This premium midsize sedan is set squarely between the company's compact C-Class and flagship S-Class, and Mercedes-Benz considers the all-new 2010 E-Class to be its most important new car of the year.
Over 22 million miles were logged during its testing—the company's most comprehensive development process to date—with the goal of making it the best E-Class yet. Did they get this one right? We spent a couple of days behind the wheel of the V8-powered E550 in Spain to find out.
The Specs
The E-Class's angular new skin creases sharply and has rounded rear haunches that resolve in geometric taillights which complement its squinty, faceted headlights. LED daytime running lights create a mean countenance and its form follows function as well: It boasts a slippery .25 drag coefficient.
Beneath the sheet metal, a steel unibody chassis has been modified to offer improved impact absorption and up to 30 percent more rigidity, thanks to new high-strength steel alloys. Adaptive shock absorbers adjust stiffness according to damping forces.
A new, electronically controlled Airmatic damping system comes standard in the E550 and E550 4Matic, and is available as an option on the V6 E350. Seats with additional foam filling and optional active and massaging functions (trickled down from the S-Class) offer more long-distance comfort.
Eleven standard airbags and the usual litany of electronic aids grace the new E-Class, as well as a lengthy list of high-tech safety features.
Like its predecessor, the E-Class includes the Pre-safe system, which optimizes seat belt tension and airbag actuation when an accident is imminent. Equipped with the optional Distronic radar-based cruise control, Brake Assist Plus uses two short-range radar sensors to detect distance from vehicles ahead and supplements brake pressure to help avoid collision.
Audible and visual warnings accompany the system's braking, and if the driver doesn't apply brakes and an accident is unavoidable, the system will apply full stopping power in order to reduce impact. Mercedes-Benz calls this its "digital crumple zone," and we think it makes a lot of sense.
The E-Class also inherits Blind Spot Assist from the S-Class, which lights up the side mirrors when a neighboring car occupies an area of the adjacent lane the driver cannot see. An audio warning engages if the turn signals are used and there's a car in the way.
The Lane Departure Warning system senses drifting across lanes and gently vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver and a drowsiness detection system monitors more than 70 parameters including steering angle in order to pick up on clues that the driver is falling asleep.
If the vehicle decides the operator is too sleepy for safe driving, an audible warning chimes and a visual warning appears on the instrument panel. Night View Assist Plus is available as a stand-alone option and improves upon the system originally found in the E-Class's larger stablemate. Night View features clearer visuals and a pedestrian-detection function which highlights human-like shapes with bracket graphics.
The 2010 E350 and E550 sedans will be available this summer in Sport or Luxury configurations. The E350 will feature the 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6, while the E550 will be equipped with the 382-hp 5.5-liter V8. Expect all-wheel-drive 4Matic and the steroidal E63 AMG to arrive later this year, while a 50-state E350 Bluetec diesel is expected by early 2010.
The Drive
We were impressed the moment we climbed into our E550: its tony leather and matte wood-lined cabin is much improved over the outgoing model. It is a serene driving environment. Equipped with the optional leather-lined dashboard, the more angular interior feels ergonomic yet upscale, and the knurled controller is surrounded by function buttons that make it easier to use.
There are just enough controls on the dash to ease functionality without cluttering up the expanses of leather, aluminum, and wood.
The steering-wheel-mounted shifter frees up space on the center console, and when the E-Class gets rolling the driver is met with reassuring feedback. Acceleration is smooth with strong pull in the middle and upper rpm ranges, but in Sport mode, the transmission doesn't shift as aggressively as you might expect.
With an emphasis on comfort and predictability, the E550 seems more concerned with consistency than it does with outright performance. There's enough steering feel to inspire confident maneuvering, though some German rivals offer a bit more of those important communicative sensations enthusiasts enjoy.
But there's plenty to like with the E550; it feels composed, and the seven-speed automatic makes the most of the V8's engine output. Ride quality is generally supple, though larger bumps and potholes upset the chassis more than we expected. In keeping with traditional Mercedes-Benz sedans, the E550 maintains reassuring road manners paired with a luxurious cabin.
Using Night Vision during an evening drive revealed a clear, stutter-free picture of the road ahead. Black cutouts of human silhouettes were placed by the roadside, and the system quickly identified them and tracked their shapes as we passed. This is an impressive safety feature—one we first experienced on the new BMW 7 Series.
On our evening drive we were impressed by the headlamps too—Adaptive headlights turn to follow the road and will dim high beams when cars approach from the opposite direction.
In addition to the E550, we also sampled the Europe-only, manual-transmission E200 CGI BlueEfficiency with direct injection that won't be coming to the U.S. because, Mercedes says, of incompatible gasoline standards. And that's a shame. This model is estimated to yield up to 38 mpg.
We also took a sneak peek at the fire-breathing AMG E63, which promises to assuage drivers who find the E350 and E550 models just a little too pedestrian for their lead-footed needs.
The Bottom Line
The new E-Class is a crucial car for Mercedes-Benz, and it comes at a time when consumers are focused more on core values, rather than flash or ostentatious one-upmanship.
Thanks to its plusher interior and level-headed on-road demeanor, the new E-Class may steal some comfort-oriented BMW 5 Series owners. And when the new E63 rolls around, you can bet the thrill-seeking contingency will be equally impressed.
