AGOURA HILLS, Calif – The listing of superior driver help programs out there within the all-new 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is roughly longer than the whole listing of each function in a 190E from 1990. Don’t fear, I’m not going to listing them (snooze), however it’s undoubtedly an excellent factor they’re current to forestall you from drifting into the trail of 18-wheelers as a result of the remainder of this state-of-the-art Benz appears intent on distracting the hell out of you.
There’s the brand new “Superscreen,” the marginally much less screeny sibling of the EQS “Hyperscreen.” In its Superest kind, it boasts a number of layouts for Mercedes’ new 3D instrument panel, a well-sorted landscape-oriented major touchscreen and a passenger-side display screen that doubles as sprint artwork when no passenger is current to futz about with it (and presumably barf upon it ought to they pay an excessive amount of consideration on a winding street, only a warning). There’s 64-color “energetic” ambient lighting arcing across the sprint with multi-color presets that subtly change as you drive alongside, or a brand new innovation, pulse with the beat of the music enjoying. This “Sound Visualization” perform additionally responds to individuals speaking on apodcast, which is amusing. That music could be performed by means of an impressive Burmester 4D encompass sound system, full with Dolby Atmos. The “4D” bit refers to subwoofers within the entrance seats (that may therapeutic massage you, by the best way) with bass depth that may be adjusted on a scale of 1 to 10. In the event you dislike shaky imaginative and prescient, I’d avoid 10, however after 5 days on degree 4, I’ve a sneaking suspicion each different automobile’s system will probably be a bit underwhelming. Oh, and the whole automobile is a shrine of silence, eradicating you farther from the world round its ADAS-protected confines.
Little doubt, a few of you studying this are rolling your eyes, pondering Mercedes has misplaced the plot, and questioning why I’m not speaking concerning the candy mild-hybrid inline-six that returned 34 mpg on a freeway journey regardless of pumping out 375 horsepower. Or the brand new rear-axle steering system that improves the massive E’s agility round tight corners, or the height-adjustable, adaptive air suspension that does a bang-up job of offering basic Benz waft if you need it and fashionable Benz precision if you need that. There’s undoubtedly no scarcity of issues to speak about with reference to how this next-generation E-Class drives.
And but, once we’re speaking about luxurious automobiles today, it’s fairly apparent that the standard of present the automobile places on is of paramount significance to the individuals who purchase them. As a lot as we romanticize grand excursions of gorgeous vistas whereas having fun with the sensations supplied by an incredible car (which the 2024 Mercedes E-Class is, by the best way), the truth is gridlock on a Thursday or driving two miles to dinner with the Goldbergs on Saturday. The “present” does matter. The distraction does matter. And sure, the huge security web issues, too, even should you’re inclined to uncheck just a few nanny packing containers.
Whether or not you contemplate the above options “present” or “distraction,” some have admittedly been seen earlier than, particularly within the EQS. Nevertheless, there are real improvements, making this E-Class appear a bit extra related than the final technology that appeared to undertake extra from the S above and C beneath by way of options and design. This one is extra of its personal factor, not not like previous generations. A lot of these improvements have been talked about above, however there are extra. The brand new “Routines” perform allows you to create applications like a “Date Evening,” for example, that performs a sure playlist and modifications the inside lighting to pink, or that robotically performs a collection of actions if sure circumstances are met: “Activate the heated seats and set ambient lighting to crimson if the temperature is beneath 50 levels.” Sooner or later, Mercedes intends for AI to provide you with such routines for you.
Don’t fear, it will get much more HAL 9000. Maybe essentially the most 2024 innovation of all of them is a digital camera sprouting from the sprint, not not like a Porsche’s SportChrono clock, supposed for in-car WebEx conferences or capturing TikToks. You mercifully can’t use it whereas driving and customers should grant the automobile permission to show it on. Mercedes says it is not going to activate with out driver information or consent, however that doesn’t imply having a digital eyeball always staring again at you isn’t a bit unnerving.
