheel drive and an air suspension; at first, it will be offered only with a 191-hp 2.0-liter turbo-diesel; a six-cylinder turbo-diesel will follow shortly, and gasoline engines are sure to be added to the lineup down the road. The engines will mate to Daimler’s nine-speed automatic transmission. There is an additional driving mode, called?what else"?”All-Terrain,” programmed into the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system that will theoretically enable this crossover to navigate far more challenging situations than this suburban cruiser will ever be exposed to in real life. Tires with taller sidewalls help. The All-Terrain version is slightly slower and less efficient than its regular station-wagon counterpart, but the difference is minimal and likely won’t...