2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic Road Test Review

Sharp lines of new E-Class look especially good in E550 trim. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

would have been better off opting for that other Teutonic brand based in Munich? While Mercedes continues to be as well respected in luxury circles as ever, most in the know also put it near the top of the pack when pushed through the curves.

The latest E-Class is proof of this new athletic image. First off, it looks every bit the part of a premium sport sedan. In E550 trim, the most potent E this side of the E63 AMG, its aggressive 18-inch 5-spoke alloys neatly fill out each wheel cutout while sharp angles from front to back give it a crisp, purposeful look that's immediately contemporary yet still somehow manages an elegantly classic approach. The four-door doesn't quite meet the near perfection of the new E-Class Coupe, but of course those buying into the sedan segment are willing to forgo a bit of style for greater practicality.

Passenger space

Wedge-shaped E sports muscular haunches that look ready to launch. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

in mind the E fits neatly between the more compact C-Class and full-size S-Class as Mercedes' midsize car, therefore there's a bit more room than a C and slightly less than an S front and rear, but I'd say the biggest difference between each car is in rear seat legroom. If you shuttle adults around more than children, your passengers will appreciate the added space in back, and commensurately the trunk is more accommodating at 532 litres (18.7 cubic feet) in E550 trim. Incidentally, Mercedes makes an even more practical E-Class variant in the all-new E350 4Matic Wagon if hauling up to 1,950 litres (68.8 cubic feet) of what-have-you in grand style is on the agenda.

My agenda for the week was less work-oriented and more play. Certainly it involved shuttling kids around and filling the trunk up with groceries, but it's not every week that I get a car of the E's stature so I made the most of it. You might say that I took the long way home more

That three-pointed star on the grille-top might look all luxury, but the new E550 manages curves like a true sport sedan. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

than once, finding the most circuitous route rather than the usual commute down Highway 1. After all, the alphanumeric badge on the back speaks of 5.5-litres of V8 behind its very handsome chrome plated grille, capable of 382 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes' characteristically soft throttle response is less pronounced in this model, with more snap from its silky smooth 7-speed automatic, and yes as you'd expect it's as much fun off the line as it is to fling through the corners.

Like most E-Class models, the E550 gets another alphanumeric nameplate out back, 4MATIC, which is Mercedes-speak for all-wheel drive. It's a permanent all-wheel drive system that sends torque to each wheel independently, so it not only helps with traction but improves that aforementioned handling too.

I started off by touting Mercedes' legendary luxury but

Busy with buttons but replete with a mother load of features. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

haven't even touched on the subject since pen hit paper, so here's a short run of what you can expect if you outfit your E in 5.5-litre guise. First off is an interior that's as angled and chiseled as the exterior, although while hard in appearance the majority of plastics are soft to touch and there's plenty of warm wood and bright finished metals to create a sense of occasion befitting a car in this class. The usual premium features are standard across all Es, such as powered everything, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming exterior and rearview mirrors, a power tilt and telescoping multifunction heated steering wheel, a top-tier audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, Sirius satellite radio, rear parking assist, and ambient lighting, but the E lineup also offers such niceties as 14-way power-adjustable heated front seats with three-position memory, active bi-xenon headlamps with washers and cornering lights, rain-sensing wipers, Intelligent Highbeam Control, and more. On top of these items the E550

Seats are ultra-comfortable and totally supportive. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

ups the comfort quotient with a three-zone automatic climate control system, leather upholstery, a three-spoke AMG sport steering wheel, a 4-GB hard-drive music system and media interface, voice control, navigation, and the TeleAid emergency calling system.

It's an inviting interior with electronics interfaces that are a bit button busy but relatively easy to figure out compared to some in the class, and everything worked ideally during my test. I just love the panoramic glass roof trend that's sweeping the industry right now, and Mercedes has been a leader in this respect, the dual panel setup in the E coming as part a Premium Package this year; it was standard with last year's E.

Mercedes is, of course,

Midsize room means adults can get comfortable in back. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

a leader on safety features too, with all the expected airbags and electronic drivers' aids plus items like Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist, part of the Advanced Driving Assistance Package that not only alerts of vehicles pulling up alongside in your blind spot or alternatively warn about you wandering outside of your lane, but the active ingredient is that it will guide your E back into its own lane if needed. To some that might be a bit annoying (me included), although all it takes is one little nap at highway speed for all to go wrong, and then such big brother annoyances would immediately be forgiven and forgotten with gratitude needed to Mercedes' dedicated engineers.

All of this brilliance comes at a price, mind you, with the E550 starting at $73,200 plus $1,995 for destination fees and such add-ons costing more. Certainly it's a considerable sum, but reasonable considering the car's full list of standard features, and on par with competitors when factoring in a higher than class average resale value. Running costs should remain

Dual-pane glass sunroof is worth moving up to the Premium package. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

relatively low given that the V8's estimated fuel economy is not much more onerous than the V6's, at 13.8 L/100km in the city and 8.6 on the highway compared to 12.7 and 8.3 respectively, but keep in mind that Mercedes vehicles require costlier premium fuel than you might be used to if moving up from a lesser brand.

After all, that's just the price of going premium, and the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic sedan is easily worth the price of entry and ongoing costs, as along with all of the performance, quality and features it comes with that lovely three-pointed star that somehow elevates it above the rest of the premium pack. ©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)]]>