LOOKS

The exterior of the 2022 E-class features a bold yet elegant design, with the signature Benz logo front and center. Its long, sleek design is one to marvel at, among the most eye-catching in the segment, and will turn many heads. It’s flashy but at the same time not in-your-face.

My test vehicle featured 19-inch wheels, and 18-inch wheels are standard, as are LED headlights. Options include a beautiful panoramic sunroof and soft-close doors, and the paint job shines.

In the luxury realm, interiors are where brands can truly shine and show leadership in class. The E450 does not disappoint in this regard.

All materials inside — from the leather seating to control knobs — feature a top-notch quality that you would expect in a luxury ride.

Interior features include brushed aluminum, grey ash wood highlights, multicolor ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, split-folding rear seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The vehicle seats 5 people very comfortably, with plenty of legroom and headroom. There’s even a massage function offered on the front seats.

The E450’s trunk offers 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, but if you want maximum storage capacity you can opt for the wagon version of the E-class.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 comes well-equipped under the hood, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine with a mild hybrid system. The output is 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and it’s paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the E450.

Other versions of the E-class include the base E350, which features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (with 255 horsepower, 273 pound-feet), and is offered in either RWD or AWD.

Moving to the top of the food chain, the AMG E 53 boosts the power up to 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet, and adds a sport-tuned all-wheel drive.

Being behind the wheel of the E450 provides a tremendous driving experience that has few equals. It’s smooth to the nth degree and takes curves like a champ, and its power is evident when you need to use it. Without a doubt, it’s a top option for driving enthusiasts seeking a mid-sized luxury sedan. It’s the type of vehicle you will look forward to driving every day.

Zero-to-60 times are less than 5 seconds. Drive modes offered include Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. The Sport modes are tremendously enjoyable and enhance the ride.

The optional air suspension enhances ride quality further, and you’re well-insulated from the intrusion of road noise in the E-class. 

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Technology and infotainment setup are one of the most important elements car buyers consider, and Mercedes knocks it out of the park with the 2022 E-class’ Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) setup.

The E-class features a massive widescreen 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is bright and clear and has multiple control options — from direct touchscreen controls, to voice commands, and a small touchpad in the center console. I did not use the touchpad much, as I found it the least intuitive of all the options, but the touch and voice commands worked very well for me for radio, climate, phone, and even asking about the weather.

There are also Intuitive controls for volume and other commands on the steering wheel.

For those who want their vehicle to mirror their phone, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. Other tech features include a powerful Burmester surround sound stereo option, as well as wireless charging for your cell phone, Bluetooth connectivity,

The navigation system was another highlight, effectively getting me where I needed to go despite numerous challenges presented by construction season.
You can also opt for an augmented reality navigation setup, which will add in the actual road view ahead into your navigation screen via images from a front-facing video camera.

All-in-all, Mercedes is atop the luxury landscape, alongside Genesis, as a class leader for tech.

Moving on to safety, Mercedes also takes this aspect very seriously and remains among the top of the class.

Key features include automatic emergency braking, which will warn of impending impact and self-apply brakes as needed, and a helpful blind-spot monitoring feature that will help prevent dangerous lane changes.

Adaptive cruise control will keep your car a proper distance behind the vehicle ahead, slowing down when needed for the vehicle ahead or when the vehicle enters a new speed limit zone.

Another excellent safety feature is the multiview camera, which offers you a complete option of views in parking and backing-out situations.

Other safety features include: Emergency Call Service, Advanced Air Bag Protection System, Antilock Braking System, Attention Assist, LED headlamps and taillamps, rear door child safety locks, Active Parking Assist and a head-up display.

Many of the safety features come in the optional Drive Assistance Package, including: Active Distance Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, and more.

And in terms of government safety rating, the E-Class is as good as it gets — with  a five-star overall safety rating and five stars in frontal, side, and rollover tests..

MPG 

The E450 lists official fuel mileage numbers of 23 city/30 highway/25 combined. In real-world testing, my numbers were lower at 21 mpg.

These numbers are not tops in segment, but close enough that fuel mileage shouldn’t be a deciding factor for buyers. 

PRICE 

The base E350 starts around $56K, The E450 starts at $64K, and the AMG E 53 starts at $76K. My test vehicle, an E450, was priced at $73,350 after options.

These prices are in line with most of the luxury sedan competition that the E-class is battling. While not affordable to the average car buyer, the quality of the design and drive quality is at such a high level that you’ll understand why the pricing is what it is.

The E-class also features a four-year, 50,000 mile new vehicle warranty; a four-year, 50,000 mile powertrain warranty, and 24-hour roadside assistance. It does not offer any complimentary maintenance, as some rivals do.

BOTTOM LINE

With its sharp and sleek design, class-leading tech features, tremendous power and speed, and smooth as silk ride, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-class is one of the best luxury sedans on the market.

While alternatives from BMW, Audi, Volvo and others are also capable, there’s no denying that anyone who test drives the latest E-Class will be very tempted to take it home.

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