BenzE350

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/co...edes-benz-e550

Recent Road & Track picked the M56 over the E550.

So why, you ask, is this Benz on the second step of the podium? Well, it really goes back to the ride/handling compromise and where your priorities lie, because while the E550 is the M56’s equal in a straight line (despite its 38-bhp deficit), it’s Salieri to Infiniti’s Mozart in driving fun when you’re in the wring-it-out mode. Blame it on steering that feels increasingly rubbery as lateral g’s build, the transmission’s slightly lethargic kickdown reaction to heavy throttle, a bit more body roll and, as the limit is approached, understeer from front tires that are considerably narrower than the rears (245s versus 265s).

Counterpoint:

Granted, the Mercedes doesn’t offer quite the handling precision or steering feel of the Infiniti, but it’s pretty close in the real world of outbraking your fellow commuter and charging through cloverleaf interchanges. The E550 is just an all-around better package in terms of chassis rigidity, ride/handling balance, an engine that’s responsive yet blissfully muted, and styling that looks edgy, wide and low-slung.

K-A

These Reviews are so counterproductive.

Who buys these cars only for who clocks a better 1/4 mile, or who has more road feel (I'd wager most E buyers enjoy a lack of road feel), or who can carve the canyons better, provide better lateral G's, etc.?



M56 is a great car, and I'm sure some people will like it more than an E-Class, just like vice-versa, in fact, I hope they do, so more people will buy them, to provide for better diversity, but it's just funny how these tests don't really change up their "win-o-meter" gauge from when they Test Camaro VS Mustangs, to when they Test E-Classes and Infiniti's.

rhampar

While I haven't driven a new Infiniti M class I have been in 2008 models and didn't like it at all compared to W211 E-class. Overall quality wasn't there and fit and finish was nowhere near the quality of MB. While there has been a lot of hype about the new Infiniti M and while similarly priced to an E550 I doubt over the long term it would retain its value like our MB's will.

Guess when I take my wife's G35xs in for service I'll give it a look but overall I'm not very satisfied with Infiniti for the price you have to pay.

malahhaor

+1
I prefer Benz over Bimmer because its softer and you don't feel the paint on the road. My wife loves her 3 series and loves the stiffness and feel of the road, i like my Benz better, softer, more comfy and does not make me want to go nuts on the road.

K-A

Exactly. Last thing a Benz is about to me, is driving dynamics. However, the underlying German driver-oriented engineering, and dynamics (especially on the W212, compared to previous M-B Sedans), compared to, say, Lexus, strike a perfect balance for me.

I want my Benzes cushy, luxurious, and soft (relatively speaking to, say, BMW) with enough of that confident, teutonic "sport" intact, as well (this is why the E is the perfect balance to me; the S has the ultimate ride, but I like the E's slightly sportier flavor, however, the C lacks way too much of the soft/refined/luxurious ride).

I love sports cars, but an E-Class strokes my other personality, and I bought it for anything BUT 1/4 mile, and corner carving. The fact that it actually handles pretty damn well, is a plus. I actually wish the Sports suspension was a little more forgiving on rough roads, in fact.

I dunno, Reviewers/people crack me up sometimes.

Dema

Really interesting. When I did shopping for the current car, I did consider Infiniti M37 seriously, so I did several test drives. I wasn't impressed by feel of the car, very awkward interior, bad ergonomics, bad visibility, so I even didn't try to negotiate price. I drove Lexus GS350 and liked it much more over M37. Perhaps M56 is different car, or the guys just got well paid for favorable review to Infiniti.

csquared

The Infiniti's interior is really cheap. It looks flashy and fancy, but the materials are of inferior quality compared to the E-class. The leather feels very cheap and there are just too many buttons on the centre console. I really think the M56 is overpriced compared to the E550.

hyperion667

I don't even see how they are in the same category.........price???
how did they get such a rep anyway???
the above comment reminds me of how I feel for infinity.........

never even a choice...............for me personally

K-A

We're all gonna love it when M-B starts supplying chassises (shared with our beloved Benzes BTW), motors, and AMG performance motors and badges (purportedly) for Nissan/Infiniti, in due time.

Damnit M-B, have some respect for your brand.

Tjdehya

The M56, when optioned up like a my car is only $4000 cheaper. I test drove a M37 because the dealer didn't have a M56 available. I wasn't impressed with the Interior so I didn't wait for them to get a M56 for me to test drive. In the end the Pano roof is why I didn't seriously consider buying the car. I think it might be very hard for me to buy a car that doesn't have a Pano roof.

jbaker1121

once you go benz...you never go back?

BenzE350

I respectfully disagree.

I think reviews are helpful in providing additional information and perspectives regarding the competition. Obviously we all have different priorities so we aren't gonna agree on their top picks or rankings.

A recent Car & Driver comparo ranked the E350 last in a comparison with an Audi A6, BMW 535i (2009), Infiniti M45, and Jaguar XF.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

Does this make the E350 a bad car? Absolutely not. Depends on individual priorities and what you are looking for. Even though C&D ranked the E350 last that had a complimentary conclusion: "The Benz’s ride is excellent, the car tracks like a locomotive, and the exterior styling—at once Teutonic, regal, vaguely angry, and boasting a Cd of only 0.27—trumps the field."

