If you're shopping for a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, you'll have to be a little more specific. The luxury-car benchmark comes in many different forms--sedan or wagon, coupe or convertible, or in thundering E63 AMG trim. The good news is that all of them live up to its decades-long heritage, while offering a bit more focused driving experience than before.
Since its last full redesign in 2010, the E-Class has improved in several graduated steps. This year's round of changes is the most dramatic yet, bringing in better fuel economy and better performance, more safety technology, and a cleaner look that drops some of the furrowed brows of the past three years. Altogether, it's right up against the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series as well as the Infiniti Q70 and Cadillac CTS.
See our Mercedes-Benz E-Class page for information on the history of this model line
For the 2014 model year the E-Class is offered as a E250 BlueTEC sedan; an E350 sedan, wagon, coupe or cabriolet; an E550 sedan, coupe, or cabriolet; and an E63 AMG sedan and wagon.
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
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