1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Toyota Rav4

First Drive Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz' E-Class has has made quite a name for itself. In addition to being the sales star of the automaker's lineup, it's also the all-time best-selling luxury import car in the United States. This month, the first major E-Class redesign in over a decade will debut on American highways. We recently had a chance to sample some early examples on a preview drive through Germany and Austria.

The '96 E-Class will be easy to differentiate from its predecessors thanks to a bold new face punctuated by large, oval headlamps. Initially, the E-Class will be available in two models: the E320, with a 3.2-liter DOHC 24-valve inline-six, and the E300 Diesel, with a 50-state-legal, 3.0-liter 24-valve inline-six diesel engine. The V-8-powered E420 won't appear on our shores until the spring of 1996, and a wagon version of the 320 isn't expected until the fall of 1997. The current E320 Cabriolet will remain in production through the end of this year, although no replacement is expected. All engines are essentially carry-over from the previous generation, although the E420 will get a new five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

The E-Class wheelbase has been extended by 1.3 inches, while the overall length and width have grown by 1.6 and 2.3 inches, respectively. This offers significantly more interior room, especially in the rear-seat area. Front-seat passengers are now protected by the industry's first door-mounted side-impact airbags. Other new interior appointments include a power tilt/telescopic steering column, an integrated sunvisor-mounted garage-door opener, and a "smart" dual-zone climate-control system, with a carbon-monoxide/oxides-of-nitrogen sensor that automatically switches the system into the recirculation mode when these pollutants are detected. High-intensity-discharge headlights are an "under $1000" option.

Mercedes engineers replaced the previous strut-type front suspension with a new double-wishbone system. We found that it gives the new E-Class a more compliant ride without sacrificing the car's road-hugging stability or crisp cornering performance. At the point of contact are more-aggressive 215/55HR16 tires on larger 16-inch wheels. In addition, a new variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering system shaves both weight and cost over the prior recirculating-ball setup, plus reduces on-center vagueness while delivering accurate response and linear turn-in/out characteristics.

Pricing has not yet been released, although Mercedes is trying to get as close to the '95 models' stickers as the dollar-to-deutsche-mark exchange rate will permit.
-Rik Paul

First Drive Toyota Rav4
Toyota's new RAV4 won't arrive at U.S. dealerships until late December, but we recently took a preview drive in some right-hand-drive U.K.-spec versions in Ireland. Aimed straight at the heart of the leisure market, the RAV4 is tailored to 4x4 owners who rarely if ever plan to leave the tarmac. It combines all-terrain styling with the performance of a mini-GT-and it really is capable of limited off-road running.

Unlike most 4x4s, this new Toyota eschews body-on-frame design for unitized construction. Its fully independent underpinnings use MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones at the back. Looking a bit like a cross between a stylized Geo Tracker and a Nissan Pathfinder, the RAV4 displays far better proportions in five-door configuration than in three-door form. The former enjoys an 8.3-inch wheelbase advantage (94.9 versus 86.6) and is 16.1 inches longer overall, making it a much more practical machine; there's significantly greater front legroom, and two full-size passengers with luggage will fit in the rear area. Cargo space in the three-door is little more than token.