SDRider

I dropped my wife's CLS550 off for a service yesterday and they let me take a 2017 E300 sedan until her car is ready. I'll likely have it until tomorrow in fact. Anyway, it is black with black MB tex interior. Fairly nicely equipped with the latest COMAND system, which I'm getting used to now, heated seats, power moonroof, satellite radio, park assist, power trunk lid, etc. Not sure if it has the autonomous driving but it does have the braking assist and lane departure warnings. I don't know what comes with each of the options packages for this car or what packages this one has.

This car has a 2.0l turbocharged 4-cylinder engine which makes 241hp. It is mated to a 9 speed automatic gearbox which is pretty seamless unless you really put your foot into the accelerator which makes it shift a bit more abruptly. I would say it is adequately powered for a car this size but if you load it up with people and luggage I think it would feel underpowered, which is a shame for such an upscale and well equipped car. Still, as a daily commuter it is pretty good and I have been averaging almost 26mpg which isn't bad.

The car is very smooth and comfortable. Also, quiet and controlled over all kinds of roads. Steering is well balanced and precise but a bit numb. The driving experience overall is a bit dull and isolated. Not a sports car by any stretch but it is a very nice place to be when stuck in traffic driving to and from work.

There is a definite learning curve with the controls. I'm fairly tech savvy and used to the COMAND system in my E550 Coupe and my wife's CLS550 (they are the same) but this car and the C-Class's I've driven have proven a bit of a challenge. Nearly every function of the car is accessed through the COMAND system and some have multiple ways of accessing them. For example, it took me quite a while to learn that you can swipe your finger over the black buttons on the steering wheel to access different displays on the center display between the speedo and the tach. It was a challenge just to figure out how to turn the system on (I found the power button neatly hidden behind the control pad in the center console-I couldn't see it from the driver's seat).

The main display is huge and shows a split screen of the navigation and other controls and displays a ton of information and settings. Once I figured out how to get to the main menu it is pretty easy to figure out how to get to different functions/settings. As useless as it is I kind of like the ambient lighting feature, you can turn it on or off, adjust the level of output and the color. It looks really cool at night and I found myself playing with it for a while last night while waiting at a light on my way home from work trying out all the different colors to see which one I liked best.

It is a handsome sedan and fairly decent sized and has some really cool features but it doesn't really stand out in any way. It looks like a big C class in my opinion. I think it should be a little more distinctive and I think there should be an engine option that offers a little more power. Maybe a straight 6? I know Mercedes has one in the works for the new E-class coupe.

It's a really nice car but, personally, I wouldn't buy this car and I'm right in the demographic of people who would buy this car, 50 years old (almost) and financially well off. It just doesn't do much for me visually or emotionally.

PeterUbers

2017 540i m sport for same money ~$71k

NYC-Style

Nice write up SDRider...I actually owned a '15 C Class (I purchased in Nov '14) and was initially visually attracted to the car and thought that I would become emotionally attached as time went on. Fast forward 2 years and a friend of mine also was given a '17 E class to drive while his CLS was in for servicing...well once I saw it I was immediately attracted to it both visually and emotionally. It may be that the car you're coming from which plays a factor into how you perceive a new car. I absolutely love my (garage queen) Corvette and would never dream of letting it go...so I understand where you're coming from.

PeterUbers

2017 540i m sport for same or a bit more money ~$71k

steve_0

At least where I live (I'm sure markets vary greatly), the BMW ends up being roughly $8-10k more after negotiating. The 540 is an amazing car with (in my opinion) stronger technology but the discounts off retail price cap out around $1500 vs 10% on a MB that comes with far more equipment.

Tough comparison.

ngerstman

I'm beginning to feel the same way about the design of the new e class, nice but uninspired. It hit me a bit more when I read the first drive review of the e63 in Car and Driver and looked at the picture. Design wise, it just didn't look like an e63, I know there is a beast in there, just didn't look it. I prefer the look of my 2011 e550 to be honest, much more distinctive. Regards. Ned.

PeterUbers

$8,000 gets you so much though ... power, looks..

shortspark

My sentiments are the same as OP. I was just left a bit cold in all aspects by the E class, especially after the test drive (although the interior is impressive). I saw the CLS550 and wanted it. I drove the CLS550 and bought it on the spot. Never looked back at the E class.

steve_0

Agree. And trying to talk myself out of switching while waiting for the E. The BMW looks like a beast on the road. Somewhat massive in comparison. Similar stature to a CLS.

SDRider

I absolutely love our CLS550. It just does everything well and it looks gorgeous. I wish we had two of them quite frankly.

