2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC: The Luxury Benchmark's New Clothes

Playing it safe is a popular option in the luxury game.  In fact, premium brands seem to vacillate between the two poles of 'extreme' and 'bland' when it comes to making changes to well-established products.  The first option keeps customers from getting too bored with a particular vehicle, while the second prevents them from being frightened away by the unfamiliar.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been given a surprisingly thorough redesign in the middle of its current lifecycle, one that doesn’t just address styling and feature content but also introduces several new drivetrain choices.  I was able to sample what will be the bread-and-butter of the E-Class line-up – the Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC – and came away with the sense that the German brand had borrowed a bit from each of the above playbooks in an effort to remain the go-to choice in the mid-size luxury sedan market.

Sharp, But Not Razor-Sharp

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC can be easily recognized when placed alongside last year’s model by way of the not-insubstantial tweaks that have been made to its bodywork.  First and foremost is a revised front fascia, which displays not only single-housing rather than dual headlights but also a large Silver Star set into the grille of my AMG Sport package car (it’s also possible to get the traditional hood ornament).  The vehicle’s rear fenders have been slimmed, and the overall effect is one that introduces a more aerodynamic, sharp-edged look for the sedan that doesn’t cross the line into high performance territory.

From the inside, what’s most impressive about the E350 4MATIC is how it seems to almost wrap around the driver without introducing the sensation of claustrophobia.  The car simply feels narrower than its exterior proportions would suggest when seated behind the wheel, and yet there is plenty of room afforded to both front and rear passengers, along with an impressive amount of leather (simulated and otherwise) and wood trim.

The E-Class still features the same uninteresting gauge panel design that plagues all Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but information is transmitted clearly and with little complication.  The COMAND interface, which consists of a rotary controller on the center console that serves as the primary point of contact between the driver and the vehicle’s entertainment and communications features, is somewhat more complicated but no less useful.  My one complaint about the E350 4MATIC’s interior amenities has to do with the flip switches that manage the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning: they feel cheaper than one would expect in such an expensive automobile.

Potent Power, Diluted Road Feel

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC comes equipped with a 302 horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine that serves as the middle child in the sedan’s drivetrain family, sandwiched between a four-cylinder turbodiesel (E250) and a twin-turbocharged V8 (E550).  Also capable of generating 273 lb-ft of torque, the six-cylinder unit is matched with a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (the source of the 4MATIC badge on the trunk).  Despite these seemingly modest figures, the E350 is a pleasingly quick automobile, particularly if one loads up the engine’s torque converter off the line in order to enjoy a burst of acceleration that will satisfy the vast majority of drivers.  The vehicle’s transmission is set to ‘Eco’ mode on start-up, with a console-mounted button for nudging it into ‘Sport’ to enjoys snappier shifts and better throttle response.  Irritatingly, the automatic engine start/stop feature must be disabled independently of Eco mode, which leads to the unusual situation of the motor turning itself off at a red light with the car set to Sport.  Throw in the fact that the engine start isn’t particularly smooth or rapid and it’s easy to become frustrated with this particular design conceit.

True performance sedan mavens, however, needn’t concern themselves with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC because delivering driving thrills simply isn’t what this car was intended to do. It’s quite a comfortable ride in all manner of conditions, be they wet, dry, rough, or smooth, but its steering feels quite disconnected in Eco mode and improves only slightly in the Sport position.  Not of a lot of feedback makes it through the E350’s front wheels to the driver, and the strong grip provided by its all-wheel drive system deadens things that much further.  This car is pure cruiser, a task that it executes exceptionally well, and it comes with a host of active safety features (especially compared to the 2013 model year) that keep occupants that much more secure as they travel to their final destination.

Serious Appeal For The Luxury Set

There’s no doubt in my mind that the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC will continue to find an avid audience amongst existing Mercedes-Benz customers, as it does all of the things expected of the German brand with military-like precision.  The vehicle’s new styling direction and enhanced equipment list may also pull in a fresh batch of customers, albeit those who can get past the car’s heady $66,800 starting price.

Although the E350 might not stand out in terms of personality or design, it really doesn’t have to – after all, it’s the middle child of an increasingly large sedan family.  If you want a more efficient, but just as comfortable version of the E-Class then you can opt for the frugal turbodiesel E250, and if power is your concern then the E550 or the all-out E63 AMG both pack a bigger punch in the engine department.  Mass appeal often means sacrificing individuality, but in the case of the E350 4MATIC, it’s an exchange that has been made to benefit the greater good.