Mercedes-Benz E350

When I see the E-class badge on a Mercedes-Benz, I expect something special.  The Mercedes-Benz E350 experience turned out to be not quite as special as I’ve anticipated in this coupe.  This two-door luxury car is pleasant enough but may not be able to measure up to the standards of true E-class coupe enthusiasts.

At a base price of $ 48,050.00, standard equipment include leather upholstery, power tilt/sliding panorama sunroof with one touch open/close, COMAND system featuring 8-speaker sound system, in-dash 6-disc CD player, in-dash memory card slot, auxiliary input jock and Bluetooth interface, central controller with 7” high-mounted display, multi-function 3-spoke leather steering wheel and shift knob, 4.5” instrument cluster display, 14-way power adjustable front sweats, tilt/telescoping steering column and exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, electronic cruise control, remote central locking with Smartkey, power windows with express up and down, auto-dimming driver and rearview mirror, integrated garage door opener, intermittent wipers with rain sensor, hand polished burl walnut wood trim, integrated NECK-PRO active front head restraints, dual stage front passenger pelvic airbag, driver knee airbag, adaptive 4-wheel disc brakes with antilock, elective stability control, PRE-SAFE system, roll-over sensor, anti-theft alarm with engine immobilizer, and the TPMs.  The car is powered by 3.5L 24-valve aluminum V6 with horsepower of 268 hp at 6000 rpm and torque of 258 lb-ft at 2400 to 5000 rpm.  It is equipped with a 7-speed driver adaptive automatic transmission.

Even with its long list of standard features, three option packages are offered for the consideration of buyers.  The Appearance Package provides 18” AMG twin 6-spoke wheels; agility control support suspension perforated front brake discs, front brake calibers with MB logo, stainless steel pedals with rubber studs, multi-contour front seats, gearshift paddles, and all season tires.  The PO1 Premium Package consists of the COMAND with 40 GB hard-drive, GPS navigation, ride time traffic data, voice control, 6 GB music register, Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system with Dolby digital 5.1 HD radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, iPod/MP3 media interface, iPod media interface cable, heated front seats, power rear sunshade, and rearview camera.  The Wood/Leather Steering Wheel Package is likewise offered.

The E-class was given a complete makeover although lighting changes are the most apparent.  The interior comes in 6 luxurious packages but could benefit more from the use of higher-quality materials.  It has a distinct shape having no B-pillar.  The engine does the job though its power is not overwhelming while the steering veers to the light side.  It faces strong competition in the Audi A6, the Lexus ES 350, and the Volvo V70.  The Mercedes-Benz E350 is an elegant highway cruiser but lacks the performance to equal its appearance package.