Few cars offer the variety of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz
E-Class. There are four different body styles, four different engines, two sub
trim levels and a multitude of options. Throw in the similar CLS sedan with its
coupe-style roof and the family grows even further. Yet throughout this family,
there isn't a bad apple in the bunch. Quite the opposite, really, as each
E-Class iteration managed to earn the title Edmunds Recommended in our annual
buyer's guide. Be it sedan, coupe, convertible or wagon, the E-Class is one of
the finest cars on the road.
For 2012, they all get even better.
With the exception of the carryover E350 Bluetec and its V6 turbodiesel, every
E-Class has received a new engine that's more powerful and more economical. The
gasoline-powered E350 now features a direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 that bumps
output up to 302 horsepower from its previous 268. The E550's V8 gets a more
radical change, switching to a turbocharged, smaller-displacement mill that
cranks out 402 hp and 443 pound-feet of torque. This V8 has also been
paired with standard all-wheel drive this year in the sedan package, but
if tire-blazing action is your thing, the E550 coupe and convertible still send
their power rearward.
And let's not forget the
maximum-performance E63 AMG. This year it gets a new engine: a twin-turbo
5.5-liter V8 good for 518 hp (the same as last year) and 516 lb-ft of torque (a
lot more than last year). The E63 AMG Wagon also re-emerges for 2012,
satisfying the small but wonderfully nutty subset of drivers who demand sports
car performance and grocery-getting utility in one high-class package.
Overall, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz
E-Class remains a top choice against a plethora of competitors, including those
from Audi (A5, A6, S5), BMW (3 Series coupe and convertible, 5 Series, M5),
Infiniti (M37 and M56), Jaguar (XF) and Porsche (Panamera). It's hard to argue
against any of these, but the E-Class provides the unmistakable Mercedes
virtues of meticulous engineering and a driving character that strikes a
wonderful balance between responsive performance and handling. If your only
choice is figuring out which of the many E-Class variants to get, we wouldn't
blame you.
