2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan Test Drive

Midlife Crisis Averted

Mercedes-Benz prolongs the appeal of its midsize E-Class Sedan with some subtle but effective updates.

Competition is a healthy influence that not even uppity Mercedes-Benz can afford to ignore. Freshened for 2007, the E-Class combines minor visual changes with significant powertrain and chassis upgrades.

There’s more power and performance available in the new 5.5-liter V8, and the previous electronic brakes have been replaced by a more conventional — and hopefully less trouble-prone — system with a more equitable blend of hydraulics and electronics. Interior fixes apply to steering wheel, shift lever and climate control details. New bumpers, headlamps and taillamps update the exterior.

Safety is improved by incorporating new active headrests, which move forward during a rear impact, and the implementation of Mercedes-Benz’s PreSafe system, which tensions seat belts and readies airbags for quicker deployment when certain dynamic conditions signal the likelihood of a crash. Taken as a whole, this is a worthwhile mid-season tune-up of the alpha member of the midsize luxury sedan pack.

For those interested in alternative motoring, the E-Class offers various choices beyond the basic E350 V6 and the E550 V8: a fuel-sipping E320 Bluetec diesel, the E63 AMG super sport edition that packs 507 hp as well as two wagons.

Exterior

The basic Mercedes-Benz face — oval lamps with a rounded trapezoidal grille — is the same, but visual appearance is improved by resculpting major features. Main lamp louvers are new; the lower lamps are more prominent; the bumper surfaces are more neatly integrated; and leading surfaces are beveled into a subtle V shape.

Gentle waves in the body panels migrate out and back from frontal elements like ripples in a pond. Significantly larger taillamps add a more confident presence to the rear. The net effect is still instantly recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz, but not necessarily as the newest kid on the sport sedan block.

Interior

The inner ambience is established by standard burl-walnut wood trim and controls aimed at helping instead of intimidating the driver. All materials and trim are substantial-feeling; tidy French seams in the console and door trim areas add an elegant touch. Chrome accents, bright dial backgrounds and light leather hues also warm the mood. Fuel and temperature gauges in a thermometer motif soften the sport sedan edge a touch.

Climate controls are mounted high for ready visibility; that extends the reach somewhat, but with automatic dual-zone controls, it’s possible to drive through all four seasons with minimal setting changes.

Door-mounted buttons to adjust the seat position mimic the shape and motion of the 10-way adjustable front seats; an eminently logical arrangement that Mercedes-Benz invented and which other manufacturers now use. An elegant tambour-type sliding console door keeps the cup holders out of sight when they’re not in use. A compact drawer adjacent to the glove box is the ideal cell-phone receptacle.

A clever gimmick Mercedes-Benz calls Keyless Go allows you to leave the ignition key in your pocket when you don’t feel like plugging it into its assigned socket in the dash. Touching a button atop the shift lever rouses the engine at the beginning of a trip and shuts it down upon arrival. The doors automatically unlock/lock when you approach or leave the car.

Like most high-end sedans, the E-Class can be equipped with a mind-boggling array of electronic gear, including a concert hall sound system with satellite radio reception, hands-free cell phone and DVD-based navigation. Instead of BMW’s controversial iDrive mouse-type controller, what Mercedes-Benz calls “Comand” is operated by means of 35 tiny buttons arrayed around a central display screen. The buttons are multifunctional, with their labels appearing in the display according to the menu selected. It’s actually less intimidating than it sounds and reasonably easy to use, but occasional references to the thick operating manual are necessary to decode Comand’s inner secrets.

The handiest E-Class optional feature is an item that requires no homework whatsoever: a split-folding rear seat which should be standard but isn’t. The pittance it costs — $310 — will soon be forgotten while the convenience and versatility of adjustable cargo space lasts the life of the car.