2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain

Overview

Formerly known as the E-class station wagon, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain delivers SUV-like practicality with a more elegant overall design and carlike ride and handling. Sitting on an adjustable air suspension, the E450 All-Terrain can navigate many of the same obstacles as your average crossover and its 362-hp turbocharged inline-six engine provides more than enough grunt to satisfy lead-footed drivers. The cabin is downright posh and comes standard with a rear-facing third row of seats if you need room for more than five riders. While we prefer the simpler look of the E-class wagon to the All-Terrain’s faux-rugged design, we understand why Mercedes took the car in this direction, as rivals such as the Audi A6 Allroad and the Volvo V90 Cross Country are popular for a similar blend of wagon usefulness and adventurous styling.

What’s New for 2023?

Besides metallic paint becoming a standard feature for 2023, the E-class All-Terrain station wagon rolls into the new year with no significant changes.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

E450 4Matic All-Terrain

$72,300

There’s only one trim offered for the E450 All-Terrain, but there are many options and packages to choose from, all of which really ratchets up the luxury. If you aren’t careful, the price of this wagon can quickly get out of hand, but we’d still suggest splurging on the massaging front seats, the Driver Assistance package, and the Premium package.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The E-class All-Terrain is offered with just one engine: a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 362 horsepower and is assisted by a 48-volt hybrid system. All-wheel drive is standard. At our test track, it needed just 4.4 seconds to blast to 60 mph. While we expected the E450 All-Terrain to deliver similar ride and handling dynamics as the outgoing E450 wagon, the transition to a higher ride height and four-corner air suspension has introduced some skittishness to the wagon’s handling. Bumps in the road are more pronounced than they were before, and overall it appears that on-road refinement has taken a step back.

More on the E-Class All-Terrain Station Wagon

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

According to the EPA, the E-class wagon’s fuel-economy estimates are 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the E450 All-Terrain delivered 29 mpg. For more information about the E-class wagon’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside its luxurious cabin, the E-class wagon offers plenty of room for both people and cargo as well as a few surprises. There’s a stowable, rear-facing third-row seat and an optional scent diffuser with a Benz-specific fragrance. Fit and finish are top-notch, and the cabin materials are appropriately upscale. The base seats are covered in a simulated leather so convincing you’d think it was the real thing, but genuine leather is optional. You get your pick of a variety of interior color themes and five open-pore, glossy, or pinstriped wood trims. The upside of the E-class wagon’s longroof body—besides its handsome good looks—is ample cargo space. With its rear seats folded, we crammed 24 of our carry-on suitcases inside—proof that a station wagon is just as practical as a crossover SUV. However, interior cubby storage is average for the segment, and the bin under the cargo floor is too shallow to be of much use.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

With a widescreen infotainment display, standard navigation, and plenty of connectivity, the E-class wagon is a technology showcase for the Mercedes-Benz brand. The sophisticated MBUX infotainment interface is displayed on a large, high-resolution 12.3-inch screen that is tucked into the dashboard above four round climate-control vents. Navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates is standard, as are Bluetooth phone and audio streaming with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB connectivity. The system is controlled by a rotary knob and an accompanying touchpad located on the center console.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning are both standard. A more advanced suite of driver-assistance features is offered—including a semi-autonomous driving mode—but it costs a pretty pfennig. For more information about the E-class wagon’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mercedes-Benz offers a four-year warranty with a 50,000-mile limit across the board but does not include any scheduled maintenance visits. Other rivals match and exceed this coverage. Prepaid maintenance plans are available, however, through Mercedes dealers nationwide.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain

VEHICLE TYPE

front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED

$87,635 (base price: $68,595)

ENGINE TYPE

turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement

183 in3, 3000 cm3

Power

362 hp @ 6100 rpm

Torque

369 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm

TRANSMISSION

9-speed automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink

Brakes (F/R): 14.2-in vented, cross-drilled disc/14.2-in vented disc

Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 RunOnFlat, F: 245/40R-20 99Y MOExtended R: 275/35R-20 102Y MOExtended

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 115.7 in

Length: 194.8 in

Width: 73.7 in

Height: 58.9 in

Passenger volume: 98 ft3

Cargo volume: 35 ft3

Curb weight: 4585 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 4.4 sec

100 mph: 11.5 sec

Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.3 sec

Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec

Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec

1/4 mile: 13.1 sec @ 106 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 128 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft

Braking, 100–0 mph: 339 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.89 g

Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 20 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/city/highway: 24/22/28 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs