2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review: Specs and Pricing

2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Image: Topgear.com

OVERVIEW

Words like "velvety," "creamy," "buttery," and "smooth" spring to mind when describing a Mercedes-Benz E-class. The E-class family's four-door sedan, two-door coupe, and two-door convertible body types offer opulent comfort and an extensive range of options that let consumers customize their cars to their preferences. Start with the available powertrains: the E350 sedan comes equipped with a 255-horsepower inline-four, while the E450 sedan has a 362-horsepower version of Mercedes' smooth 3.0-liter inline-six.

The sleek coupe and soft-top convertible offer only the E450, six-cylinder version. A sizable portion of luxury features, including a power-adjustable steering column and a glove-compartment cold box, are included with the E-class.

Surprisingly, though, several features you might anticipate being standard in this price range—like leather upholstery and the more advanced Mercedes' driver assistance systems—turn out to be options. The AMG E53's enhanced performance is a good option for those who need to go quickly because the E-class is a calm, comfort-first cruiser. The E-class has always been and still is an attractive option if you're looking for a finely constructed luxury car with a pedigree to match.

What has Changed for 2023?

The only modification to the Mercedes-Benz E-class lineup for the 2023 model year is a modest increase in standard features due to the inclusion of non-Manufacturer metallic paint options in the base pricing.

2023 E-Class: Engine and Performance

Three different engines are paired with an obedient nine-speed automatic transmission in every E-class. The four-cylinder turbo engine in the E350 generates 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Either rear- or all-wheel drive can be paired with it. An inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine with a 48-volt hybrid technology that serves as an electric supercharger powers the E450 versions. The engine's output is 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

Depending on the body type, different wheels receive power: Mercedes's 4Matic all-wheel drive system and rear-drive options are both available for the E350 sedan. All-wheel drive is the only option for the E450 sedan. You can choose between rear-drive and 4Matic all-wheel drive when driving an E450 coupe or cabriolet (convertible). The E- classes handling is competent but not sporty because it is a vehicle geared more toward comfort. When pushed hard, it leans in awkward places but rarely seems overpowered.

The E-class is ideal for consuming a lot of roads since the ride is smooth when the optional air suspension is set to Comfort. It glides over pavement cracks while barely letting the cabin know about these annoying things. The steering is pleasantly weighted—not too light, nor too heavy—and feels accurate when the drive-mode choice is set to Comfort or Eco. The E-class maintains a straight line on the motorway with a stable and predictable nature, with minimal road noise.

2023 E-Class: Interior and Comfort

The interior of the E-class is exquisitely finished with stunning wood, brushed aluminum, and some of the most comfortable seats we've ever tried. Every model includes heated front seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, adjustable ambient inside lighting, and memory settings for the driver and front passenger seats as standard equipment. A head-up display, massaging front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and ventilated front seat cushions are desirable extras.

Despite having a smaller trunk than some of its competitors, the Benz outperforms them when it comes to internal cubby storage. Although the rear seatbacks may be lowered to greatly increase cargo capacity, they do not totally fold flat, making it difficult to transport large objects. Even with the back seats folded, we were still able to accommodate 18 pieces of carry-on luggage inside the vehicle.

Both the coupe and convertible variants come with a 10-cubic-foot trunk; however, the cabriolet model's usable space is significantly smaller when the top is down. With the top down on the convertible, we could only fit two carry-on bags in the trunk, but the coupe could accommodate five.

2023 E-Class: Connectivity

The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes standard with the E-class can be operated in a variety of ways, including voice commands and a touchpad on the center console. The interface is less simple to use than its predecessor's, which had a handy rotary controller in the center console, despite the abundance of controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included as standard with the MBUX system. A strong Burmester sound and wireless charging are upgrades for those seeking finer amenities.

2023 E-Class: Pricing

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class luxury car's MSRP starting price for 2023 is $55,750 for the Sedan, $67,500 for the Coupe, $69,400 for the Wagon, and $74,650 for the Cabriolet Convertible. Additionally, each model's price has increased by about $1,000 between the 2022 and 2023 E-Classes.

Which one to Purchase?

The sedan body design, with its powerful six-cylinder engine and standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, is what we advise. We also support the E450 trim level. It includes passive entry, heated front seats with memory settings, a fully digital dashboard, blind-spot monitoring, and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. We would also include the ventilated front-seat cushions, heated steering wheel, optional air suspension, head-up display, multi-contour front seats, and optional heated air suspension.