The best mid-size luxury sedan in America
By Steven D. Gatt, Automotive Editor
If you purchase the Mercedes-Benz E320, you will love your car. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best mid-size luxury car in America; maybe the world.
The E320 is solid, rock solid. This car is so comfortable, so easy, it's almost boring to drive, except you get to look out over that hood and see the beautiful three pointed star. The seats, while comfortable and supportive, were just a bit slippery with the leather trim. The only shake rattle and roll you'll get from the E320 is from the stereo, all of the seams fit flawlessly and this Autobahn cruiser is tightly constructed. The finish of the paint was impeccable along with the detail work on the interior.
This is an all new exterior for Mercedes-Benz. I've fallen in love with the character that the front end is designed with. The four round headlights are beautiful, big and bright. Even if you're not interested in buying the new E-Class go take a look at one in the showroom. Look at the detail in the hood; this is sheetmetal! The way the hood comes together with the fenders with the apex and seam right at the same point is very dramatic. It brings to mind the Buick Riviera and how it could be done better. The rest of the Mercedes exterior is smooth. It is unfortunate that the rest of the E-Class doesn't have half as much character as the hood.
There is plenty of interior room for five adults, but luggage space doesn't exist for those same five passengers. The automatic transmission is smooth; you really don't notice that it's working. I've read articles that electric cars make almost no noise and there is no discernible shift point; similar to this E320. It does everything in such a superb way.
Mercedes-Benz has always been a leader in safety. The E320 is no exception. It features dual airbags, safety-cage construction, anti-lock brakes, traction control and door-mounted side-impact airbags. Price as tested was a modest $46,282.
The hood is the most dramatic, aesthetically pleasing, curvaceous, detailed, wonderful, single sheet of metal that the 1990's has produced. Well, I'm out of synonyms, just go look and appreciate the detail in a finely crafted German automobile.