2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Test Drive

On-Sale Date: May 2013

Base Price: $52,000 to $95,000 (est.)

Competitors: Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Infiniti M

Powertrains: 2.1-liter I-4, 190 hp, 369 lb-ft; seven-speed automatic; 3.5-liter V-6, 302 hp, 273 lb-ft; 3.5-liter V-6 with electric motor, 329 hp, 457 lb-ft; 5.5-liter turbocharged V-8, 402 hp, 443 lb-ft; 5.5-liter turbocharged V-8, 550 or 577 hp, 531 or 590 lb-ft; seven-speed automatic, RWD or AWD

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 15?24/23?32 (est.)

What's New: While the E-Class wears reshaped sheetmetal and the choice of two ?faces??Luxury or the more aggressive Sport?the most notable additions to the tried-and-true Benz sedan are advanced safety features that will eventually find their way to the upcoming S-Class, including Active Lanekeeping Assist, a cross-traffic sensor with brake boosting, and Distronic Plus With Steering Assist, which semiautonomously follows traffic ahead. While the new E250 BlueTEC will be equipped with a downsized 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, the top-tier E63 AMG model gets a power boost and gains 4Matic. That will make the hairy-chested hot rod Mercedes-Benz's first AMG sedan with all-wheel drive.

The 2014 model takes yet another step away from the E-Class's old reputation for lazy steering and sluggish throttle response. Chassis dynamics depend on whether you opt for the standard Luxury version or the livelier Sport, which tightens up the suspension damping and quickens the steering ratio. When the V-8-powered E550 is replaced by the E400 in fall 2014, the next best thing to the top dog E63 AMG model will be powered by a twin-turbocharged V-6 that produces 333 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

Tech Tidbit: Mercedes-Benz once debuted techy features on their top-tier cars before those features trickled down to the rest. But among the midlevel E-Class's new suite of electronics systems is a steer-by-wire feature that uses stereoscopic cameras to actively position the car in the center of the lane.

Driving Character: Our afternoon spent traversing the Spanish countryside in the E400 revealed satisfyingly robust performance, with smooth but strong acceleration and capable handling. But it was the following day?spent piloting the 577-hp E63 AMG 4Matic S-Model through the limestone spires of Montserrat?that offered an otherworldly experience that defies what you'd expect from a 2-ton sedan. Roaring and fast, yet surprisingly sure-footed thanks to a new all-wheel-drive system that diverts 67 percent of power to the rear wheels, this four-door has claimed a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds that nudges it into supercar territory, all wrapped in a stealthy package befitting a businessman's commuting car.

Our brain might say E400, but our heart screams for the E63 AMG 4Matic. Our wallet, however, prefers the E400 Hybrid or E250 BlueTEC.

Favorite Detail: As much as we appreciate the E-Class's new safety features and its departure from staid styling, the intangibles such as its general impression of solidity and the vault-like seal of its door impress the most. Among a sea of more hastily assembled cars, the E-Class stands out as a well-bolted-together sedan that feels like it will stand the test of time.

Driver's Grievance: It's sportier than ever, but the E-Class still comes across as a bit stodgy because of Mercedes-Benz conventions such as the steering-column-mounted shift stalk and the door-mounted seat adjustments.

Bottom Line: The E-Class has always been a crucial car for Mercedes-Benz, and this latest iteration extends the model's traditional values in a more modern package. For 2014 Mercedes-Benz managed to modernize the E-Class without wrecking the winning formula.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/2014-mercedes-benz-e-class-test-drive-15159171?src=rss

ron white ron white buckyballs buckyballs awake mario batali lone ranger