From the January/February 2026 issue of Car and driver.
It’s a hyperkinetic world and it seems like you have to make a lot of noise to get noticed. However, the Mercedes-Benz E450 sedan and wagon bypass the static and offer true purpose and grace rather than hyperbole and headline-generating numbers that will be surpassed tomorrow.
This isn’t exactly a shocking revelation, as the E-class has been using the same strategy with each new generation for decades: introducing improvements on every front, but guiding the effort by the goal of achieving holistic balance.
That’s not to say the E450 ignores performance. Both body styles rely on a smooth turbocharged inline-six making 375 hp, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Both rushed to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds – despite the 121-pound weight penalty, a small gravity tax to pay for that graceful long-roof profile.
The chassis favors balance and comfort over racetrack intensity, but doesn’t completely fail when presented with top-diving inputs. Get it right and you’ll be rewarded with smooth, precise movements through the turns.
The cosseted, optional leather-trimmed cabin features high-quality materials and the fit and finish you’d expect from a luxury car. The seats gently envelop the occupants, making them feel, as editor-in-chief Elana Scherr noted, “like Venus on a half scale.” The softness of the headrest on your occiput enhances the feeling.
Technology is unavoidable, represented here by a large touchscreen and a steering wheel full of haptic buttons – the latter can be a little fiddly. The rest of the car is set up in such a way that we would almost exchange the touchscreen for an old-fashioned climate control with three dials and a Becker radio.
Cheesy nostalgia aside, the current E450 can’t entirely escape a spiritual bond with its Mercedes sedan forebears; yes, it’s faster, quieter and improved in every way, but it has the same warm, balanced familiarity that made the E-class a benchmark so long ago.
There have been some moments of doubt along its journey, but the current E450 has once again found its happy place, earning it a spot on this year’s 10Best list as a cohesive, fully finished package that offers satisfaction, opulence and driving pleasure in equal measure.
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Specifications
Mercedes Benz E450
Base: $73,550
Power: 375 hp
CD TEST RESULTS
100 km/h: 4.4 sec
1/4 mile: 13.0 sec
Top speed: 190-200 km/h
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined: 25 mpg
Andrew Wendler brings decades of writing, authoring and editorial experience across numerous media Car and driver. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Car and driver, Esquire, Forbes, Hot Rod, Motortrend, MPH, MSN, And Popular mechanics, among others. He is a Rust Belt native and tireless supporter of the region. He grew up immersed in automotive, maritime and aviation culture. A lifetime of practical experience and a healthy dose of skepticism provide him with the tools to deliver honest and informative news, reviews and editorial perspective. Note that he once won a $5 bet by walking the entire length of the elevated People Mover track that encircles downtown Detroit.
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