The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has long been the benchmark for luxury sedans, offering a blend of comfort, tech and driving dynamics. It’s the best-selling car in its class, thanks largely to its long wheelbase, offering more legroom to the rear-seat passenger. Luxury cars are largely chauffeur-driven. So, owners get to stretch out as they travel.
Archrival BMW wised up to this hack and took the fight to Mercedes’s doorstep (or garage door) with its 5-series, offering a long wheelbase for the first time in India. Mercedes didn’t cower. Its latest E-class offers all that and more: Three engine options against the 5-series’s single petrol motor.
The base E 200 is ideal for those who are chauffeur-driven. For owners who crave more power, its engine may feel underwhelming. This is where the E 450 4MATIC raises the stakes. It has a formidable 381 hp—an impressive 177 hp more than the E 200. However, this boost in performance comes at a significant premium. At ₹92.5 lakh (ex-showroom), it’s ₹14 lakh more than the base model. Yet, aside from the upgraded powertrain and all-wheel drive (4MATIC), the equipment levels remain essentially the same. It is worth the premium? The answer lies in the details.
Inside the cabin, there’s no difference between the E 200 and E 450. Mercedes has set the standard for interior quality, and the cabin liberally uses soft-touch plastics, piano black and brushed aluminium finishes.
The Superscreen setup is a tech highlight, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen. There aren’t too many hard buttons, and most functions are housed in the central touchscreen. Even regularly used functions, such as the aircon, call for a two-step operation. It’s fair to say that Mercedes’s MBUX system is the most user friendly in luxury cars.
At the heart of the E 450 lies a 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-petrol engine, producing a robust 381 hp and 500 Nm of torque. That’s enough to rocket from 0 to 100 kph in a claimed time of 4.5 seconds. Those are figures in the realm of high-performance sports sedans. Floor the throttle and your head will be pressed back into the pillow-soft headrests. The nine-speed automatic transmission is well-calibrated, offering smooth shifts when driven sedately, and a snappy response when you put your foot down.
The E 450 glides over road imperfections with remarkable composure. It absorbs bumps and potholes effortlessly, delivering the plush ride that E-Class buyers expect. Switching to Sport mode firms up the suspension and sharpens throttle response, which makes the E 450 surprisingly agile for its size. It strikes the perfect balance—chauffeured luxury on weekdays, driving pleasure on weekends. Pricey, but that’s the price you pay for the best of both worlds.
From HT Brunch, February 15, 2025
Follow us on www.instagram.com/htbrunch