Vehicle Overview

With the most dramatically changed face since its adoption of circular headlights 15 years ago, Mercedes-Benz's redesigned E-Class sedan boasts a long list of new safety technologies and luxury features. Once all variants hit the showroom, the E-Class will be available with four engines, rear- or all-wheel drive, three suspensions and two luxury orientations.

Major variants include the V-6 E350 and the V-8 E550. All-wheel-drive 4Matic versions of all three will be available before the end of 2009, as will be a high-performance E63 AMG. Expect an E-Class wagon to arrive as well. In 2010, Mercedes will build an E350 Bluetec with a high-mileage diesel engine.

Competitors include the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Infiniti M.

Exterior

Though it retains certain basics — namely the quad headlights, lined-and-split grille and hood ornament — the new E-Class charts as radical a departure from its predecessor as Mercedes' entry-level C-Class did two years ago. The headlights have slot-like inboard bezels not unlike Lexus' competing GS sedan, while the outboard portions resemble those on the C-Class. Eyebrow-like fog lights sit in the three-piece lower air dam. In comparison, the taillights seem much more reserved.

Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard. The E350 has oval exhaust pipes; a Sport package adds 18-inch wheels and trapezoidal pipes, among other things. Trapezoidal pipes come standard on the E550. Mercedes says the car's aerodynamics, with a drag coefficient 4 percent better than the old E-Class, trump all other luxury sedans in the world.

Interior

The dashboard's layout mirrors that of Mercedes' GLK SUV, with an attached housing connecting the gauges to a center information display. Mercedes' knob-based Comand interface includes primary controls at hip level, ahead of the center armrest, like the systems in the C-Class and flagship S-Class.

Uplevel options include massaging, bolster-adjustable seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped dash and a panoramic moonroof. Mercedes says the new car's trunk is roughly the same size as its predecessor's — an impressive 15.9 cubic feet, which ties the A6 and beats the 5 Series, M and most other contenders. Optional folding rear seats no longer require you to flip the cushions forward first, a necessary step in the previous E-Class.

Under the Hood

The E350 carries a 268-horsepower V-6, while the E550 has a 382-hp V-8; both engines carry over from last year. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive optional. Mercedes' E63 AMG uses a larger 507-hp V-8. In 2010, expect a diesel-powered E350 Bluetec to deliver the lineup's best gas mileage.

All four engines use a seven-speed automatic transmission. Last year's floor-mounted shifter has been replaced with a column shifter, much like in the S-Class and several Mercedes SUVs.

The standard adaptive suspension alters shock-absorber settings to react to changing road conditions. A sport-tuned version with more dynamic settings is optional. All-wheel-drive models include Mercedes' Airmatic air suspension with driver-adjustable comfort and sport settings.

Safety

Besides antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system, the E-Class has nine standard airbags. Mercedes' Pre-Safe system, also standard, cinches up seat belts, repositions seats and attempts to close the windows and moonroof if it senses an imminent accident. A standard Attention Assist system measures steering behavior and other parameters to intuit driver fatigue. If it does, it emits audible and visual warnings.

Optional automatic high-beam headlights can vary their angle to illuminate 220 to 984 feet of pavement, depending on whether an onboard camera senses any cars ahead. Other options include blind-spot and lane departure warning systems, night vision assist with specific provisions to highlight pedestrians, and automatic emergency braking if forward radar detects an unheeded obstruction.

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