Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2003

Most Wanted Sedan Over $45,000

Winner: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

A midsize luxury car already at the top of the automotive food chain in terms of style, prestige and overall desirability, the E-Class has been totally reworked for 2003. The result is a Benz that strolls the line between elegance and sport — replete with serious upgrades in performance and technology. Engine choices include a 221-horsepower V6, a 302-horse V8, and later on in the AMG version, a supercharged V8 worthy of 476 horses. Ride and handling characteristics are firmer than ever before, while inside, classy furnishings and goodies like self-adjusting seats and four-zone climate control are ready to pamper.