Car and Driver - USA (2020-05)

70 MAY 2020 ~ CAR AND DRIVER

smaller and lighter crossover’s innovative

variable-compression-ratio four-cylinder

engine. Plus, the E’s large 2 1.1-gallon fuel

tank enabled impressive cruising range,

with a few drivers exceeding 500 -mile high-

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Wafting along in the serene comfort

of the E-class’s posh cabin proved to be a

soothing, almost therapeutic experience.

It turns out that there’s nothing that eases

the stress of a cold, dark wintry commute

quite like sitting in a massaging seat with

your arm supported by a gently heated arm-

rest while a supple suspension soaks up the

worst stretches of Michigan’s awful roads.

And while the E-class may not encourage

you to hustle through corners, it’s a more

than competent handler, bolstered by its

respectable 0. 91 g of grip on the skidpad and

short 70 -to-zero-mph stopping distance of

152 feet (though both those numbers got

slightly worse when we tested the Mercedes

with 40 , 000 miles on the odometer).

We appreciated the wagon’s lower center

of gravity compared with the many SUVs in

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to transport our kids and pets. Its practical

yet classy milieu was a welcome relief from

the monotony of lifted suspensions, tall

body styles, and black plastic cladding. There

is a generous 35 cubic feet of cargo space

behind the rear seats and up to 64 cubic feet

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dition of station wagons, there’s even a set of

rear-facing jump seats that fold out of the cargo

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two kids in a pinch or a single adult C/D `aNßR_

who’s willing to put up with a bit of discomfort

on a quick lunch run (to anywhere other than

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some real digging, even from our merry band

of nit-pickers. One driver took issue with the

dinky steering-wheel-mounted column shifter,

and another felt jilted after the seat massagers

automatically deactivated after 15 minutes of

relaxation. The Comand infotainment system

supports the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

phone-mirroring systems, but the lack of a

touchscreen makes it somewhat awkward to

operate them; drivers must use the central con-

trol knob to select icons.

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diminish our admiration of this luxurious, ele-

gant conveyance. The Mercedes lent a sense of

occasion to mundane commutes and also served

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research editor Beth Nichols made sure to

secure the keys to the wagon for her own wed-

ding. That’s true love.

Our long-term evaluations are, at their core,

a test of whether that new-car shine holds up

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wagon only grew the more time we spent with it.

This is one of the few times you’ll catch us saying

that 40 , 000 miles wasn’t enough.

Proof that it’s not

all about horsepower

and speed here:

Our drivers rarely

yearned for the

603 - hp E6 3 S wagon.

Rants

and

Raves

While driving it,
I could swear I
saw tiny green
embroidered whales
appear on my
khakis. The thing
was always
pointing itself in
the direction of
Petoskey, Sag
Harbor, Newport.
—EDDIE ALTERMAN

Who needs the GLC
when you can just
activate the wagon’s
air springs to raise
the ride height?
—ERIC STAFFORD

Someone with
money at this office
needs to buy this.
—AUSTIN IRWIN

It’s everything
you’d want in
a luxury wagon.
—ANNIE WHITE