Yahoo Autos Our Long-Term Mercedes-Benz E-class Wagon Is Even Better the Second Time Around
When we received the first of our long-term Mercedes-Benz E-class wagons, we said that it "may just be the most well-rounded new car on the market." But not long after our 2018 E400 4Matic wagon arrived at C/D HQ, Mercedes-Benz announced an even better version: the 2019 E450 4Matic wagon, which brought a few welcome tweaks including a more powerful V-6 engine.
So maybe fate was at work when a moving truck took our E400 out of commission in the parking lot of a Buffalo Wild Wings. That loss was assuaged when Mercedes-Benz showed up with a shiny new 2019 E450 wagon as a replacement. And we're now so enamored with the new wagon that we've almost forgotten what happened to its predecessor.
Quicker and better equipped, this particular E450 is an evolutionary improvement over an already excellent E-class wagon that didn't need much improving. The 33 extra horsepower and 15 additional lb-ft of torque from the E450's twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 help hustle it to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a through the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds, each an improvement of 0.2 second over the E400. The E450 also surpasses the E400 in cornering grip (at 0.91 g) and braking (stopping from 70 mph in 152 feet), thanks to a staggered set of Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 summer tires versus the other car's square set of all-seasons. (We've since swapped out the E450's Dunlops for a $1230 set of Mercedes-spec Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 tires for the cold-weather season.)
Oh, and did we mention that the E450 wagon is a lot more expensive? After conservatively optioning our E400, we threw caution to the wind this time and embraced the E-class's luxurious nature. At $89,175, the as-tested price is nearly $12,000 higher. Among many new options, a $2250 Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control and numerous other driving aids, an $850 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster modernizes the dash, and the $4900 Designo interior option transforms the cabin with a delightful combination of Saddle Brown and Macchiato Beige nappa leather. A set of $198 winter floor mats from WeatherTech is already in place to protect the light-colored carpets.
There are few greater pleasures in autodom than sinking into those massaging nappa leather seats, resting your arm on the heated armrest, and relaxing into a cosseting drive home after a long day at work. Comments in the E450's logbook have been overwhelmingly positive so far, describing the car as "delectably beautiful" and "lovely all the way around." We're really hoping that this E-class wagon goes the 40,000-mile distance-and we'll make sure to keep this lovely vehicle far away from any Buffalo Wild Wings parking lots.
Months in Fleet: 2 months Current Mileage: 4080 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 21.1 gal Fuel Range: 460 miles
Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0
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