Smooth, sophisticated and silent was my first impression of the new look Mercedes E-Class.

There are seven engines to choose from – three petrols, three turbodiesels and the model I was driving, the diesel-electric luxury hybrid SE saloon.

Its redesign includes new bumpers, lights, bonnet and body sides, and rear LED lights give the new E-Class a unique look, making it easily identifiable at night.

It takes a while to get used to the sound of silence, although the diesel engine soon kicks in and everything feels ‘normal’ again.

Steering is light and precise, and the ride is extraordinarily smooth, even unfazed by speed bumps, soaking them up in its stride.

Standard kit includes alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, leather upholstery, cruise control and hill start assist to stop you from rolling backwards on uphill junctions and Active Park Assist with Parktronic system.

The COMAND Online system, now standard on every E-Class, includes a must-have DAB radio, seven-inch colour display, hard disk drive navigation with 3D map display and Traffic Message Channel, Linguatronic voice control and internet access via a mobile phone.

There is 540 litres of space in the boot and a further 78 litres of stowage space available in the compartment beneath the luggage-compartment floor.

Safety features include an Active Bonnet to protect pedestrians in a collision, Adaptive Brake, anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Programme with Acceleration Skid Control, seven airbags, Neck-Pro anti-whiplash protection and Collision Prevention Assist.

It also has an enhanced version of Attention Assist, a system for detecting potential driver fatigue and issuing audible and visual warnings. A lot more effective than a motorway matrix sign, I reckon!

Add in those all-important luxury features and you’ll get dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting in the dash and door panels, electrical height and backrest adjustment for the heated front seats and a nappa leather–trimmed multi-function steering wheel and gear shifter.

The E-Class diesel hybrid has already won a whole host of awards this year, including Green Car of the Year and Executive Car of the Year at the Professional Driver Magazine Awards. It is a particularly attractive purchase for company car drivers, thanks to its low emissions (and therefore low tax band) and remarkable fuel economy, with almost 70 miles to the gallon.

Fact File
Car: Mercedes Benz E300 Bluetec
On the road: £39,880
Top speed: 150mph
0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
Fuel: 68.9mpg
C02 emissions: 109g/km