2024 Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic First Drive: Don’t Screw Up the E-Class

Pros

• Fantastic engine
• Quiet cabin
• Lots of standard tech

Cons

• Small entry/exit to back seat
• Fussy door handles
• Center storage could be bigger

see: https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...emaileditorial

 

US buyers have decided. Sedan sales are declining. Volvo sold a LWB S 60 and sells the LWB S90. The S60 sold very poorly. The S90 is a fine car but doesn't sell well. I know because I used to work for Volvo. BMW sold the 5 Series Gran Turismo. A car based on the 7 Series chassis with extra room in the back seat. It was an interesting looking car but not a sales success.

 

Thomas from autogefuehl said the base infotainment screen should be a tablet style like the one on the S Class or C class, the same way they did with the EQE. Has any of you seen any picture of it?

 

The BMW 5 Series Grand Turismo was not a sedan. It was a hatchback withour a trunk. I'm sure that was a big factor for poor sales.
Volvo S90 sales in the US are miniscule of less than 140 cars per month. Year-to-date 2023 total is 889 cars. That isn't enough volume to support both LWB and standard models.

 

There are a few photos online. Its still a widescreen set up, but like the EQ cars features more trim.

 

I just wish they got rid of the shiny, piano-black type trim pieces from the interior altogether. This is a growing trend across multiple automakers, and in a luxury product, it looks positively cheap.

 

SUVs have bad gas mileage, handling, looks, and cost more. Maybe I'll get one if I get another (5th) garage space - an old one for special use only like moving furniture or picking up mulch and topsoil.

 

Can anyone provide a close up of the steering wheel. I've seen two different looking controls, one like the W213 and the other looks new in 2 rows.

 

Huh...old school door handles...

...and the silver car has the sport grill + hood ornament.

Despite the luxury trim, the white car seems to have a much firmer suspension setup. Wonder if it is an AMG prototype underneath.

 

They removed it from the center console thankfully, its just left on the steering wheel and door controls. The only trim that gets it is the flowing lines trim. The E can also be optioned with matte trim which goes on the center console as well.



It is using carryover steering wheels from other models. With AMG-Line being standard in America, it is uncertain if we will get the luxury-line steering wheel.




The pop out door handles are an option in the EU for both the W214 E and W223 S-Class.

Hood ornament is also easy to install on any MB where the emblem is in the portion of the hood that opens.

 

Of course, but doesn't make it any less strange for a prototype actively testing to have both sport grill and hood ornament.

 

This shiny, piano-black type trim are around the front grille as well. Personally, I think the black surround on the front grille cheapen the look of a otherwise very nice looking front end, kind of look like a raccoon’s eyes.

 

Plus the shiny black stuff (I have it on the cup holder cover) scratches very easily, and is always smudged.

 

is it a mix of wood trim with led underneath on the dash? It looks awesome

 

Yes! That is the Backlit Laser-Cut Star trim which can be had on the EQ models, although this one is now featured with a wood grain. The stars will illuminate in the same color as the ambient lighting.

 

Personally, I think today’s car designs have way too many manufacturer logo in it. Mercedes has 3 point stars everywhere. Lexus has the Nike logo on all their designs.

 

Most cars are covered with logos - windows, wheels, grill, hood, trunk, ... That being said, I don't think much has changed over the years other than the light logos. My 1971 300SEL had just as many logos.

 

A bridge between tradition and digitalisation: the new E-Class

 

Nice the see the ancestors in the first photo.
For a while there I thought they and their owners' were forgotten.

 

I'll take the W124 please (says the EQ driver)

 

Me too. And MB should replace the classic view of the MBUX instrument cluster with the true classic view from those years.

 

To this day I sot of regret selling my W109. Still, the maintenance was a killer with (IIRC) 9 liter oil changes every 5,000 km.

 

I've been saying that for years!