This 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic wagon is one lovely cruiser, a car that seems to induce a natural feeling of automotive calm and composure, where the unhurried drive is as important as the destination.
I find the styling rather dashing, but in a subdued way that doesn't detract from its role as a comfortable family wagon. Inside, it's pure Benz elegance, from the supportive leather-wrapped seats to the light-touch center-console opener. There's even a little sporty flair there in touches such as the flat-bottomed leather-wrapped steering wheel and paddle shifters.
The 3.5-liter engine is plenty for most needs and powers the all-wheel drive seamlessly via the seven-speed autobox. This car is steady, steady, steady.
If the car needs anything, it'd be the new steering-column setup from the ML (with the cruise-control stalk at eight o'clock) and a blind-spot-detection system to warn about smaller vehicles lost in the big B-, C- and D-pillars.
I love this car. I have long been an E-class wagon fan, and this car adds to the admiration. It's a terrific combination of space, good looks and utility, not to mention driving comfort and on-highway refinement. You pay for it, but this car delivers.
As I felt the last time I drove one, there aren't too many midsize cars this smooth, creamy and solid. The chassis is stiff, and Benz engineers tuned the suspension a bit on the soft side. This is great for soaking up our notorious potholes, but the car is not wafty at all. Still, the less you push it the better the chassis seems to like it.
The gasoline engine doesn't have nearly the torque of the diesel--that would be the combination, but it's not offered in the wagon. The interior is comfortable, I really like the seats. Some here will say they are too flat, but they fit my rear end perfectly.
The sum of the E-class seems to me to be a car for those who want a sporting wagon but still want to be coddled a little. As I said before, it's a nice car to get in to at the end of the day. The harder your day was, the more you'll appreciate the car.
This is an extremely versatile vehicle that served me extremely well for a busy fall weekend. The amount of things and people I jammed into it were truly impressive, if I do say so.
I took six adults to a football game, but we didn't travel lightly. There were two coolers, six collapsible chairs, a grill, a huge bag of bagels and various other items. One person sat in the rear-facing third row, and she wasn't particularly comfortable. Without the coolers and chairs, she would have been better off, but it's still mainly an area for children. With the sharp roofline, it's really too tight for an adult, even a slender 20-something. Upon arrival at the game, the Benz was a solid base camp for tailgating. The next day, I folded down both rows and stowed a beefy snowblower in back. That's serious multifunction capability.
After a weekend of adventures like this, it's fair to say that this wagon and others like it are up for nearly everything a large SUV might attempt. A truck or crossover can fit more things, and in a higher degree of comfort, but a wagon can do about 80 percent of the same duties.
Here's the difference: Fully loaded or not, this wagon is still an E-class--and it drives like a sports sedan. It's low- slung, tight, powerful and even a bit torquey off the line. For my own amusement, I'd like a manual, but this seven-speed is outstanding from launches and cruising on the expressway. It's an extremely well-put-together, solid car, and it never feels unnerved or wavers at speed. It's also a sharp-looking design with striking headlights and taillights, elegant wheels and a nice profile. The redesigned E-class is an athletic improvement over the previous generation, and to my eye, it's crisper than BMW's 5-series. The cabin--with the wood trim, ambient lighting and a driver seat that contours to your body during turns--really is a pleasant setting.
If you have a small family, perhaps two kids, this is the way to go for premium utility. It's far more fun than a minivan or a crossover, and it looks elegant and sharp. The fun-to-drive character of this wagon is the intangible. You get to drive a sporty, well-appointed E-class but still have plenty of capability.
