Although the E-Class first appeared in the United States in 1994, Mercedes-Benz has a long history of midsize luxury cars that started with the W120 Ponton in 1953. The German automaker continued to produce midsize cars with the same naming system until 1993, when the new E-Series system was introduced. Regardless of the change in names, Mercedes-Benz’s midsize luxury cars have always been one of the best in the market due to their great combination of luxury, performance, and safety. Add to this the brand popularity of Mercedes-Benz, and it comes as no surprise to see a lot of luxury buyers opt for an E-Class.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is part of a redesigned generation that began in 2009. It too offers the level of convenience and luxury that would be expected from a car of its class, along the usual German engineering and craftsmanship.
New For 2013
The E350, the E550, and the E63 AMG received new powertrains for 2012, and all E-class models got a new steering wheel with standard shift paddles. The only change for 2013 is an upgrade to the second-generation telematics service, Mbrace2. There are rumors that Mercedes is rushing a redesign to address buyers’ cold reception of the E-class’s odd styling. Expect that car to arrive in the 2014 model year.
Exterior
The headlights of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are often the first thing that is noticeable about the car. Modified in 2009, the E-Class‘s headlights have slot-like inboard bezels and outboard portions that resemble those of the C-Class. The thin fog lights are located on a three-piece lower air dam.
The rear end of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class looks very reserved and conservative in comparison to the front end. The E550 has trapezoidal exhaust pipes and the E350 has oval ones, but otherwise the rear fascia looks the same in both models.
Standard exterior features for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, power tilt/sliding sunroof, automatic wipers, and auto-dimming driver side mirrors.
The wagon version of the E-Class has a rear air suspension. Optional features include adaptive bi-xenon headlights with automatic high beams and washers, keyless entry and ignition, and a power trunk lid.
Interior & Cargo
The cabin of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a very somber look with angular architecture, dark wood trim and monotone color schemes. A lot of aspects in its design are a throwback to the design themes from previous models.
Whether the car is a sedan, coupe, convertible, or station wagon, the basic design of the cabin remains the same. However, the coupe and convertible models do get console-mounted electric gear selectors, while the sedan and station wagon get column-mounted selectors.
Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND interface is available on all models of the E-Class. This interface, which combines a control knob, dash-mounted physical buttons, and a large touchscreen, is a little difficult to understand at first. However, it becomes easy to use after getting over the learning curve.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class also has an updated mbrace telematics system for integrating a smartphone with the car. This system also offers web-based applications that include emergency services, driver monitoring, and remote controls.
Irrespective of the body type, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offers a respectable amount of space and comfort for its class. The seats are firm and supportive for long drives, but not at the cost of comfort. The sedan has a spacious rear bench which is similar to those in the BMW 5-Series.
The two-door coupe and convertible get sport seats up front that offer firm support for quick cornering. Both can carry up to four people, and the rear seats are spacious enough for passengers of average height. Tall passengers, however, may find the convertible’s rear seats to be too cramped.
Cargo space is best in the E-Class station wagon, which offers a maximum of 57 cubic feet of space along with a rear-facing third-row seat. The cargo space in the sedan is average for its class, and the same can be said for the coupe and convertible.
Safety
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is fitted with nine standard airbags along with anti-lock brakes, traction control, and an electronic stability system. The standard airbags include front side airbags, front pelvic airbags, driver knee airbag, and side curtain airbags.
The car also gets the mbrace emergency telematics service, pre-collision automatic braking, and an Attention Assist system that measures parameters like steering behavior to sense driver fatigue.
All models come with Mercedes-Benz’s Pre-Safe system, which repositions seats, cinches seat belts, and closes the moonroof and windows if it senses an imminent accident.
Other additional safety features in the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class include optional night vision, blind spot and lane departure warning systems, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Driving Experience
All models of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have a seven-speed, automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive system. Only the station wagon gets a four-wheel drive system instead.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 has a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine that delivers 302 horsepower 273 lb-ft of torque. The E550 gets a twin-turbocharged, 4.6-liter, V-8 engine that delivers 402 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. The E63 AMG model gets a twin-turbocharged, 5.5-liter, V-8 engine that delivers 518 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. With the optional Performance Package, the output can be increased to 550 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.
Overall, the E-Class offers exceptional handling capabilities without losing out on ride quality. It gives the driver great confidence, regardless of the road surface and situation. It does lack the athleticism of its competitors, but it has a great selection of strong engines and very responsive steering.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Audi A6
- BMW 5-Series
- Infiniti M
- Lexus GS