The E-Class has always been the core stalwart of the Mercedes-Benz sedan lineup and has been regarded as the reference standard for what a luxury car is and should be. So, perhaps it is little surprise that Kristen Shaw, an automotive journalist for Forbes, voiced in her review of the E 450 that she doesn’t really want to see it leave her driveway. Mercedes-Benz of Plano tells you more.
Shaw states that she drives “50 and 100 different cars in any given year,” and despite an assumed curiosity for what may next reside on her driveway, she really hated to see the E 450 go.
Shaw offers five reasons why she likes the E 450 so much, and the first one is probably the least expected: value. It is considered in the context of luxury cars, of course, but with a starting MSRP of $69,250*, she states, “I’d put this luxury car up against any other in its class, and it would come out on top for the best value. It has better styling than rivals like the Audi A7 and the Volvo S90 and packs a lot of features into the standard model.”
Topping that list of features is her second reason, which is the model’s power and how it is delivered. Under the hood is a “Silky smooth” 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6. It produces 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 to 5,000 rpm. The 48-volt mild hybrid arrangement gives the engine a little assist, which adds 23 horsepower and, more importantly, 148 lb-ft of boost, which is particularly useful in ensuring smooth starts from the stop/start system. It is all managed by the 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission, which then sends power to all four wheels via the 4MATIC® all-wheel drive system. Of the ride, she says it’s precisely as “you’d expect from Mercedes-Benz, as it exceeds the standard.”
Mercedes-Benz has been in the luxury car business for quite some time, so it comes as no surprise that the E 450 excels in delivering the luxury car hallmark of a quiet cabin. Meticulous construction methods, combined with high-quality soft interior materials and unseen yet equally high-grade insulation, result in a vehicle that Edmunds described as “super quiet,” even stating that it is “even quieter than the far more expensive BMW 760i.” Thus, the value claim stands again. 
Perhaps even more important than quiet and calm, a luxury sedan must be comfortable, and the E 450 exceeds in this regard as well, according to Shaw. “You’ll be comfortable and satisfied,” she said before extolling the virtues of the available massage, heating, and ventilation functions, all in a package that also includes air purification and even heated front armrests, something she describes as “a luxury you won’t realize you need until you have it.”
Of course, there is also the very advanced dash, where touch screens emerge from a smooth black panel with subtle HVAC vents along its upper edge. Nothing jumps out at you. Instead, everything is simply calm and elegant.
Other options were praised, such as the 17-speaker Burmester®* audio system with Dolby Atmos 3D sound shaping, the tasteful ambient lighting, and the useful head-up display. If your roads are as poorly maintained as those in Michigan during winter, she highly recommends the available adaptive suspension.
The Mercedes-Benz E 450 is the standard of reference for mid-size luxury sedans, if not the entire luxury segment. So, if you are looking for a luxury sedan, the E-Class simply must be shopped. If you are going to shop for an E-Class, there is no better place to do it than Mercedes-Benz of Plano, where, at the time of this writing, there are 69 E-Class models from which to choose.
*Base MSRP excludes transportation and handling charges, destination charges, taxes, titles, registration, preparation, and documentary fees, tags labor, and installation charges, insurance, and optional equipment, products, packages, and accessories. Options, model availability, and actual dealer price may vary. See dealer for details, costs, and terms.
*Burmester is a registered trademark of Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
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