Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

If the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was the only set of cars to wear that famous badge, the company’s reputation would still be mightily impressive. The E-Class encompasses a luxury midsize sedan, coupe and cabriolet (convertible) variants, high-performance AMG versions, and the E 450 All-Terrain — a wagon with some SUV/crossover attitude, like the Audi Allroad and Volvo Cross Country models.

They’re all built on the same solid platform that provides plenty of refinement and safety, and they offer some of the most advanced automotive technology available. It could also be argued that every variant looks pretty darn desirable, too. Any E-Class is a special car, even in the rich context of this luxury midsize category.

It isn’t a question of getting used to how a 2022 E-Class drives. This Mercedes-Benz can be almost any machine the driver wants it to be. Even the standard E 350 sedan has a well-calibrated balance of poise and compliance.

Adjust the available adaptive air suspension for the ideal passenger-pleaser in Comfort mode. Or set it to Sport and take the interesting roads. The E-Class Cabriolet variant, meanwhile, can be a relaxed cruiser on a coastal highway or, in AMG form, a focused bruiser on a race track.

We have a special fondness for the inline-6 engine in the E 450 models. This configuration is naturally smoother than a V6, while the extra push from the electric motor is always a good thing.

On the subject of AMG models, these really are incredible. They can be breathtakingly fast and precise on a track, yet remain utterly civilized and laid-back in traffic.

Climb into any 2022 E-Class and you will be greeted by a cabin that’s plush and clearly upmarket, but not overdone. The dashboard houses a standard-issue twin-screen driver information panel/infotainment system display.

After a short time, though, more details start filtering through. Things like the little control touchpads on the steering wheel, the deeply comfortable seats, perhaps the optional heated armrests, and the overall quality of materials. Even the standard simulated leather upholstery is nice.

In sedan form, there’s plenty of occupant space front and rear, even if the Audi A6 has more rear legroom (37.4 inches, compared with 35.8 in the E-Class). Four adults can also fit in the Coupe and Cabriolet models, but these cars exist mainly for the enjoyment of those up front.

Trunk space in the sedan measures 13.1 cubic feet — a little below average for this category, but easily enough for three sets of golf clubs. The big cargo haulers of the E-Class are the E 450 All-Terrain and AMG E 63 S wagon, both offering a maximum of 64 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The All-Terrain also has an extra pair of stowable seats in the back, raising the occupant count to seven if necessary.

Check out an E-Class from a few generations ago and it could be argued that it still holds up aesthetically. Whatever visual pluses and minuses the 2022 E-Class range of cars might have for any particular beholder, there’s a good chance this generation (which debuted for 2017, but received a refresh last year) will do the same. Whether it’s a sedan, coupe, cabriolet, or wagon.

Mercedes-Benz draws a definite distinction between the regular and AMG models. The high-performance cars have their own front-end design with a large 3-pointed star set into a grille containing vertical slats.

The E 450 All-Terrain has a slightly raised suspension, along with some plastic cladding along the sides and “skid plates” at either end, to emulate the SUV/crossover look. The standard adaptive air suspension can extend ground clearance even more.

MBUX INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
MBUX is short for Mercedes-Benz User Experience. This user-friendly infotainment setup is one half of the huge display unit on the dashboard. It responds well to voice commands given in natural speech and can act like a digital assistant. Just say, “Hey, Mercedes” then ask things like “find the nearest coffee shop.”

AIR BODY CONTROL
An adaptive air suspension is optional in the E 350 and E 450 models (the exception being the All-Terrain, which has it as standard), with a sport-tuned version included with every AMG version. It does virtually everything — enhancing comfort, virtually eliminating body lean through corners, and adjusting ride height. All these things are accomplished in milliseconds and vary according to the conditions of the moment.

Every 2022 E-Class comes with a substantial amount of standard equipment. The E 350 sedan has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, keyless entry/ignition, selectable driving modes, heated front seats, memory settings for the front seats, 64-color ambient lighting, and a parking damage detector.

There’s also a large twin-screen display, each measuring 12.3 inches diagonally yet combined into one unit. One is for driver information (it’s configurable), the other is an infotainment touchscreen for a system that also includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration and navigation.

Safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams (new this year), and Crosswind Assist.

The coupes and cabriolets come with even more stuff, like wireless charging, Burmester surround-sound system, parking assistance, and a 360-degree camera system. The E 450 Cabriolet also adds sun-reflecting leather upholstery and neck-heating vents in the front seats.

AMG models enhance their powerful engines with sport-tuned adaptive air suspensions as standard.

Regardless of which new E-Class model a buyer chooses, there is a veritable cornucopia of extras. How about heated/ventilated/massaging front seats, cabin air/ionization/fragrance system, self-parking feature, carbon fiber cabin trim, augmented reality for the navigation system, adaptive air suspension, partial autonomy, head-up display, powered rear window shade, and gesture control?

A Premium package for the E 350 sedan adds satellite radio, self-parking, 360-degree camera system, rear cross-traffic alert, and the Burmester surround-sound system. Which is worth $2,300 of anyone’s money.

A Track Pace package is offered with the AMG versions, for recording laps and telemetry, and accessing information on many circuits.

The E 350 sedan has the humblest engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit making 255 horsepower. A 9-speed automatic transmission is the next step, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard, or all-wheel drive (AWD) on the options list.

Whenever there’s an E 450 badge on the tail, there’s a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 in the engine bay developing 362 horsepower. This is augmented by a mild hybrid system — essentially a small electric motor that helps the engine reach its peak output, creates a smooth stop/restart action and runs a few things like the fuel pump.

Once again, a 9-speed automatic handles the transmission duties. All-wheel drive is standard in the sedan and E 450 All-Terrain wagon, although the coupe and cabriolet start out with this engine and rear-wheel drive.

This same 6-cylinder/mild hybrid is also in the 2022 Mercedes-AMG E 53 variants but boosted to 429 horsepower. An AMG-tuned all-wheel-drive system is standard in every E 53, along with an AMG-tuned 9-speed automatic transmission.

In every instance, premium gasoline is required.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (E 350, E 350 4Matic)
255 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg (RWD), 21/29 mpg (AWD)

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (E 450 sedan, E 450 All-Terrain, E 450 Coupe & Cabriolet)
362 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg (RWD Coupe & Cabriolet), 21/30 mpg (AWD Coupe), 23/30 mpg (sedan), 22/29 mpg (AWD Cabriolet), 21/28 mpg (All-Terrain)

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (E 53 AMG sedan, Coupe & Cabriolet)
429 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
384 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-5,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg (sedan), 20/28 mpg (Coupe), 20/27 mpg (Cabriolet)