The E-Class offers something for everyone. Solid, safe, comfortable, luxurious, and fast the E-Class is available as a sedan, coupe, wagon, or cabriolet. The E-Class Coupe is a sporty, dynamic coupe with a classic Mercedes-Benz design. The Cabriolet is a soft-top version of the Coupe. The stylish E350 wagon provides outstanding utility and seats for up to seven people. For 2012 Mercedes-Benz has new engines for the E350, E550, and E63 AMG. The rear-wheel drive E550 sedan has been dropped and a E63 AMG rear-wheel drive wagon has been added.
Rear-wheel drive E-Class sedans are available in three models, E350, E63 AMG, and E350 BlueTEC. The E350 and E550 sedans are available with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The E350 wagon is available with 4MATIC all-wheel drive and the rear-wheel drive E63 AMG wagon returns. The E-Class coupes and new cabriolets are available with rear-wheel drive as the E350 and E550. All models include a seven-speed automatic transmission. New for 2012 a 302-hp, 3.5-liter gasoline V6 engine powers the E350. Also new for 2012 the E550 includes a 402-hp, 4.6-liter bi-turbo V8 engine under the hood while the E63 AMG now has a 518-hp, 5.5-liter bi-turbo V8 with AMG speedshift. The E350 BlueTec returns with a 210-hp, 3.0 liter turbocharged and intercooled diesel V6. The sedans seat five, the wagon seats up to seven, while the coupe and cabriolet seat four. Multi-zone climate control is standard and all models come with a lengthy list of standard features.
The 2012 E-class sedan, coupe, and cabriolet carry over from 2011 with new engines. The E350 BlueTEC diesel sedan remains the same. The E350 4MATIC wagon carries over, the E63 AMG wagon is new.
2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class News, Reviews and Awards
Mercedes-Benz' interiors can get a bit overwhelming with all the small buttons scattered about.
This car's interior is truly beautiful.
The car can feel sluggish off the line, forcing one to bury the throttle to get up to speed quickly, but it never loses its composure.
...people for whom driving means staying ahead of everyone else on the road will remain inclined to choose BMW, or some other manufacturer's "ultimate driving machine," over Mercedes-Benz.
Pushed hard, the E-Class displays noticeable body roll, and the brake pedal's soft feel doesn't inspire confidence.
Ride and handling qualities tend to be a bit on the softer side in the Mercedes E350 Wagon, especially compared to the performance-oriented E63 AMG version.
...at lower speeds the power steering was almost imperceptible, and steering was heavy.