March 27, 2007 - If your historical context of Mercedes-Benz’s E Class is limited to the luxury sedan being Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones’s government-issue transportation in Men in Black II, listen up.
 
You see, despite starring in movies and generally regarded in North America as an aspirational luxury product, the E Class is actually quite ubiquitous. In fact, it’s the bestselling Mercedes worldwide.

One reason is, whether playing the role of luxury sedan, executive limo, Berlin taxi—or film prop—a Mercedes mid-size sedan has been one of the German brand’s core models since the middle of the last century.

It started with the first modern mid-size Mercedes, the 1953—W120 "Ponton" in Mercedes-speak—sold as the 180. Then 1977’s sober yet solid W123 that helped establish the “engineered like no other car” image, followed by the Bruno Sacco chiseled-from-granite 1986 W124.



The current 2007 E Class range is a refreshing of sorts of the 2002 W211, not coincidentally launched the same year as MIB II.

Some of this year’s updates, like the revised front styling, improved adaptive lighting, the addition of the PreSafe anticipatory safety system first seen on the new S Class, and a new sport package, are subtle.

Others—like last year’s E 500 being upgraded with the 382-horsepower 5.5-litre V8 from said S Class (now badged as E 550), an improved E 320 Bluetec diesel, and the E 55 AMG now known the E 63 AMG with the new AMG-engineered 6.2L V8, and a new entry-model E 280 (whew!)—are more substantial.

To get you up-to-speed on the E Class, the well-rounded E 350 4MATIC was recently road tested. As arguably the mid-range trim line in Mercedes’ mid-range model lineup, it’s a good example of the classic, Mercedes mid-size sedan.

With the likes of Acura, BMW, Volvo—and, of course, Audi—offering all-wheel-drive, combined with Canadians fondness for the confidence of power to all four wheels, Mercedes’ own 4MATIC is now standard E Class fare, save for the Bluetec diesel and the ground-pounding E 63 AMG, which remain rear-wheel-drive.



Mercedes 4MATIC distributes torque continuously to the front and rear axles in a ratio of 40 to 60%. Mercedes says what it calls 4ETS (Electronic Traction System) appropriates braking pressure to the wheels with less traction, and at the same time increases the amount of power sent to the wheels with better traction. Effectively, three differential locks.

With two more cylinders, two more litres in displacement, 114 more horsepower, 133 more pound-feet of torque—but also $10,000 more on the price tag—the E 550 is 1.6 seconds quicker then the E 350 from zero to 100 kilometres an hour.

Having said that, most luxury buyers will feel the E 350 gathers speed quickly enough for what they use the car for on a daily basis, with plenty in reserve to pass on the highway. Even with only five gears in the sleek sedan’s automatic gearbox (where other Mercedes have seven), the car never feels strung out or upset, whatever the revs are on the tach.



However, if you do try to drive the Mercedes as a sports sedan, you’ll find a throttle pedal that’s stiff and challenging to modulate. When you want all the E 350’s six can deliver, you’ll need to stomp on the gas harder than you may have thought. When exercised in this fashion, the engine delivers a classy full-throttle growl, but is silent otherwise.

In fact, the engine’s behaviour illustrates the E 350 general behaviour. You know, the strong and silent type?

Even at speeds that an alien ship would have a hard time keeping up with, the big E is quiet, with little wind noise upsetting the driver or occupants.



In most driving situations, the E 350 is a model of stability, comfort and control. Bad pavement is down there somewhere, but you’ll never be as intimate with potholes as a BMW 5 Series owner.

The E 350 does posses very accurate steering, excellent straight ahead stability, and sure stopping brakes.  As the Mercedes is a luxury sedan first, just don’t expect 5 Series handling.

Despite it’s more common status in other parts of the world, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC still delivers what a mid-size Mercedes has always promised: a rock solid and confident demeanor exemplifying Mercedes’ long standing benchmark status in this class.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com



Just the facts...
Build quality
Features 
Performance
Fun-to-drive
Overall value

Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive sedan
Engine: 3.5L DOHC V6
Power: 268 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 258 lb-ft @ 2,00-5,000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manumatic
Tires: P245/55 R17
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Price: base/as tested $74,500/$74,500
Fuel economy L/100 km 12.9 city, 8.8 hwy.
Standard features: Heated front seats, leather heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, tire pressure loss warning system, heated exterior mirrors, power tilt/sliding glass sunroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers with heated windshield washer system, tinted windows.
Options: None.

© National Post 2007. This article originally appeared in The National Post's Driving.