2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review

For 2015, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup sees a new E400 style with a turbocharged V6 engine. Other changes are less notable, consisting of minor equipment shuffling.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class epitomizes the modern midsize luxury car with its elegant furnishings, exacting workmanship and huge selection of engines and features. If you're shopping in this class, it's not to be missed.

Say what you want about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but undeniable is that Mercedes has made an extraordinary effort to build an E-Class suitable for your tastes.

Really, whether you want your midsize luxury car to be a fuel-sipping diesel sedan, a turbo V6-powered convertible or a road-burning 577-horsepower wagon, there's bound to be an E-Class much to your liking.

That diesel E-Class earns an EPA estimated 33 mpg combined (that's compact economy car territory) while still being able to sprint to 60 mph in a fairly swift 7.6 seconds. But if outgunning sports cars up the on-ramps is more your thing, you may consider the E 63 AMG S model, which can rip to that same speed in under 4 seconds. And sitting in between those two extremes are no fewer than three additional engine choices.

Since its debut for 2010, this generation of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been one of our favorites, thanks to its trifecta of refinement, performance and cutting-edge technology. Last year's number of improvements only made it more so, earning the E-Class sedan a pair of Edmunds "A" ratings, but the nearly prohibitive cost of the E 63 AMG S wagon and its sometimes-harsh ride drew a "B" rating despite being what some consider the ultimate wagon.

Not one to rest on its hood badge laurels, the E-Class comes into 2015 with a new engine option. The new E400 sports a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 329 hp (in the sedan family, it replaces the E550 and its V8 for most E-Class variants) that should provide performance not far off from that V8's along with superior fuel economy.

Throw in a slew of the newest safety technologies borrowed from the latest S-Class, including an available advanced lane keeping system, and you've got one of Mercedes' best all-around automobiles yet. Of course, there are plenty of great cars in the midsize luxury segment, most notably the 2015 Audi A6, 2015 BMW 5 Series and 2015 Lexus GS. All of these, including the Mercedes, earned spots in our 2015 Sedan Buying Guide, though none of them can match the sheer variety of body styles and engines in the E-Class lineup. If you're looking for the best all-around midsize luxury sedan (or wagon, coupe or convertible), the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is an excellent place to start your search.

Most trim levels of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup are available with either rear- or all-wheel drive (4Matic). However, the E550 coupe/convertible and the E400 Hybrid are rear-wheel drive only, while both the wagons and the AMG trims are 4Matic only. Note that the AMG version of 4Matic sends more power to the rear wheels -- 67 percent versus the usual 55 percent -- to facilitate performance driving.

Every E-Class, except for the E 63, employs a seven-speed automatic transmission. The E 63's automatic has seven speeds as well, but it uses a multiplate clutch pack instead of a torque converter for enhanced response and control. Both transmissions come with shift paddles on the steering wheel, and all cars have an automatic stop-start function that turns off the engine when the car stops to save fuel.

Under the hood, the E250 Bluetec relies on a turbocharged 2.1-liter diesel-fueled four-cylinder engine rated at 195 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. The E350 has a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 302 hp and 273 lb-ft. The E400 Hybrid has that V6 supplemented with a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor. The E400 Hybrid, by the way, can travel up to half a mile, and reach speeds up to 22 mph, on electric power alone.

The E400 packs a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The E 63 AMG's turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 cranks out 550 hp and 531 lb-ft -- or 577 hp and 590 lb-ft with the S-Model package.

In terms of acceleration to 60 mph, Edmunds testing demonstrated that the E-Class runs the gamut from the E250's respectable 7.6-second effort to the E 63 S sedan's scorching 3.7-second sprint (4.0 for the E 63 S wagon), with the E350 sedan nearly splitting the difference at 6.0 seconds in all-wheel-drive form (expect rear-wheel-drive variants to be a few tenths quicker). The E550 versions are seriously fast, as they're able to rip off 5-second 0-60 bursts, while we'd estimate the E400 with the new turbo V6 to be a mid-5-second performer in this respect.

As one would expect from such a varied group of powertrains, EPA-estimated fuel economy runs the gamut, and the E250 Bluetec predictably leads the way. With an EPA-estimated 33 mpg combined (28 city/42 highway) we managed to achieve an astounding 43 mpg on our 120-mile evaluation route which favors diesel-friendly highway miles. Opting for an all-wheel-drive E250 4Matic still impresses with 31 mpg combined (27/38). The E350 sedan drops to 23 mpg combined (20/29) with a 1-mpg highway mileage drop on the 4Matic, and yet, the turbocharged E400 matches those with an estimated 23 mpg combined (20/29), also with a 1-mpg loss on the highway.

The E400 Hybrid is respectable at 26 mpg combined (24/30), while the E550 coupe rates 21 mpg combined (18/26) with the E550 convertible coming in at 20 mpg combined (17/26). The AMG sedan earns a 19 mpg combined figure (16/23), with the wagon rating 18 mpg combined (15/21).

