Inside Line drove the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec and was very impressed. Here is a quote that just about tells it all
"In some respects the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec renders the company's E350 redundant. It offers a similar driving experience at a similar price, and in the bargain you get the Bluetec's bladder-busting 700-plus-mile range, and much better fuel economy. Neither one is a hard-core back-road burner, so if you've got a $50-grand craving for an E-Class and live in the right state, we say skip the E350 altogether in favor of the Bluetec. By nearly any measure, the Bluetec acquits itself as the entry-level E-Class of choice."
Here is another interesting tidbit
"The comparison of the gasoline E350 to the diesel Bluetec draws similar parallels among hybrids, but with a startlingly different outcome. For example, the $55,615 hybrid Lexus GS 450h is rated at 25/28 city/hwy mpg. It shares its V6 engine with the $44,865 GS 350, rated at 21/29 mpg. Adjusted for differences in standard equipment, the hybrid commands a premium of $8,565 over the GS 350. But since the hybrid only saves $150 per year in fuel costs, it will take 57 years to recoup the purchase price difference. Use real-world fuel economy numbers, and a solely economic argument for opting for the hybrid gets even feebler."
Click the link for the complete review and more photos.
Read Article