2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: First class

Each manufacturer has one or more models that are more recognized than others. At Mercedes-Benz, one such vehicle is the E-Class, which is popular around the world. Along with the S-Class and the C-Class, it is the image of the brand.

And as is the tradition at Mercedes, several versions are offered to satisfy everyone's tastes and needs. If you take a look at the range, you'll discover 11 variants of 4 different styles, not to mention the different powertrains in the catalog.

As for these four different styles, the E-Class can take the form of a sedan, coupe, convertible or wagon. And note that for 2021, the designers came by to give a few pencil strokes, which translates into a reworked front and rear end, as well as updated signatures on the headlights and lights.

Let's see what else marks the transition to 2021.

The technology

Inside the E-Class is not only an incredible sensory experience, but also an impressive technological experience. And that's especially true this year, because the E-Class in turn inherits the company's MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system. When it comes to the interaction between man and machine, MBUX is redefining standards. It literally enables conversation with the system to obtain information about various facts, much like one does with a personal assistant at home. Then, of course, its voice recognition function allows access to a host of features in the car.

Four, six or eight cylinders?

Perhaps the most interesting thing for anyone interested in the E-Class is that a number of engines are offered, each one lending a different personality to the variant served.

As a curtain-raiser, with the E 350, you get a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder that delivers 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. When switching to the E 450, the displacement changes as a new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder engine sits up front, delivering 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. In addition, this powertrain benefits from an electric powerplant with EQ Boost technology for quicker response.

If you want more, the E-Class has two AMG solutions for you. The first, called the E 53, offers the same 6-cylinder engine, but with 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. Then, with the E 63 S, you get a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 that's capable of 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. The latter is a very powerful engine, but it's also very exciting, especially with the music coming out of the exhaust system.

And everywhere, 4MATIC all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission are standard.

Life in first class

But beyond all that, it's what you feel on board and behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class that makes this car exceptional. With its wrap-around seats that can massage you, a semi-autonomous cruise control capable of changing lanes without your help, an audio system that awakens the senses, and an incredible level of comfort on the road, the qualities of the E-Class are manifold.

And what can I say about the different experiences offered; the sporty feel of a coupe, the great comfort of a sedan, the practicality of a station wagon and the joy of enjoying the great outdoors with a cabriolet.

To fully understand it, there is only one thing to do; try it.