The E-Class comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, a driver drowsiness monitor, front and front-side airbags, front pelvic airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag. Also included is the mbrace telematics system, offering smartphone integration and Web-based apps that include remote controls, driver monitoring and emergency services. The convertible additionally features automatically deploying rollover hoops.

Rear airbags are a stand-alone option. Other options include front and rear-collision mitigation systems and the Driver Assistance package, which includes collision mitigation as well as adaptive cruise control and a "Steering Assist" feature that uses a stereoscopic camera to help keep you in your lane. All models are available with both a surround-view camera and an automated parking system.

In Edmunds brake testing, an E250 with all-season tires came to a stop from 60 mph in 122 feet, an average performance. An E350, also on all-seasons, did a similar 121 feet. When tested with summer performance tires, the E350 sedan stopped in just 110 feet, while an E350 4Matic wagon with summer tires stopped in 109 feet -- pretty impressive for a weighty family hauler. As one would expect, the E 63 sedan's 105-foot stop is the shortest of the bunch (107 feet for the E 63 wagon), and that was without the optional carbon-ceramic brakes.

In government crash testing, the 2015 E-Class earned an overall rating of four of five-possible stars, with five stars for side-impact and rollover potential, but four stars for frontal crash. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2015 E-Class sedan its best-possible rating of "Good" in every category it has: small- and moderate-overlap front crash, side-impact and roof strength, plus its head restraints and seats. Further, the IIHS awarded the E-Class sedan a rare "Superior" grade for front-crash prevention when equipped with optional Pre-Safe and Driver Assistance packages. The E-Class coupe was similarly awarded with the best-possible rating of "Good" for moderate-overlap front crash, side-impact and roof strength, plus its head restraints and seats.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class stakes out a sublime middle ground between comfort and sport. There are both cushier cars and more athletic cars in the midsize luxury segment, but none marries these traits as harmoniously as the Benz. Regardless of body style or engine, the E-Class also provides that unique sense of solidity that has long set Mercedes vehicles apart. It's a special car to drive.

If there's a downside here, it involves the growing collection of electronic driver aids, which certainly mean well but have the potential to interfere with driving enjoyment. Fortunately, some can be turned off if you find them overly intrusive.

You'll be hard-pressed to distinguish the E250 Bluetec from its six-cylinder E350 Bluetec predecessor, as the diesel four-cylinder engine pulls with vigor from very low rpm. While idling at a standstill, however, you might notice some vibration through the pedals, but the auto stop-start system essentially makes that a non-issue. That system, on the other hand, is very smooth, with nary a shudder to be felt when it automatically restarts the engine. Underway, the diesel's soundtrack won't stir the soul, but neither is it loud nor immediately identifiable as a diesel. For environmentally minded E-Class buyers, the E250 is a good way to go.

As for the E 63 AMG, it's simply an amazing thrill ride wrapped up in a practical package. With acceleration essentially on par with that of exotic sports cars, this roomy sedan (or wagon) has to be driven to be believed. Running up an on-ramp with your foot in it takes on the feel of a jet leaving an airstrip, while the AMG's adept handling on a curvy road will make you think you're driving something two-thirds its size and weight.

The cabin of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is at once handsome and functional. A "three-tube" gauge cluster adds visual interest, and all but the AMG versions have a steering-column-mounted gear selector. A Mercedes-brand analog clock adds a touch of class, while three available wood veneers range from warm to austere -- a nice no-cost opportunity to personalize your Benz.

All versions come with the COMAND electronics interface, which combines a large display screen, a control knob and dash-mounted buttons. As with every knob-based infotainment system, there's a learning curve, but we generally prefer COMAND to rival systems due to its relatively simple menu structure. Its voice command functionality is also first-rate.

Each E-Class is relatively comfortable and spacious by segment standards. The seats are firm, but offer impressive comfort and support for the long haul -- especially the optional multicontour driver seat. The two-door and AMG models feature snug front sport seats that capably hold you in place during aggressive driving. The backseat in four-door models is pleasantly spacious, matching the BMW 5 Series for most hospitable in the midsize luxury class. Two-door E-Class models lose a lot of rear passenger space, but you can still squeeze two adults back there without too much hassle.

The sedan's trunk measures a slightly above average 15.9 cubic feet, while the wagon offers up to 57.4 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume in addition to its trademark rear-facing (and strictly-for-kids) third-row seat that gives it seven-passenger capacity in a pinch. The coupe drops to a still-commendable 13.3 cubic feet of trunk space, while the convertible brings up the rear at 11.5 cubic feet (8.8 with the top down).

Notably, unlike most hybrid sedans, the E400 Hybrid sedan has the same trunk capacity as its non-hybrid counterpart, as its lithium-ion battery pack is housed in the engine bay rather than in a space-eating trunk location.