Since March, we have driven a few variants of Mercedes' new E-class.

The beefy E350CGI, Mercedes' first direct injection V6, will not be available here because it requires ultra-low sulphur petrol. Two others sold here have proven to be competent: the E300 and the E250, which was originally thought to be the base model E and probably the most popular one.

Then Mercedes sprang a surprise: the E200. Like the E250, it is a 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo, though tuned to produce 184bhp instead of 204bhp. And it has 270Nm of torque, versus the E250's 310Nm.

But the E200's peak power and torque arrive earlier in the rev band, making its absolute deficiency much less apparent in an urban environment like ours.

In everyday driving, the Merc is rarely left wanting in the power department. It is adequately nippy, with an engine that pulls stout-heartedly all the way to 6,000rpm without a hint of protest.

Like the E250, the E200's 1.8-litre has the benefit of direct injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing. Which means it is punchy and efficient. Mercedes claims fuel efficiency is improved by 20 per cent over an equivalent car in the previous generation.

The recipe is markedly better than the previous supercharger-based one. Throttle response is a lot quicker, making the new E200 breezier than you would expect of a biggish car propelled by a smallish engine.

When hurried, the modest power plant is able to send the E200 to 100kmh in 8.2 seconds, just half a second slower than the E250.

Delivery to the rear wheels via a five-speed transmission is smooth and relatively silent. Here, its cylinder deficit is certainly not felt at all.

What you might long for is a sportier suspension set-up. As always, the E-class is engineered for comfort. Selecting the Sport mode does not stiffen the car's damping, it merely piles on more revs.

So while the E200 has the mettle for hard acceleration, it is not matched by an aptitude for aggressive cornering.

The fast driver will, however, appreciate its super sharp steering and incredibly tidy turn-in. These two traits make the car feel more compact than it really is.

No other E in memory was ever so effortless to drive. And you will be hard put to come up with a rival that measures up this way.

If the E200 had the light and friendly column shift of its six-cylinder siblings, it would be even easier to operate. But its gear lever is more traditional, with a gated system sited on the centre console.

Then again, the E-class has a far more intuitive cruise control switch. It also has one of the most convenient features ever: When you are at the lights, just step hard on the brake pedal once to hold the car. No need to touch the parking brake. This is also smarter than those electronic parking brakes which engage whenever the car comes to a standstill - they can be a pain when you are doing a three-point turn or reversing into a lot.

The only downside to the E200 is that it lacks the elegance of past Es and its new-age contours diminish the car's presence. You might even mistake it occasionally for a C-class. You will not make that mistake behind the wheel, though.