There is a somewhat rare breed of car buyer who thinks a car should last as long as they want to keep it. Now, you might only be leasing a Mercedes-Benz E350 for a few years, but isn’t it refreshing to know it was built with the “keeper” type of buyer in mind?
The all-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has more than its share of “wow” features and technology, and it drives with a balance of smoothness and agility that eludes other luxury sedans. However, the first thing you should know about the E350 is that Mercedes engineers approach their jobs as if every buyer would want to keep the car for a good long time.
Here’s why that matters: Mercedes-Benz thinks a luxury car should be so impressive, so capable and so satisfying to own and drive that even people who keep cars for a short time would say, “This is a car I could be happy with for many years.” Just ask the owner of a 10- or even 20-year-old E-Class.
The 2010 E350 (MSRP $49,475) is a stunner. With its angular, sculpted lines, the new look is an eye-catcher and a windcheater. The coefficient of drag (Cd) is an extraordinarily low 0.25 – which is lower than some of those small hybrid cars on the road. Such low wind resistance gives you a quieter ride and better fuel efficiency.
Under that sculpted hood is a 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 teamed with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Seven gears help keep the ultra-smooth engine in its most efficient operating range, whatever the driving situation.
Mercedes-Benz owners talk about the “Mercedes-Benz ride.” If you’ve driven and been impressed by a previous E-Class model, you’ll be amazed that the car company could improve upon it. Standard new luxury-tuned Agility Control suspension uses adaptive shock absorbers that automatically adjust damping force depending on the road surface.
If you prefer a bit more “sport” in your drive, the “Sport Styling Package” sharpens the E350’s lines with sculpted body cladding while also sharpening its handling with sport-tuned Agility Control and 18-inch AMG wheels. Best of all, the package adds zero dollars to the price!
Whether you choose to keep the “Luxury” chassis tuning or go for the “Sport,” you can equip the E350 with the advanced 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. For driving in all kinds of weather, the peace of mind you get with this option is priceless.
Right in tune with the brand’s “built for the long haul” engineering philosophy is the safety quotient of the 2010 E350. Mercedes-Benz has been a safety innovator for decades with structural advancements like crumple zones to offering the first four-wheel stability system (ESP®) 15 years ago.
The E350 offers the brand’s latest thinking in safety, starting with the car’s exemplary structure and 11 standard airbags. NECK-PRO active front head restraints help reduce whiplash injuries in a rear collision. Then, there are features designed to warn you of possible danger and even prepare the car for the worst.
Lane Keeping Assist lets you know – by vibrating the steering wheel – if it detects unintended drifting off-course. The standard PRE-SAFE® system prepares the car for a potential collision by tightening seatbelts and adjusting the seat under heavy braking or if an imminent collision is detected.
Available Night View Assist Plus can help you see obstacles in the dark and can even tell you if they are pedestrians. The optional Distronic radar-based cruise control system can bring the car to a complete stop – on its own – if a possible collision is detected. Optional blind-spot warning is like having extra eyes – behind you. Available Adaptive Highbeam Assist varies the headlamp range continuously to maximize road illumination for you without creating glare for other drivers.
Luxury in the 2010 E350 surpasses the previous model as you would expect it to. A power glass sunroof is standard as are 14-way power front seats, each including four‑way power lumbar support and three‑position memory. The optional multi-contour seats inherit S-Class comfort in the form of two-stage massage backrests.
A cabin as serene and quiet as the E350’s makes the perfect music listening room. Nothing fills it better than the available 610-watt harman/kardon LOGIC7® audio system with Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround-sound plus SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
If you do keep an E350 only for a few years, you’ll be sorry to see it go. That’s just what Mercedes-Benz engineers intended.