From a standard luxurious automobile standpoint, the brand new E-Class cabin boasts lovely supplies and a cleaner design than earlier than that creates the feeling of a decrease dashboard. The airvents specifically are beautiful in look and execution, with little route knobs that pleasingly click on at middle. You may hold your foolish touchscreen-controlled vents, thanks. The Superscreen is proven within the connected photos, however with out that possibility checked and subsequently with out the dubiously helpful passenger display screen, all that piano black display screen encompass is changed by one in every of a number of lovely trim decisions, together with a snazzy wooden trim with backlit Mercedes stars. It’s also possible to get the full-O-stars grille totally illuminated, too. Critically, Mercedes-Benz positive loves themselves the wonders of LED lighting. So do 3-year-old boys. Ask me how I do know.
When it comes to house, the brand new E-Class’ wheelbase has grown by 0.4 inch, whereas legroom in each rows will increase by roughly the identical quantity. Mercedes nonetheless positions its seats on the low facet, which means tall drivers should push their seat additional again (relatively than tilting the entrance up) than in BMWs or different manufacturers, so again seat house relies upon a bit greater than traditional on who’s up entrance. Mercedes says trunk capability is nineteen cubic toes, which is theoretically gigantic for a sedan, however I strongly suspect that determine contains the underfloor storage space. The common trunk compartment remains to be fairly massive for a luxurious sedan, able to swallowing all six luggage of my commonplace baggage take a look at (search for the complete take a look at subsequent Monday), however it ain’t 19 cubes.
Regardless of its ample dimensions, the brand new E doesn’t drive large. The aforementioned rear-wheel steering, which turns as much as 4.5 levels versus the Disney-ride 10 of the EQS, definitely aids that notion round hairpins and when parking, however it by no means seems like an enormous, bruising Benz from behind the wheel. It’s manageable. And though I already talked about how spectacular the Airmatic suspension is at making the E-Class a two-way participant in relation to experience and dealing with, the steering may use a tweak. That is the uncommon automobile the place I set every part to Sport, besides the steering, which I left in Consolation. There’s an excessive amount of effort added for Sport, which dilutes the restricted suggestions you are feeling from the entrance wheels. Consolation mainly feels extra like the sunshine however exact steering I recall so fondly within the W212 E-Class (2010-2016).
There are two fashions/engines out there in the US, no less than for now (casts eyes within the route of Affalterbach), each of that are tied to plain 4Matic all-wheel drive and a well-sorted nine-speed computerized that might however use a Sport+ setting to sharpen its downshift responses underneath braking and delaying upshifts when accelerating. Additionally they share the identical 48-volt mild-hybrid system with a motor that contributes 23 hp and 148 pound-feet of torque to the fuel burner. The E 350’s is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four good for 255 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque and a 6.1-second 0-60 dash. It returns an EPA-estimated 24 mpg metropolis, 33 mpg freeway and 27 mpg mixed. For what it’s value, the V6-powered E 350 4 Matic from a decade in the past received 27 mpg on the freeway.
I examined the brand new E 450, which has a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six good for 375 hp, 369 lb-ft and a 4.4-second 0-60 dash. Its gas financial system falls to 22 mpg metropolis, 31 mpg freeway and 25 mpg mixed, however I noticed 27 mpg in 270 miles of blended driving, together with numerous max-attack canyon roads and that 34-mpg jaunt to and from Santa Barbara on Freeway 101. Admittedly, the three.0-liter does really feel a bit gradual in comparison with the all-electric EQE and BMW i5, however by ICE requirements, this one’s a peach that accelerates in a easy, authoritative method completely suited to an E-Class. You may even hear the candy thrum of the inline-six by means of all that sound deadening. Given the effectivity I noticed, I wouldn’t hesitate to step as much as the upper mannequin.
And what’s the injury for doing so? E 450 pricing begins at $69,250, together with vacation spot, versus the $63,450 E 350. Other than the additional cylinders, function content material is equivalent, together with showpieces just like the panoramic sunroof, 64-color ambient lighting and two of the three out there sprint screens. It’s a must to pay additional for the devices to be 3D and the Burmester sound system to be 4D, plus the TikTok cam, passenger display screen, leather-based seating surfaces and AirMatic suspension. Simply to call just a few. With all the above, my E 450 hit the register at $87,920. Is that too costly? In 2024, I’m much less positive of that than what precisely I’m purported to do with the TikTok digital camera.
However for that cash, the brand new E-Class will certainly placed on one helluva a present in your family and friends. It’ll additionally ship a superbly sorted driving expertise – should you’re nonetheless into that form of factor.
