[MRM]

The 2012 and later Mercedes E350 has a 300 HP engine that is quite stout. It was the equal of my 2011 BMW 535. I never wanted for power with it. We have taken our 2012 to DE with the local BMW club. It is a lot of fun and does way more than expected. The instructors seemed impressed. The 535 felt sportier, but I can't say it was any faster.

Mercedes updated the E Class to the E 300 and E 400 and eliminated the E550. In my opinion the E300 is underpowered. More recently the E300 has been rebadged as the E350 and the E400 is the E450. The new E350 is a nice car but still a little underpowered. The 300 HP E350 are more than adequate and what you'd expect of a car at that level. The E400/450s are about half way between the E350 and the old E550 in performance. The 2020 and earlier E450 does 0-60 in something like 4.5 seconds and the refreshed 2021 model does it in 4.2 or something like that. So the performance is quite stout.

The newer E400/450s come with variable drive modes, economy, luxury, sport and sport+. In sport the car comes alive and does its best AMG imitation.

We have decided that as far as bang for the buck goes, we will try to buy recent model E Class cars in good condition and keep them a long time. You get a car that's fun to drive and comfortable to ride in that looks nice and feels good for a long time. It's worked for us so far. The 2008 went to a good home with well over 100,000 on it. The 535 went to the same family with 140,000 on the clock. We still have the 2012 E350 with 100,000 on it and it still oks almost new. We'll keep it several more years. And my 2020 E450 will follow me into retirement, if not beyond.