As an automobile reviewer, my job is to drive and evaluate cars in the most objective way possible. But try as I might, I can’t help but form opinions about some cars even before the keys are handed to me. This new E280 4Matic from Mercedes-Benz is a case in point. Here, Mercedes has taken its mid-sized sedan - not a small car by any standard – added its slick all-wheel drive system and then saddled it with a smaller engine than last year’s base E-Class.
Mercedes is known for calibrating their cars’ throttle response for a smooth, sedate ride (read: lazy), making them feel more sluggish than they really are. So I had some legitimate concerns that this one really would be gutless, a word nobody who just dropped $70K on their new status symbol wants to hear. But it turns out my fears were unfounded and this is one car that defies its engine size and power ratings to be a well-rounded, if a bit stuffy, luxury sedan.
I won’t say that this is a sprightly car. It, like all other Benzes, requires some poking and prodding with a heavy right foot to get it going. Steering response is direct but slow, again to keep passengers at ease, and the high-effort steering wheel filters out road imperfections to the point of isolation. These aren’t flaws or faults with the car, but rather how things are done in Stuttgart: Class. Elegance. Sophistication. This is how it’s done.
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