The 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Sedan

We’re always up for a go in a Benz but came away super-impressed with their new 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Sedan. Yes, the numbers are out of control, and no longer denote any specific power output, but Napleton News is still keeping track. This leads us to this car of the week, the new E450 4Matic Sedan.

What’s the new Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Sedan all about?

The Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Sedan is a midsize executive car available in a wide variety of engine and body configurations. It is now in its fifth generation and continues to improve. The E-Class is available in Sedan, Station Wagon, Coupe and Convertible body styles, but our tester was the four-wheel drive sedan.

Power for the E-Class comes in various flavors. At the bottom is a well-sorted turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 cylinder that provides 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It powers the E350 and E350 4Matic. At the top of the range is the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 cylinder found in the E53 AMG Sedan, Coupe and Cabriolet. It’s a mild-hybrid brute and supplies 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque.

Motivating factors

The E450 4Matic Coupe, Cabriolet, All-Terrain and our charge, the E 450 4Matic Sedan, gets something different. Looking under the hood will reveal a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 cylinder 48-volt mild-hybrid engine. It is capable of delivering 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It is joined by a small electric motor that provides a slight boost off the line, operates the fuel pump and operates the engine stop/start functions.

Every engine combination uses a 9-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes-Benz 4Matic all-wheel drive is standard on the E-Class Sedan and E-Class All-Terrain models. The E-class coupe and Cabriolet include standard rear-wheel drive, with 4Matic all-wheel drive an additional $2,500.

How does this Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Sedan look?

We get that as far as Mercedes-Benz is concerned, the edge is dead. Make that sharp creases are dead. Instead, look for mild, gently sharpened stylings around the E-Class exterior. Start with power bulges on the hood to emphasize the oomph underneath. A diamond-cut grille adds extra highlights and LED lighting cut an imposing path as the E 450 moves ahead. Underneath a broad air intake helps to keep the turbo inline-6 breathing normally.

If we were to describe the E-Class, we think jellybean-like would be a good place to start. Chrome brightstrips highlight the E’s cabin dimensions and lead to a gently sloping roofline that flows rearward. If anything, it gives the overall effect of a retro-designed sedan that is so classic and elegant that it will hardly age during its lifecycle.

How about inside the Mercedes E450 4Matic?

Posh and elegant are two words to describe the interior of the E450 4Matic. We were surprised to find our black over tan test vehicle was outfitted with MB-Tex rather than genuine leather upholstery. It was that good! The dashboard is comprised of two 12.3-inch high-definition display screens laid end-to-end. Ahead of the driver, it offers a configurable gauge display with speedometer and tachometer. These can be cast aside in favor of maps, digital readouts and more.

Natural ash wood makes a wing-like appearance across the dash, with aircraft-inspired airconditioning vents poking through. The ash wood theme continues to the center console, capped off by the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX). The MBUX includes a touchpad to run your finger to perform a function. It works better than some other brands’ similar input devices, but you still must take your eyes off the road to complete a task. It’s better to operate the steering wheel-mounted trackpad buttons which are easier to locate but still draw your eyes away from the road.

A Burmester Surround Sound system complete with Sirius XM Satellite radio helps round out the interior fitment.

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz E450

Silky smooth is how we start. Thanks to its mild-hybrid powertrain fronted by the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 cylinder engine, the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic runs like a standard 6-cylinder, but with smoother functionality thanks to the electric motor-generator that minimizes parasitic engine drag from engine parts, including the fuel pump and other engine peripherals.

The interior offers a comfortable workplace with seats that hold you exactly where you want to be. Driving the E450 at night is where the fun begins because of the LED-based ambient lighting that winds from the driver’s left to the passenger’s right and clear across the dashboard. It can be set to change color on the fly.

Let’s Drive!

The drive mode selector, located next to the MBUX trackpad, offers Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Eco modes. Our favorite was Sport which firmed up the suspension to the point it cornered flatter than if in “floaty-boaty” Comfort mode.

The boost from the Mild-Hybrid system comes on almost unnoticed. The smoothness is amazingly potent. And there are none of the throaty rasps we are used to hearing from the larger AMG-derived engines. That’s unfortunate, but we are more than happy to wait for the next generation of Mercedes-AMG Performance vehicles. In the meantime, we will happily cruise in this.

	2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Sedan
Popular Powertrains
Engine	3.0-liter turbo inline-6
Horsepower	362 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque	369 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission	9-speed automatic
Fuel Economy	26 mpg (23 city/32 hwy)
Also Available	Coupe, Convertible, other powertrains, RWD
Specs
Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	5 Stars
Max Seating Capacity	5
Wheelbase	115.7 inches
Overall Length	194.3 inches
Width	72.9 inches
Height	57.8 inches
Turning Diameter	38.0 feet
Headroom, Front	37.9 inches
Headroom, Rear	38.2 inches
Legroom, Front	41.3 inches
Legroom, Rear	35.8 inches
Shoulder Room, Front	57.8 inches
Shoulder Room, Rear	56.9 inches
Cargo Volume	13.1 cubic feet