Weekend Drive by Hormazd Sorabjee: A Mercedes E-Class holds its ground

A drive through Jordan in a Mercedes E-Class takes the author to historical sites, including the Citadel, Jerash, Wadi Rum and Petra, ending at the Dead Sea

For thousands of years, the city of Amman has been built and rebuilt, layer upon layer, on a cluster of seven hills. In the old part of Amman, narrow, labyrinthine streets spread out like veins over the hilly terrain, so you are constantly ascending and descending steep slopes. The undulating topography creates a unique driving environment that demands a car with exceptional torque and strong brakes. Thankfully, the Mercedes E-Class I am driving for the next week across Jordan, has both.

Highways in Jordan are more or less smooth but are sprinkled with rough patches and some nasty potholes, which the E-Class stoically soaks up.

The Mercedes E-Class.

The walk through the Siq, the gateway to Petra, is something you’ll never experience elsewhere. This is the place to set your personal Fitbit record.