The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain has been revealed overnight offering increased ground clearance and all-wheel drive, it will go on-sale in early 2017.

THE 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class All-Terrain has been revealed ahead of its global reveal at the Paris Motor Show and after being teased online yesterday in a short video. Mercedes-Benz claims it “can tackle routes where conventional estates have to give up, thanks to greater ground clearance and 4MATIC all-wheel drive”. It’s expected to go on-sale next year with pricing and final specification to be announced closer to the launch.

“No E-Class has ever been as versatile as the All-Terrain. The new model combines a striking look in SUV style with the intelligent space concept of the estate. This is coupled with lots of innovative safety features and the multi-award-winning E-Class interior,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Daimler management board responsible for Sales and Marketing of Mercedes Benz Cars.

“With 4MATIC all-wheel drive as a standard feature and increased ground clearance thanks to the AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension, the All-Terrain is a flexible all-rounder – for unpaved roads, family and leisure time.”

The E-Class All-Terrain features the usual plastic clad lower part while the upper part is body coloured. The grille has an “SUV-style two-fin grille with the star integrated in the centre”. The plastic continues on the wheel arches and on the skirt at the sides and rear of the car. The All-Terrain will be available with three types of alloy to choose from in 19-20-inch formats.

“The All-Terrain also features a model-specific three-part bumper at the rear with the top part painted in body colour and the lower part in grained black plastic,” Mercedes-Benz said. It also gets underbody protection that’s been electroplated in silver-chrome.

The interior includes aluminium-carbon look trim that is exclusive to the All-Terrain, stainless steel sports pedals and floor mats with All-Terrain lettering. The rear seats follow the theme of the E-Class Estate and are 40:20:40 split-fold configuration.

Mercedes-Benz said the All-Terrain will be launched as an E 220 d 4MATIC (with 143kW). This will be followed by a six-cylinder diesel engine. Both models come with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission as standard.

Question: The boom in SUVs has seen makers who’ve never previously offered rough road wagons now offering them, what do you think of the new E-Class All-Terrain?