1996-2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Road Test

All E-Class sedans are more athletic than most luxury 4-door models, if not so nimble as, say, a 5-Series BMW or Lexus GS. Steering is firm and precise, body lean modest in hard cornering. The taut suspension provides a comfortable highway ride and smothers most bumps and ruts around town. Silence is another virtue, so these sedans cruise quietly at highway speeds. Space is ample for four adults in any E-Class sedan, though a bulky transmission tunnel precludes true long-distance comfort for the person in the center rear position. All models offer good cargo capacity, flat load floors, large trunk openings, and low liftovers. The wagon's third seat easily folds flush with the cargo deck, but it's sized more for youngsters than grownups. The E-Class pilot gets good visibility from a comfortable, easily tailored driver's position. Gauges and controls are well-designed and well laid out, though markings on too many of the switches are not obvious. Acceleration is satisfying even in the Turbodiesel model, and brisk in the E320, which uses a smooth and responsive 6-cylinder gas engine. Moving up a notch, a recent E430 delivers stirring highway passing power. The automatic transmission downshifts promptly to deliver strong passing response. Fuel mileage is best with a diesel. An E320 sedan with the inline gas six got a so-so average of 21.1 mpg, with more than half the driving on highways. The V8 E420 amounts to a Teutonic muscle car, but it gets quite thirsty for fuel. Workmanship, as expected, is top-notch.

Value for the Money
With its exceptional quality and strong performance, the E-Class deserves strong consideration among premium sedans. Best choice for value is the E320. With any model, high resale values translate to hefty prices on the used-car market.