I'll just leave this here. You are certainly entitled to keep yelling at the clouds if it makes you feel better.

https://media.mbusa.com/releases/a-b...he-new-e-class

Efficiently and quietly through the wind

The new E-Class: aerodynamics and aeroacoustics

• Very good aerodynamics with a Cd figure from 0.23 and a frontal area A of 25.4 ft2
• A great deal of detailed development work, with some innovations adopted from Mercedes-EQ models
• Extensive measures against wind noise, measurement procure using almost 500 microphones

• Optimized contours: even including the tires
• Innovative sealing of the front section: for the first time with side-sealing of the hood and an aero-lip in the radiator grille
• Wheels with claddings: so-called "aeroblinds"
• Special spoilers ahead of the front and rear wheels
• Flush, retractable door handles
• Underbody: new materials (2-component main floor with molded-on sealing lips) and improved shape (ramp-shaped spoiler lips, aerodynamic cladding on suspension components)

 

Ok. you win. Have a cookie. Also maybe find a hobby, other peoples' cars really shouldn't bother you this much.

 

The people you mention also 'reviewed" and approved of the driver interface in current MB models where commands are via touchscreen or useless haptic buttons on the steering wheel. Sounds like they never tried the final product.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/merc...g-buttons-back

 

FYI, my last 9 cars have been MB, including 4 S-Class. I don't care what other people drive, I have my own opinions about cars I have been interested in buying.

 

The only "buttons" they are bringing back are the physical volume wheel on the steering wheel and the physical control for adjusting the cruise control speed.

By and large the touchscreen and the haptic buttons are fine. Door handles not fine, buttons are fine.

 

Haptics and touchscreens are much. much cheaper than mechanical switches, which is the main reason for these mistakes. To work a touchscreen while driving is worse than texting.

 

They look nice in the show room, improves the line of the door and makes me think my 2023 is getting old. Sorry to hear that their function is a bit off, but imagine that if they survive the software will improve and one day we will say 'wasn't it so quaint that people used to complain'.

 

Touchscreens have been around for a LONG time, my old 2003 Lexus ES300 that is still in the family has a touchscreen, its not a new thing. I prefer a control on the console but the touchscreen isn't a big deal.

 

All depends on what functions are on the touchscreen. The more functions, the worse it is. There are cars where the vents are controlled via touchscreen, which is really dumb.

 

Why don't you listen to some of us who have lived with this touchscreen after having also lived with the old system. MB's system does not control vents through the screen.

 

I'm with you 100% on this, but the cockpit UX/UI is a completely different subject than retractable door handles.

 

Totally agree!

 

It seems to me that more and more design elements of EVs are trickling down to all new cars. That includes the giant screens and the door handles. It is more economical for a car manufacturer to share design elements and parts across their line. It ideally, if not realistically, benefits the customer in reduced prices on new cars, reduced costs and increased availability for replacement parts, and reduced complexity of training for authorized repair technicians.

The touchscreens do not overwhelm me as much as the myriad of functions, features, and customizability that are provided to the user. All of that may be even more difficult to negotiate if it was all done through buttons rather than menus. Just scroll through all of the menu options for things like interior lighting, exterior lighting, courtesy sounds, media parameters, driving modes, vehicle status information, comfort controls including aroma and massage, safety alert thresholds, navigation preferences, etc. It is overwhelming, but the alternative would be not to offer them. Plus customers born after the baby boom generation have grown up with and are very comfortable with the use of haptic controls and touchscreens. I agree that it would be nice to have a nice large button for stereo volume, but dial-type controllers have a history of developing electrical shorts and other issues with prolonged use.

I have mixed feelings about the door handles, but I’ve found that they won’t “snap” inward if you simply hold onto them. They quickly stop allowing you to continue to pull them open. If you pull your hand away in a panic, they no longer detect you, but like electric window controls, they stop when they encounter resistance.

My local carjacker was humiliated trying to find the handle and now leaves me alone.

 

ok....bye! noone cares what you think about cars you don't own, and what you have or haven't purchased in the past doesn't change that. TTFN!

 

But, this is an example of poor design. You shouldn't't have to think about how you grab a door handle to avoid it behaving in an undesirable way. Maybe the solution is to have a button to lock that isn't touch sensitive, like Land Rover does:



That button is much harder to accidentally brush because its a physical button.

Or do what Tesla does and don't have a button to lock, let it just automatically lock.

Or do a flush electronic door handle like BMW.

 

It's ok to observe any car has flaws. They all do.

