2010 Mercedes Benz E350
Think Mercedes and images of the classic E-Class of the 1980s probably pop into your head. Big, boxy and somehow superior to other competing luxury cars of the era, the E-Class represented a reluctance to compromise that’s increasingly hard to find in any automaker.
Pull up to the valet parking at a fancy restaurant in Condado in a well-maintained ’80s E-Class and you might still get preferential treatment in the parking lot. Do the same with a same-era competitor and they’ll probably hide it in the back.
In another 20 years you might be able to do the same with the 2010 Mercedes Benz E350. The squared-off edges inside and out don’t just conjure memories of the E’s glory days, but trigger the same “Mercedes” feel in your brain. That feeling will be reinforced by the high-quality plastics and spare use of wood and aluminum trim, as well as nice touches like the pleated leather door panels, the longitudinally stitched and perforated seats and superb build quality all around.
That’s not to say that the new E-Class does it without contemporary, 21st century features. In fact it has all the advanced safety technology of the more upscale S-Class packed into a more manageable and less expensive package.
The full list of advanced standard and optional safety features is staggering: Attention Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Parktronic Plus, Blind Spot Assist, Night View Assist PLUS, Distronic PLUS with Pre-Safe Brake, Brake Assist PLUS, Sand Assist floor mats and Agility Assist.
All those features might sound as if they’re designed to strip control from the driver, but unlike other automakers, Mercedes has employed them in a way that they actually enhance your range of perception and increase your control of the vehicle.
Take the Pre-Safe Brake, for example. For the first time, this cool feature is capable of automatically applying 100% of brake force if the forward-looking radar detects that a crash is imminent; so while it won’t avoid the impact, it acts like an electronic crumple zone, reducing the force of the impact. Because it activates only when you’re .6 of a second from collision, it won’t affect your ability to take evasive measures, but could save your life if your attention lapses.
Highbeam Assist is also impressively useful. Rather than just automatically switching between high and low beams, it measures the presence and location of other vehicles, adapting the beam shape and throw to provide maximum illumination at all times without irritating other drivers. Low beam output can be extended from 215 feet all the way out to 1,000 feet, dramatically boosting the safety of night driving.
We could go on and on about the other hightech safety features, but you get our drift.
Not only does this technology not get in the way of driving, the new E-Class also banishes memories of the less-than-stellar experience of recent E-Class models. This Mercedes has something called “steering feel,” which apparently has something to do with “control,” which when combined with “responsive suspension” actually makes it “fun to drive.”
Better yet, switching from “Comfort” to “Sport” mode in the E350’s console delivers a noticeable improvement in dynamics, firmer body control and sportier shifts. You can also shift it yourself using the wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The E350’s 3.5-liter V6 powerplant generates 268 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque, enough to propel the E from zero to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 6.5 seconds. Unfortunately, most Mercedes drivers are unlikely to experience and appreciate that kind of exhilarating performance in everyday driving.
The car’s V6 engine, which is mated to a seven-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, returns a respectable 18 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Given all the new features, the improved driving experience and much-improved styling and impression of interior quality, it’s surprising that Mercedes is able to offer the 2010 E-Class close to the 2009 model’s retail price. Locally, the 2010 E350 starts at $72,000 (including excise taxes) and includes standard equipment such as: Attention Assist, driver’s knee airbag, front pelvic airbags, and variable damping Agility Control.
Combine that new price tag with all the new features and, more importantly, the restoration of “Mercedesness’ and the 2010 E-Class is indeed an impressive package.
Our tested vehicle, a rear wheel drive E350 with the optional Premium Package 1 and 2, retails locally for about $92,000. This vehicle was part of a select group of units brought back from Germany through the European Delivery Program.
The Premium Package 1 includes: hard-drive based navigation system; enhanced voice control for audio, telephone and navigation; Harman/ Kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1; 6 GB hard drive with Music Register for upload of MP3 files; HD Digital radio; iPod/MP3 media interphase; Sirius satellite radio; Bluetooth interphase for hands-free calling; heated front seats; power rear window sunshade and rear view camera.
The Premium Package 2 adds: Bi-Xenon headlamps with Active Curb Illumination; Adaptive Highbeam Assist; headlamp washing system; LED daytime running lamps; keyless system and electronic trunk closer. Our tested vehicle also included the double panoramic sunroof and the optional Driver Assistance Package featuring Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Distronic PLUS with Pre-Safe Brake.
In fact, combining all of the features of the SClass with a cheaper price tag and, to our mind, better styling, the E-Class just became the pick of the Mercedes range and so far our favorite vehicle from the legendary German brand.
Since the early 1990s we saw Mercedes slowly dilute its peerless quality in a drive for increased sales. The 2010 Mercedes E-Class represents a major step back toward the timeless and classic luxury cars of the past.
