2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Pros: All-around refinement; ride quality and composure; innovative safety and technology features

Cons: Steep prices; Limited powertrain options available at launch; control interface is complicated to use; stingy cargo room and rear-seat passenger space in coupes and convertibles

CG Says: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and station wagon are redesigned for 2017, gaining new styling, a lighter-weight platform, and a long list of newly available high-tech features. The wheelbase of the new E-Class sedan grows 2.6 inches to 115.7 and overall length is 1.7 inches longer than the last generation. Initially, the sedan is only offered as an E300 model, with a 241-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The wagon launches as an all-wheel-drive E400 model with a 329-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The E550 is powered by a turbocharged 402-horsepower 4.7-liter V-8. A high-performance AMG E43 model packs a 396-hp version of the E400’s V6. A 9-speed automatic transmission is standard on all of the above engines, except the V8 which is mated to a 7-speed automatic. The biggest changes to new E-Class involve safety and autonomous-driving technology. Mercedes-Benz says the E-Class’s automatic-braking system is effective in avoiding accidents at speeds up to 43 mph and can apply brakes to avoid accidents involving cross traffic at intersections. If the car senses an imminent side collision, it can inflate bolsters to move front-seat passengers away from the doors. Also in case of an imminent accident, the stereo will emit a loud sound to trigger a natural reflex in the ears that will protect the passengers’ hearing from the loud sounds of a crash. The E-Class will offer other cutting-edge technological features as well. “Car-to-X” communication uses cell-phone technology to exchange information about the road ahead and warn drivers of possible hazards. Drive Pilot is an autonomous driving aid that steers, brakes, and accelerates to follow traffic at speeds up to 130 mph. Remote Parking Pilot allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely using a smartphone app. The E-Class wagon has a hands-free-opening tailgate, along with most of the innovations offered on the sedan. The E-Class coupe and convertible will likely carry on with the previous-generation platform until they’re redesigned for the 2018 model year. The redesigned 2017 E-Class is a technological tour de force, offering groundbreaking features that aren’t matched by its class rivals. We’ll know more once we conduct a full road test, but the new E-Class seems poised to bolster its standing as a premium-midsize-car benchmark.

ROAD TESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFO

Test Drive: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupe

Dateline Detroit: 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

2017 New York Auto Show: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

2017 New York Auto Show: Mercedes-AMG GLC63, GLC63 Coupe, GLC63 Coupe S, and E63 S Wagon

2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review

2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review