Zavato

Sure the E550 and AMG is more powerful but I'm curious if anyone genuinely feels the E350 is underpowered

ryson

I'm happy with it considering the better gas mileage I get is the trade off. I can tell the difference between my older E320. Try the S mode if you haven't yet and see if that gives you more of what you're looking for.

thefisch

Didn't feel under powered when I test drove a 2011 used a couple of years ago. And later models are supposed to have slightly more power. Depends on how you drive too I guess.

Also, it depends on what you are comparing it too. It felt underpowered compared to an Infiniti M37 but more than adequate compared to a Lexus ES350. But by itself on the road, I didn't find it lagging.

Are you feeling that way Zavato?

Zavato

Actually, no, don't feel its underpowered at all. But I have also noticed that some folks just can't get by with less than 500 hp. I guess I grew up in an era when corvettes had 180 hp motors and a fierce Porsche did quite well with under 300 hp. At 302 hp, the E350 is the most powerful car I've owned. O-60 in about 6 sec is plenty fast for me. And my V6 accord at 271 hp, which weighs about 500 lbs less than my Benz, is also plenty powerful for me. Sure beats that 69 hp Nissan of 32 years ago.

thefisch

An E350 would have been more powerful than anything I have owned before also. That would have been a 1998 V6 Accord for me but that was probably about 200hp. After that it was a Prius and I don't think they bother to measure the HP on those.

While I like the power of my E550, I don't need it. I would have been happy with any of those I mentioned on day to day basis.

PeterUbers

Yes, the e350 is underpowered

Johnny Rad

I'm a sport sedan guy. Sports cars and GTs are tremendous, but I prefer a fast sedan or wagon.

* Remember when Nissan was pushing the Maxima SE with an extra 30hp for 190hp? I was all about that SE and embraced its 4DSC story.

* Remember when just under or barely 300hp in a sporting sedan was crazy time? Think E420/430, 540i and GS400/430. Wonderful autos that still catch my eye today!

On topic, I think Zavato makes an excellent point. It's all in your mindset and expectations. If you're happy with 100hp, that's cool. If you want 300hp, that's cool too. I'm surrounded by 8-10k ft mtns and 300hp is plenty to summit them well above the speed limit with a car load of folks and their gear, which must mean it's more than adequate.

I'm personally not impressed with 300hp anymore and it all started with an E-class blutec sedan (W211 or 212 - who knows) loaded up with four adults. I had a nearly 15 year-old '02 GS430 with 300hp/325tq at the time and still thought I was kinda hot $h1t. I hit the on-ramp behind the diesel and figured that I'd nonchalantly blow past him before we merged onto the fwy. Nope, that oil-burner hit the go pedal about the same time I did and I meekly abandoned my plan. I don't recall the "race" details now, but that was THE MOMENT that I decided it was time...

Deezbluballz

My loaner while my C300 was at the dealer was a new E350, loved the size of it and the comfort. I came across a deal for a CPO E550, and never looked back. Yes the E350 is underpowered.

MBSebas87

You know I'm glad you brought this up. When I went from my c300 which had 226hp to my e350 with 302hp, felt the difference right away and was the happiest guy in the world until I saw the E550 guys here show off the beasts. Then the rush to get an E550 came and went crazy looking for an affordable one. At the end, I started to appreciate my car's power more and more to the point where I occasionally, almost rarely, go and check my dealers CPO inventory. I appreciate the gas mileage that's for sure! Maybe one day I'll get an e550 ...We'll see

Johnny Rad

Significantly better mpg is a fair trade, but how much better is the DI 350's mpg than the NA or biturbo 550?

When I upgraded my outgoing car to an E550, I gained 100hp, 125tq and awd without a trade-off in real-world mpg. I'm consistently delivers ~21.5mpg (hand-calculated) with ~60% hwy driving. I'm absolutely delighted.

What mpg are you getting in your E350 with DI? Are you mainly city of hwy driving?

cx876

Coming from a 06 SLK280 to a 11 E350, yes, I think it's under power,
you can tell the M272 is struggling with the weight.

However, the E gets a new engine since 2012, I haven't try that one yet, maybe it's better,
or go with the E400, it's just a couple grands more compare to a similarly equipped E350,
almost a no brainier.

hyperion667

yes

Swoosht04

2011 E350 and yes. Wife is in a 2013 ES350 and my G37 Sedan so have grown accustomed to the power. Then again neither have the same feel on the highway as the E.

threeMBs

+1. Absolutely.

cadetdrivr

Nope. Even with "only" 300HP there are two issues where I live:
Call me jaded and getting older but another second off the 0-60 time doesn't really do much for me. (Besides, a typical day at my office usually involves at least one 0-160 run so the "wow" factor of acceleration is long gone.)

Would some more HP and torque be nice? Always. But I'll have no problem finding other toys with the money I saved vs. a 550.

However, something like a P90D with a 0-60 time of less than 3 seconds and INSTANT massive torque would get my attention. It won't be long before we see competitors to the Tesla S at 2/3 of the price considering that every manufacturer, including MB, is hard at work on electrics.

Wookii

As a daily driver for my family...no complaints about power. Getting up to speed is easy, cruising is nice and quiet at low rpm, passing is fine. Its not the fastest n/a mid-size car, that's not why I bought it.

fosterelli

People can, and should, research the horsepower, torque, and 0-60 before purchasing...and also thoroughly test drive. So I don't think anyone should be surprised at what the E350 can (and can't) do regarding power.

In my opinion the 300hp arena is a pretty good starting point for a model line up like the E Class. If you want extra ponies, you need to shell out more dough. Can't be cheap and b1tch about lack of power, especially since one should always do his due diligence prior to purchasing. MB makes more powerful options for those with the desire and the funding.

aquinob

No, I have a 2010 with 268 hp and it's more than adequate for any daily driving I do. Would more power be nice, sure, but its not needed. I step on the gas and it goes and you will be up to 80 before you know it. And its not a turbo 4 banger, so there is no lag.

screw991le

Gas, smash.

When you want power you have to pay. A 500+ HP cars is going to cost you. I have reset my trip monitor since I purchased the car. I am at 16.7 MPH after almost 30000 miles. For the extra 40 cents a gallon for 93 octane and the 10mpg, I vote for the power. We don't buy these cars for the fuel economy. And Benz knows that. This is not a Prius its is and AMG mega power house. You are driving a super car, one of he fastest 4 door sedans on the planet for a fraction of a super car cost.

Worth the extra pennies IMHO

Swoosht04

People always crack me up when saying things like "Who needs or can use 500hp with traffic?". You do not just use that power to go FAASSTTT! If I have 475 HP at 5000 RPM and 400 Ft Lbs of torque at 4000 RPM then guess what? Chances are I have at least 200 or more Ft Lbs down low in the Rpm range where I am going to spend most of my time in "traffic". If my car barely can squeeze out 300 HP max then available power lower in the range will be a lot less.

g4benz

I don't think it's underpowered unless you start comparing it to more powerful vehicles.

As a standalone, more than enough power for everyday driving.

degeja

very nice power with great gas mileage and smooth transmission.

El Cid

Not underepowered at all.

PaulE550

The question is of course completely subjective. It all depends on what you buy the car for, what characteristics in a car you value over others (gas mileage, power, handling, passenger room, etc.) and your personal style of driving. The car either fits one's personal criteria or it doesn't and if it doesn't you shouldn't buy it as you won't be happy with it.

Maybe a better question would have been to ask everyone why they selected the E350 over other E class vehicles or even other MB cars. Of course then you're right back to it being a completely subjective question again. :-)

cadetdrivr

You broke the code.