IMO we are fortunate that there are a lot of great cars available in this segment. Personally, I could be happy with several choices. In the end I chose the E350 because it met certain criteria that I was looking for at the time.

scfishnman

I considered the M56 but only for a very short time. Appearance wise, it does not compare to an E550 (IMO). Its styling does not have the timeless appeal of a MB. A few years ago I also considered a Nissan Z350 when shopping for a two-seater (I owned several 280Z and 300Z Nissans in my younger years when a new German 2-seater was out of my price range), but after driving the Nissan chose the BMW Z4 instead. To me the German brands just have it over the Japanese brands in quality styling and luxuriety even if they may come in second at the top end of the performance curve. I don't find myself operating a car at the edge of the envelope. The E550 has plenty of performance "in reserve" to exceed my needs. Also, its ride is superb. It has the same suspension as the S550 and rides just as well as my 2008 S550 did. Can't say that for the Infiniti. The Lexus 460 rides well, but it is BORING!

Dema

If you are a car magazine reviewer, then you are free to drive a car of your choice, however for ordinary people Merc is the best value for money. I was convinced in that again after considering S80, 535i, M37, GS350, A6, and RL.

K-A

I get what you're saying. I just think they're missing the mark, and not doing the intent of the class that these cars sit in, justice, by saying one car is better than the other, because you feel the road better while it's tracking at 80 MPH on a hair-pin turn.... Or because the car has slight understeer when pushed at the limit. Who the F drives these cars like that? If someone does, then they spent their money in the wrong place.

I get that most of their readers aren't doing "buy research", so they need to sell rags, i.e, it's more fun to read about corner carving, and drag racing Luxury Cars, than it is which cruises more stably, which as better lateral back support, or which has lower sound db's.

However, from what I understand through that article, the Benz gets complimented more-so than the G, in most fields that actually sell these classes of cars, while the G is a better performance Sedan.

The current, dated, Audi A6 beat the F10 in a previous Review in some Magazine (3 way comparison test w/ the Infinite as well, I believe). Mainly because the F10's steering was too "artificial"....

.... The F10 is at a whole different league than the current, never-too-great A6, that is 7 years into its life-cycle at that. BMW artificialized the steering for a reason, a reason that will catapult the 5-Series to a whole new level, one that the E-Class has dominated, yet of course, detract from many BMW purists.

I dunno, I guess these Tests just crack me up. The last thing I cared about out of my E-Class Sedan, with a steering-column shifter, was how well it handles at the limit. I trust that an M-B product will suffice in that aspect enough for my needs, but if I was reading a Review as a potential new buyer, I'd get very little information toward my decision from a Review like this.

BenzE350

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...ry-Large-Cars/

Well, if you are looking for a review that reflects the values of a lot of potential buyers like you - check out USNews. They ranked the E series first in the luxury large car class!

K-A

Yeah, I've known about them.

For a minute there, I had the highest ranked Luxury Midsize at USNews, and highest ranked Affordable Midsize (Malibu). I swapped to the W212, so I still happen to have their current leader there, but the Malibu got upstaged by some newer, younger lads.

PGT

We own a 2010 Infiniti FX35AWD. I looked at the M56S while buying the FX. There's a lot I like about it but when it came down to spend hard-earned money, I didn't feel comfortable with a tarted up Nissan. I knew what to expect from owning two FX's now and while that's what my wife wanted, I have a different opinion.

csquared

I've test drove a Bentley Flying Spur once and this new E-class is still better IMO. I didn't feel that the Bentley was that much more confortable than the E-class. It had more road noise and the twin-turbo chargers had this uncomfortable idle rumble, which I didn't like. Power delivery is amazing from the V-12 though. I was surprised you don't even get any stares when driving it on the streets. People probably thinks its Chrysler 300 or something. If you like lavish interiors, then go for a Bentley, but everyday driver Mercedes all the way!!!!

hyperion667

checked out the website for m37 or whatever it is........very ugly.........and I have also noticed the build site on mbusa is way better than other build capabilities......just my cents

K-A

I'm not surprised. IMO, nothing beats M-B engineering, when it comes to comfort, safety, luxury, etc. Especially M-B's strong models and era's.

Not discounting Bentley, as I know what they're capable of, and I know the astronomical prices that costs. But M-B's always been the ultimate to me, in what I seek, and expect.

hyperion667

I think that's why black people like the 300's so much.............
(no I'm not racist, that's just how it is.........)

Tjdehya

I am sorry but you are racist because you saw a couple "black people" driving the car and you assume that all "black people" like the car. Not your fault you are what you are!
Stick to the easy ones... all "black people" like Fried Chicken... Thats not racist, Thats a Fact!!!

hyperion667

man..........whatever.........at least I could admit it...........if I was............
maybe where you live you see different trends and styles than I do.........

whatever

RTSM

I checked out both as part of my testing for a new car hopefully in two months and both the E550 and the M56 are nice cars for sure but one has to decide on how the car speaks to one self and does it fit your style. For me the M56 interior is better then the last gen, but it still has that Japanese car feel, I did not like that you have to reach for the selector knob up on the dash and the usual twinkly reminder tones/sounds. For me the power comes on too quickly and like most Japanese cars feel too light, and did not feel too good about it being a good overall daily driver, I did like the transmission kick-down though and the Bose audio on the seats was cool, but not the active steering, no way my wife can drive that car. On my short test I can feel that M56 is definitely a better corner carver (more road noise and not as comfortable as the E) but I have not yet tested the E550 4matic and the styling is way over the top for me, more of a boy-racer type, looked kinda cheap on the exterior. I want more of a sophisticated car that is well built and engineered, feels solid and has a taste of class, for me I'll give up the extra cornering for a classier car the E 550 is inside and out and the E550 is definetly no slouch, I can see myself enjoying that v8 torque (prefer torque over revs). The E just has that solid feeling on the road and quality that is above the M56, just my two cents and to each to their own, I think one of the reviewers mentioned similar in the test. Hopefully in a few months I'll be a owner of a E550 and join you satisfied and proud owners who feel confident in our choice.