If you were to identify the heart of the world's luxury sedans, it would probably be the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Bigger than the sport sedans below but short of the excesses of the S-Class and its rivals, the E-Class represents affluence, to be sure, but also a solid no-nonsense grounding in engineering excellence. Stuttgart probably wouldn’t like the reference, but the E-Class is the Honda Accord of luxury sedans.
Mercedes-Benz brings us a significantly updated E-Class this year. Not even remnants of the classic radiator grille remain, with the S-Class being the final model line to hold on to that iconic and once relentlessly copied design cue.
Its competitive set is familiar enough. Back before European luxury brands started dipping down into VW Golf territory, and when they all had three-sedan line-ups, the E-Class and its rivals were the ones in the middle, now they are just second from the top. With a starting MSRP of $54,250, the E-Class is up against the $57,200 BMW 5-Series, $61,422 Audi A6, and $51,100 Jaguar XF. On the US side, there really is just the Cadillac CT5. The $36,995 starting MSRP isn’t really in the same ballpark, but higher trim levels intersect with the E-Class price range. From Japan, there is nothing. The sedans of this segment from Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura have all dropped out. That leaves the Korean $47,700 Genesis G80 to represent Asia in this group.
All these models start out with turbocharged inline-4 engines, with 8, 9, or 10-speed transmissions. They also all start with rear-wheel-drive, with AWD as an option, except, of course, Audi with standard AWD and a starting price that reflects it. In terms of base engine power, at 255 hp, E-Class beats the 237 hp Caddy, 247 hp Jaguar, and 248 hp 5-Series, but is far short of the 300 hp Genesis. The Benz also weighs about 300-400 pounds less than the BMW, Audi, and Genesis. While around 100 and 200 pounds over the Cadillac and Jaguar, respectively.
It wasn’t that long ago that you wouldn’t find a four-cylinder engine anywhere near this class. If you still can't wrap your head around 4-bangers at this level, then you are looking at the E450 4MATIC AWD, and it's 362 hp. Power from the 6-cylinder competitive set ranges from the 335 hp BMW 540i to the G80 on the top again with 375. All the competitors, but the Audi offer their 6-cylinder with RWD.
Of course, when you start throwing in letters like AMG, M, and RS, things go way up in a hurry, but we will leave the performance sub-brands for another day.
Here, we will focus on the mainstream E-Class sedans.
Two engines, Two Drivetrains, Three Combinations
Before the adoption of turbocharged inline-4s, the model name’s numbers in this class used to reflect engine displacement. Just forget about that. The base E-Class E350 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 producing 255 hp @ 5800 and 273 lb-ft. @ 1800. The much improved for 2021 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic sends the power to the rear wheels for a 0-60 of 6.1 seconds. EPA est. is 22 / 31 / 25 (city/hwy/comb).
For more power and less buzz, the E450 is powered by its relatively new 3.0-liter turbo inline-6 which produces 362 hp @ 5500 and 369 lb-ft. @ 1600, which will get you from parked to 60 in 4.6 seconds. Possibly more amazing is that the bigger turbocharged engine and the standard 4MATIC AWD system invokes no penalty at the pump, with the EPA figures staying pretty much the same at 23 / 30 / 26.
Exemplary Ride And Handling Combination
The suspension features coil springs with multi-link geometry all-around. It seems the must-have is the $1,776 Air Control Suspension option featuring air springs, auto-leveling, and allowing variation in drive modes. Says Motor Trend, when they awarded the E-Class their 2021 Car of the Year Award: “It soaks up freeway chop, road rash, and bumps and divots with impunity. On the freeway, its ride is smooth and floaty, but on the twisty roads, it shows its handling and sporty side without being shy… What fantastic ride quality. One of the best of any car I've driven in a while."
Space, Surprise, And Delight
Using the Honda Accord as a reference point again, almost most every head, shoulder, and leg measurement of the E-Class is within an inch of the Accord. The exception is the Accord beating the pants off the Benz with four more inches of rear legroom. Apparently, the Benz’s three-inch longer wheelbase all goes to accommodate that available straight-six engine. Folding rear seat-backs were an element of gritty utility, sedans in this lofty segment used to leave to the mass market, but in the E-Class, they fold in the optimal 40-20-40 configuration.
The dash is entirely modern while still managing to invoke old-world elegance. The now-iconic turbine-shaped vents capture the eye first, perhaps because there are six of them. But then you notice the simple “rightness” of the digital driver’s display flowing uninterrupted into the center console screen. Gentle sweeping curves and open-pore wood across the lower dash and down the center console avoid the clinical coldness of its German rivals or the overt retro-fussiness of the British and Italian nameplates.
At this level, a list of the E-Class luxury features can extend past the longest attention span, so we will concentrate on the less expected. Certainly, among the latter, is the ambient interior lighting that allows you to choose among 64 colors. The $1,100 Head-up Display can simultaneously but concisely show the next nav direction, vehicle speed, cruise setting, and in some cases, the posted speed limit. Other display options are available. Using a forward-facing camera, the navigation system can actually superimpose directions directly on an image of the view ahead in the center screen. And while everyone offers heated seats and many offer a heated steering wheel, how about heated armrests? Those all come from the $1,050 Warmth & Comfort Package.
The MBUX interface, which is standard on every model, was one feature not praised in their Motor Trend's COTY article. “Although the screens are gloriously crisp, the new MBUX infotainment system and user interface raised the ire of nearly every editor for its overly (and needlessly) complicated nature… I'm not unfamiliar with MBUX, but the amount of times I had to focus on the center display screen or take my hands off the wheel to try the touchpad or touchscreen is unacceptable."
Pricing And Trims
The three levels of E-Class sedan before you enter AMG-land, are differentiated only by their drivetrains. The standard features, options, and packages are basically the same for all.
E350 Starting MSRP: $54,250
E350 4MATIC Starting MSRP: $56,750
E450 4MATIC Starting MSRP: $62,000
Black and white are the only free colors, with most of the rest setting you back $750. Three colors Mercedes is particularly proud of, range from $1,080 - $3,950. Mercedes likes its E-Class models to be dignified, so besides red and blue, the ten other colors all fall within the black, white, and beige triangle. Things get more adventurous inside where you can choose among six wood finishes and 13 interiors with 9 different two-tone combos.
There are plenty of individual options, and about five packages, which are more reasonable than you might suspect. The most expensive is the $4,900 designo Exclusive Nappa Leather Package that extends past the seats to include upgrades to the dash, headliner, and even floor mats. The Premium Package sounds like a regular bargain, where for $2,300, you get the Burmeister Surround Sound system, PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist, Surround View System, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and free SiriusXM for 6-months.
We concentrated on sedans in this article but conclude with a quick reminder that as proof of the E-Class as the heart of the brand, there is also a coupe, convertible, and even a good old wagon, which can be had in conventional or Outbacked-up All Terrain iterations.