In this day and age of hybrid exuberance, it’s good to know that a tried-and-true technology is still ready to provide a combination of performance and fuel efficiency.  Diesel is back!  Thanks to engineers at DaimlerChrysler, this once maligned power source is getting a new lease on life thanks to the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec.

What exactly is Bluetec?  Simply put, it’s an exhaust after-treatment system that uses advanced filtration systems to scrub most of the NOx out before it reaches the air we breathe.  Mercedes claims it cuts NOx output by 75%.  That’s pretty darn good. 

Clean exhaust may be a good thing, but what makes the E320 Bluetec really worthy is the 3-liter turbocharged diesel V6 found under the hood. Producing a whopping 388 lb.-ft. of torque available from 1,700-2,400 rpm, along with a respectable 208 horses at 3,800 rpm, this power plant propels the E-Class sedan at a brisk pace, especially while passing on the highway.  While turbo lag may have been an issue in diesels of the past, the E320’s turbo seems to respond with just a feather of the accelerator. 

Equally impressive are the noise, vibration and harshness characteristics of the engine.  Mercedes says its engineers paid careful attention to keeping noise at a minimum and it is very evident. Even at a cold start, the engine let out nary a sound louder than a traditional engine.  There was no need to turn up the radio or raise a voice while accelerating at highway speeds and fuel consumption was limited to 26 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. 

Wrapped around this respectable engine is the revised E-Class sedan, which has received minor tweaks for the 2007 model year.  The cabin is handsomely detailed, with tasteful wood grain trim. The number of buttons populating the instrument panel has been dramatically reduced from the previous model, adding to the clean look.  

With an as-tested price of $57,835, the E320 Bluetec seems like a bargain considering the fuel saving benefits and luxury appointments, with a bonus for the sporting influence from the power of the diesel engine.