2014 Mercedes-Benz E Class - Review

The Basics:

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class family of cars has long been a benchmark for luxury vehicles--whether we're talking about the sedan and wagon, or the short-wheelbase coupe and convertible spin-offs, or the torrid E63 AMG variants. It hasn't always been the athletic rival for BMW or Audi in the segment, but with this generation, the E-Class' road manners have grown more attentive to the driver's needs.

Competing with the likes of BMW's 5-Series, the Cadillac CTS and XTS, and Audi's A6, the E-Class has been improved in almost every year since a 2010 redesign, all in the effort to stay at the top of the segment. This year's changes buff up its competitiveness on a variety of fronts, from fuel economy to performance to safety, where it adopts features that even the S-Class doesn't yet have.

For the 2014 model year the E-Class will be offered in sedan and wagon body styles, as the E250 BlueTEC sedan; the E350 sedan and wagon; the E550 sedan; and the E63 AMG sedan and wagon.

The coupe and cabriolet body styles also return, but we'll be bringing you more on them later this spring, after a first drive.

The E-Class' unmistakable German presence gets softened considerably this year, massaging out the wrinkles from an overzealous attempt to give it more masculine character. That's all been ironed out, and though the styling changes for the 2014 E-Class are subtle, they make a significant impact. The front end gets a smoother and more open bumper, a new hood, and a choice of two different grilles. For the first time in the E-Class range (it's been practice with the C-Class for more than a few years), Luxury models wear a three-bar grille and a star on the hood, while Sport models get the star integrated in the grille itself. The other major design changes include the clean-up of the rear quarter panels, now without the flared and creased look of the last four model years, and LED running lights and taillamps with a signature night-time look. It's less busy--maybe less interesting to some--and the new design is undoubtedly sleeker and more elegant.

The E-Class' cabin fared better, especially after a recent refashioning, and the fine materials and trims we've come to associate with Mercedes are in full effect, as is the solidly constructed feel of most of the controls. It takes to expressive use of trim very well: the standard vinyl and wood can be upgraded to supple leather, aluminum or carbon-look trim, or furniture-grade wood.

A huge range in drivetrain offerings almost guarantees there's an E-Class for any point on the economy/performance curve. Each of the drivetrains is new in the past three model years. The basic E350 gasoline engine now has direct injection and makes 302 horsepower, while the 4.6-liter twin-turbo V-8 in the E550 throbs with 402 horsepower. At the top of the gas-powered lineup, a spooled-up E63 AMG performance edition now churns out 550 hp from a 5.5-liter biturbo V-8--or in "S" trim, 577 hp. Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel drive is also optional on much of the sedan range (and standard on U.S.-market E550 sedans), and it's also standard on the AMG versions this year. Any of these versions accelerates to 60 mph in 7 seconds or less--with the AMG versions throttling the pavement into submission into as few as 4 seconds.

Two green versions make the E-Class one of the few vehicles sold anywhere in the world to have gas, gas-electric, and diesel drivetrains. The new E250 BlueTEC gives up some torque and likely, a bit of acceleration to the outgoing six-cylinder E350 BlueTEC turbodiesel--but since it's a four-cylinder, highway fuel economy could rise from 32 mpg to 35 mpg. There's also an E400 Hybrid that shares lithium-ion batteries and motors with the S400 Hybrid, and earns a 30-mpg highway rating. The choice between the two should factor mostly on whether you post more city or highway miles, respectively.

Regardless of the model or engine chosen, however, the E-Class range rewards the driver with adjustable suspension settings, a responsive seven-speed automatic, and improved, yet still comfortable, driving dynamics. The E63 AMG kicks the whole show up a notch, with a reworked AMG-tuned suspension.

Interior space was improved with the latest E-Class redesign, a couple of years ago, with excellent head and leg room for both the front and back seats, which can seat up to five adults comfortably. Wagon models have even more versatility, with fold-down seats, an open cargo space, and two temporary-duty, rear-facing third-row seats. Wagons also get a new power tailgate. Across the line, build quality is tight, materials selection is mostly excellent, and quietness is a strength.

The E Class family offers an impressive number of above-and-beyond active-safety features--many of them optional--to detect driver drowsiness, monitor blind spots, control high beams automatically, maintain a set following distance, and help keep you in your lane. And two of the body styles have earned Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS. Key updates to the 2014 E-Class come on the electronics side, enhancing safety through an array of sensors and algorithms. A new front-mounted stereo camera system enables three-dimensional imaging of road obstacles and traffic at distances up to 55 yards, with overall system effectiveness stretching out to 550 yards. Together with driver drowsiness detection systems, forward-collision mitigation systems, braking assistance, and several flavors of lane-keeping assist, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class can even steer itself in limited circumstances, under low-speed conditions--a first step to autonomous driving.

Standard equipment no longer includes satellite radio, and a rearview camera is optional on the base models, but Bluetooth and a power sunroof are standard. Other luxury upgrades include voice-controlled navigation; Sirius and HD Radio; a surround-view camera; heated seats; numerous electronic safety assists; and adaptive sport seats. The most coveted feature is sure to be a new 1200-watt, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with exquisite rendering of sound.

The E-Class sedan and wagon are on sale in May, with diesels arriving in July. AMG models land in showrooms in August.