Three Reasons Why The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon is a Great SUV Alternative
October 18 2022,
Ahhh, the venerable station wagon. That plucky body style that mixed the fun-to-drive and efficiency aspects of a car with the practicality of an SUV. Which is actually kind of a backwards way of saying things because wagons were a fixture on North American roads long before SUVs and crossovers were, but we digress.
At Mercedes, however, the wagon game is still strong, and it doesn’t get much stronger than the E 450 4Matic All-Terrain Wagon.
Classy Tough
While the luxurious Mercedes elements remain on the E 450 AT – LED headlights, chrome grille, two-tone alloy wheels, handsomely-sloped roofline, LED taillights – there are a few notable features that give this away as something a little more than just your garden variety grocery-getter. There’s the underfloor skidplates, for example, visible from both the front and back, as well as plastic cladding ‘round the fenders and rocker panels for just that much more visual oomph. Add the fact that you can fit almost as much gear in the tailgate as you can in a GLE SUV, and you’re on a roll.
Air Ride
More than just looking the part, the E 450 AT walks the walk, too, thanks in no small part to the standard fitment of air suspension at all four corners. It partners up with the AT-exclusive Off-Road + drive mode, which automatically raises the suspension, limits your speed and automatically activates hill-descent control. That last feature, meanwhile, is here so when descending a rutted, muddy grade, you can focus on the steering while the system handles the throttle, taction control and braking.
Turbo power
Don’t think, however, that just because there’s a mode that limits the engine’s firepower that this particular E-Class doesn’t have any. Far from it, in fact, thanks to a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six cylinder engine, the E 450 AT is good for 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, fed to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic that comes with a paddle-activated manual mode as standard. Add a 48V mild hybrid system that allows you to cruise using no fuel at all and can also help with launch, and you have a proper powertrain befitting of the Three-Pointed Star adoring the proud grille.
