From the logbook: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350

Some cars simply are tough acts to follow. Take the last-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This midsized luxury sedan set benchmarks in its class for steering and ride. It was quiet, comfortable, and quick. Complicated controls and a checkered reliability history--until its final years--counted against it.

So Mercedes-Benz faced a challenge when they redesigned the E-Class for 2010. To find out if they measured up to the task, we bought one to test. Our E350 came, like most rear-wheel-drive E-Classes sold around here, with the sports package, adding a sports suspension, some lower body cladding, and all-season 18-inch tires. Snazzy AMG wheels, a Premium Package with navigation and harman/kardon stereo, and a panorama sunroof brought the total to $55,245.

How is the car to drive? Let’s check the initial feedback from our testers by cracking open the car’s logbook:

“Quick, linear steering but has very low effort.”

“Silly shifter easily confused for right stalk. Started to rain and I instinctively pushed it up for wiper – went into neutral on highway.”

“Once again, a redesign comes out and I prefer the previous-generation car.”

“Steering here is too light and short on feedback, despite tons of grip and great body control.”

“NAV is frustrating to use, even by voice.”

“Not fond of the seatbelt power snugger trying to choke me.”

“Powertrain is very smooth and pulls great on highway for passing.”

“Back-up camera only works if audio system is on.”

“Car has an ‘avant-garde’ feeling to it”

“Steady as a rock long distance cruiser. Quiet.”

“Center control thing can be confusing at first but handy for moving between presets.”

“Fit and finish is superb.”

“This E-Class leaves me completely cold. Overly contrived styling, inside and out.”

“Ride is a bit stiff-legged.”

“I like the old one better. More impact harshness and noise now.”

“Strong and quiet powertrain.”

“Gets lots of looks and favorable comments.”

“Still engaged cruise control rather than turn signal three times.”

“Somehow it’s not quite the same as the previous generation.”

To sum up, the new E350 is eye-catching, especially given that the last E-Class grew familiar as it remained essentially unchanged for seven model years. But some faults--particularly complicated controls--remain. Perhaps more troubling, the E350 doesn’t drive like the old one, and given how good that car was, that’s a big disappointment.

—Tom Mutchler

Comments

[david]

This remains me of the previous BMW 5-series, which had a excellent ride quality. Newer one had not so good ride quality and worse controls.

Putting the car into neutral on the highway would have been an accident waiting to happen. MB is moving towards the old GM ways in car control - very bad.

Anyway, I don't like the looks of the new E-class with rectangular lamps. Headlights should be round in shape just like the ones in the Porsche 911.

How about testing a Panamera?

[El Cid]

I was offered a 2009 for 10K off and turned them down. The 2010 has better styling inside and outside and more features. So far, the automotive press reviews report electronics, among other things, work better than previous models.
Why not test the LUXURY model? Realize that dealers push the sports model, but luxury is the one with the better suspension for ride and comfort, along with 17" wheels.
Agree controls may be different from what we are used to, but it's called knowing the car you are driving before you take off down the road.

[David Brodbeck]

I don't understand this fad for redesigning shifters. If they don't want to take up space in the center console, what's wrong with a normal column shift lever? Everyone knows how it works and it can't be confused for anything else. It's one control where you really don't want people to be confused.

[El Cid]

Tested a 2010 LUXURY yesterday. In process of making a deal on one now. Took all the above comments from CR "testers" with me and checked each one off.
The LUXURY model is very different from the Sports model sedan. Rode very well, very quiet and no impact harshness or road noise. Much better ride than the sports model I previously tried.
Made lots of turns and lane changes and only on first one hit the cruise control by mistake. All others, instinctively hit the turn signal stalk.
Much better car than previous model - that's why I am getting one.

[will]

I'll say what probably hurt the ride, the sports package with the firmer suspension the standard suspension probably soaks up the bumps better

[GI]

Sports suspension can be softened by changing the setting to "comfort" using the switch on the center console. Ordered one last night after driving both versions, luxury and sport.

[Emmanuel]

I had the privledge of driving an e350 coupe for 3 weeks. I currently have a 06 model C220 CDI with the AMG sports pack. The e350 is what you expect; quiet, comfortable, practicle, sexy and fast. There is only 1 dissapointment with the car though; the car felt too heavy when cornering. I might add that this did not have the sports upgrade. Now, I have not yet driven the sports upgrade but, overall, i enjoy my C220 with the sports pack more than the basic e350. But yet again, I am 21yrs old and rather have my cars with stiff suspension and stiff steering.

[El Cid]

My understanding per salesman and others is that the switch on the center console is for the transmission, not the suspension. It does switch from comfort to sport, but determines which gear to start in, etc. for faster starts.
There is no selection for sport or comfort on suspension. Car has to be built with either Luxury (comfort) or Sports (sport) suspension.