Tom T

I like it. I have been driving this 17 e300 sport for about a week. I tried all the setting comfort, eco, sport and sport+. I like the driving options. Before, the plain e class, it drivers like an old people car. The inline 4 turbo charged was pretty impressive consider pushing all that weight.

bizinsider

I have owned the car for 6 months. I love the comfort but... as much as I tried to like the outside design I can't. And as elegant as the pickup is, I wish it had more punch, even in E+, which I usually drive in. And I wish the handling (non 4matic) was a bit better. I was a sucker for the technology, and that I still like.

teksurv

As a W212 owner who has a W213 loaner, i think you have very nicely captured my thoughts on the W213. I want to love the W213, and I do really enjoy the interior. It's a really nice place to be, just wish it had more character when it comes to design. Perhaps when the facelift happens.

Tom T

I came from a w211 and wasn't plan on getting rid of it. I liked the interior on w211 over the w212. But since the w211 brakes (sbc pump) went out it was time to move on to another MB. The wife wanted the glc at first but we ended up getting the w213 with a little research (less than a day).
I have to agree that the exterior of the w213 isn't much different from the w212 especially the 2016. But for my case, I got lucky because i skipped the w212 so I feel like this w213 is a big upgrade to me. Plus I bought mine with 2k miles (a loaner) so I got a 4 and a half year warranty plus purchased extra 2 more year extended warranty. All and all I got about $10k off.

ngerstman

I have a 2011 e550 and think the exterior design of the car is far nicer than the new e, which is certainly a functional aerodynamic look but boring as could be. I wasn't too thrilled with the refresh of the 212, liked my 2011 far better. I think the 212 refresh was a design mistake and moved us to what we got in the new 213, boring. Interestingly, the new e looks smaller to me than the 212 but is actually a few inches longer. No question that the interior is stunning, great job there, now need to mate it with a more worthy exterior. Regards. Ned.

steve_0

I really think this forum got me thinking too much and today struck a deal on a 540. Both fine cars but my brain is and has always been a little bit skewed towards BMWs look, tech and feel. I tried to turn this into a cost issue but they came close enough for a similarly equipped car that made me bail. Both fine cars!

Wish all the best!

ngerstman

Congratulations. The new 540 looks really nice and has gotten nice reviews, sounds very Mercedes in overall luxury/driving dynamics. Did you test drive the 540? I'm assuming you needed to order the car, how long for delivery? Regards. Ned.

ua549

Making a similar decision I went the MB route and ordered a 2018 E300 with July/August delivery. The deciding factors included the 2017 vs 2018 model year, non-digital BMW instrument cluster, the ho-hum interior design and no support for Android Auto. No colorful BMW exterior paint entered into the decision as well, but ultimately I opted for Selenite Grey instead of Cardinal Red.

steve_0

I actually didn't drive it, though imagine it is the same as the last 6 I've had being similar yet slightly better. I sat in it and played with iDrive. Overall felt at home and the tech is brilliant. As a business car, this means most.

Arrives in 6 weeks.

ngerstman

I had an e43 on order in the Miami area but cancelled when the dealer refused to negotiate on price and I couldn't deal with the fact that I was essentially paying $20,000 for the engine upgrade versus buying an e300 with usual discounts. The e43 would have been my 4th e class, love the cars in general and would have settled for the less than inspiring design had they given me a decent price, you kind of know what your getting with an e, a well made luxury full size sedan with decent performance parameters. Shook me out of my comfort zone to an Audi S8, I'll deal! Enjoy the 540, it should be great. Regards. Ned.

SDRider

Update: I've had this car for a week now and drove it out to Palm Springs on Friday and back on Monday through the San Jacinto mountains with 4 people and a trunk full of luggage. Our CLS still isn't ready, I asked for a detail but their detail department is backed up and they're hoping it will be ready today.

Anyway, I've put almost 500 miles on this car now so I have some updates on my initial impressions. The COMAND system is vastly more complicated than the system in our CLS or my E550 coupe to the point of being a distraction. I drove my car yesterday after we arrived home from Palm Springs (a 2 hour journey) and noted how simple it is to operate and how I actually prefer it to the new system. Just to change a station requires 2 movements vs 1 on the old system. I also keep bumping that mousepad thing (which I haven't really used) and it launches into a different menu when I do that. I'm not a fan.

The engine is adequate with 4 people and a trunk full of luggage. We had my wife and I plus our 14 year old son and his 15 year old friend. My son is 5'10" and his friend is a big kid, probably weighs more than I do in fact so easily 600lbs of people plus luggage and the car did fine up the steep grade of the 74 climbing out of Rancho Mirage yesterday afternoon (an epically beautiful drive if you ever have the chance and even better on a motorcycle). The car drove well, was very comfortable and handled confidently and smoothly at a reasonable pace. I didn't push it much though. The brakes are really good in this car, I will say that.

The seats are comfortable front and rear which makes it easy to do 2 hours driving non-stop but I've done 4 hours in our CLS so for front seat passengers I'd say the CLS is the better car but not as roomy in the rear as the E300.

The looks have grown on me and I think it is a handsome car but still it doesn't really stand out in any way, certainly not like the CLS does. I still wouldn't buy this car.