As is tradition, four of the five main characters have appeared in this thread on this here internet car forum:

1) Original complainant
2) Obnoxiously dismissive marque fanboys (half of whom parachute in to the forum because the topic was on the front page)
3) Non-sequitur afficionados (it was the year 1993 and the W124 was nearly new and a gallon of gas cost twelve hapennies and therefore such as america thank you)
4) People who agree with the OP's complaint (attracting even more of #2)
5) Vendors selling usually unrelated things

I blame the lack of #5 on the newness of the 214

 

Bingo ! The reason for eliminating the buttons/switches/knobs are cost-related. Not something the customers asked for.

As it stands, from dedicated buttons to do ALL of the audio controls, and ALL of the climate controls, now it has all been moved into a screen. Even if say I use voice commands, it is nowhere close to as efficient as reaching over a pressing a button.

Unfortunately, the way the wind is flowing, we will see more of this kind of cost-cutting, than less.

 

How much of this lower Cd (achieved via a plethora or things, including reducing the rear hatch-height and reducing practicality) translates into real-world mileage improvement for the actual users ? Having been the owner of a 2022 E450 All-terrain, and now the 2025 E450 All-Terrain, I would say the improvements in the real-world are ZERO. In addition to the reduction in practicality to achieve a lower Cd on paper. You had a 2021/2022 All-Terrain yourself, if I recall.

 

Your rants are stellar, and also very entertaining.
But, I also find myself agreeing with SW20S repeatedly.
When I see this thread posted in the new messages notification, I roll my eyes, thinking that surely, by now the topic has been exhausted of novel replies, let alone entertaining replies.
Now I have to break myself of this eyeroll reaction when I see this topic pop its head up like Punxsutawney Phil!
I can now see myself reacting with eager anticipation if I see new replies to the thread.
I know everyone is waiting with bated breath to know what my opinion is on the subject (please refrain from autonomic eyeroll).
But if you really want to know my opinion, investigate the likes I have cast.
I think I might have also replied with my opinion on the subject, not just a reaction to the replies.
Please keep the show on a roll!!!

 

Yes I did have a 2022 AT, but cannot compare economy to the E53 wagon I replaced it with. I will say I do not notice wind noise in EL mode, which is how I drive it 95% of the time, and 75-80 MPH speeds do not adversely impact electric range.

You say real-world improvements are zero from 213 to 214 ATs. That’s the point…the article states they maintained Cd. Your new car has more frontal area with a wider body and wider tires. The EPA says highway economy improved with the 214, but even if it is the same, the aerodynamic tweaks were successful.

I believe the article is in reference to the 214 sedan, which is no less practical. The 214 wagon’s more tapering roofline could just as well have been an aesthetic decision, which I applaud…I think it looks fantastic and worth the shorter cargo area. My dogs would not agree, however.

 

The door handles have no practical wind noise or fuel economy benefit lol

 

If that's the case (not challenging, just saying), then they truly are an attractive but impractical gimmick. I did run into a funny situation concerning the retractables. Handed my visiting daughter the keys. She came back into the kitchen and asked how to open the driver's door.

Commenting on the topic of touch screens and complex menus, I find I can do most of those functions using "Hey Mercedes", or the talk button on the steering wheel. Hey Mercedes, what is the tire pressure? She'll reply, Let me check. The left front is... the right front is...etc., etc. Works for many many functions. Having to take your eyes off the road to navigate complex menus can be (is) distracting.

 

I do not own a W214, but drive an MB with these "suicide door handles".. I use the word "suicide" bcos more than once I have been lucky to quickly retract my fingers from its snapping jaws for whatever I did it deemed unworthy and hence must close... in those moments, I did a silent TY to whatever saved my fingers from been crushed.... our EQS580 is garaged, and 80% of the time unlocked. I did notice the times the door handle almost paralyzed my fingers were only when the car was unlocked as I walked to it. I have now changed to 100% locking the car, and have yet to feel endangered by it snapping off my fingers.... I guess I have been lucky, so far... knock on wood...

Despite all of the above, I am a huge fan of the new door handles. It is modern and truly fits the status of these new models. Am I crazy or what?

 

Luckily, since your fingers didn’t get snapped off, you can still knock on wood!
It’s a lot harder without fingers!

 

Yep, just a gimmick.

Yep, this is the "danger time". Its when you brush the door handle wrong and it thinks you want to lock the doors.

I'd be a fan if they worked better. Its just annoying also to walk up to the car and press and slide on the handles trying to get them to pop out.