Introducing Our Long-Term Mercedes-Benz E450Michael Simari - Car and DriverEver since this long-term 2026 Mercedes-Benz E450 arrived, it has served us daily reminders why we named this excellent luxury sedan to our 10Best list for two years running. Some of that luxury comes from the fact that we could not drive the car in any other way, because it showed up with a mere 20 miles on its odometer and we were driving gently to follow the 1000-mile break-in requirements. Either way, its ride refinement and all-around sophistication have received continuous accolades since day one. Everyone in the office is already gushing over the E-class's ride quality, refinement, and seat comfort.Of course, once we hit the 1000-mile mark, we picked up the pace. The around-town ride feels almost floaty, so you'd think that hurling it down a back road would take the E450 out of its element, but it remains tied down and settled no matter how hard you push. Skidpad grip of 0.92 g is excellent for the class, as is braking from 70 mph in 157 feet, which is an identical result to the last BMW M5 we tested.Michael Simari - Car and DriverThe E450's inline-six, which pairs exclusively with all-wheel drive and is a $5900 upgrade over the four-cylinder-powered E350, is not only smooth and sonorous, but also extraordinarily fuel efficient. We measured a whopping 39 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, which is 6 mpg better than its EPA highway figure. Combined with a decently sized 17.4-gallon fuel tank, that means our E-class can make it nearly 700 miles on a single fill-up. The E450 returns excellent fuel economy beyond purposefully gentle driving too; our current running average of 27 mpg is 1 mpg higher than its EPA combined rating. Considering the straight-line hustle the 375-hp six commands—60 mph in a brisk 4.5 seconds and the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds—that fuel economy is seriously impressive.Michael Simari - Car and DriverBut the steering wheel's touch-sensitive controls are despised as much as the car's overall driving demeanor is loved. Everything from the volume control to the cruise set speed requires a swipe on the steering-wheel spokes, which sometimes does nothing, sometimes provides more adjustment than you're looking for, and rarely does exactly what you want.AdvertisementAdvertisementOur long-term E450 is packed full of options, taking the price up to $95,375 from its $73,650 starting point. There are a few things that the majority of us could do without, including the front passenger screen and selfie camera (part of the $1500 Superscreen package) and the $990 3-D gauge cluster display. But the $3400 Pinnacle trim, which includes a thumpin' 21-speaker Burmester stereo, and the $3200 air springs that bolster ride quality are outlays that we'd spend our own money on. We also thought ahead to winter; tucked into the various option packages are heaters for the front armrests, steering wheel, rear seats, and washer nozzles. There's really only one feature that we wish we had, and that's soft-close doors, which cost an additional $550. We're fans of the Verde Silver Metallic green paint, and the $1950 20-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels are a serious visual upgrade over the base 18s.Michael Simari - Car and DriverThe E-class is not at all ostentatious, but it still gets noticed, with many a parking-lot bystander lobbing praise in the E-class's direction. We agree, it's a fantastic luxury sedan, and we look forward to spending a lot more time driving it to see if we're as smitten with the ownership experience.Months in Fleet: 2 months Current Mileage: 5436 milesAverage Fuel Economy: 27 mpgFuel Tank Size: 17.4 gal Observed Fuel Range: 460 milesService: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0Damage and Destruction: $0You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029