The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a tale of two cars. The Sedan and Wagon variants are wholly new, packed with technology, and represent leading entries in their respective segments. The Coupe and Cabriolet are at the end of their lives, with full redesigns based on the most recent E-Class template on the horizon. Owners should keep the age of the body style in mind when considering an E-Class purchase.
What's New for 2017
In the case of the Sedan and Wagon, everything. The E-Class Sedan and Wagon on clean-sheet redesigns, loaded to the gills with some of the most advanced active driving systems on the planet. It’s also exceptionally luxurious, and with the E43 AMG variant, a quick little bugger, too. In the case of the Coupe and Cabriolet, there’s not nearly as much going on – Mercedes is saving the redesigned variants of these cars until model year 2018.
Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The smart money goes for the Sedan and Wagon and waiting on the Coupe and Cabriolet for their redesigns. These models feature – and this is not an exaggeration – among the most advanced active safety and semi-autonomous driving systems on the planet. These include the first ever car-to-x communications system, which can send warnings and other information to similarly equipped vehicles.
Touch-sensitive buttons are the order of the day on the Sedan and Wagon, while owners can choose from 64 different colors for the ambient lighting system. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Designo upholsteries, trims, and paints are available for owners interested in a more premium E-Class.
The Coupe and Cabriolet, meanwhile, are much more limited. Both body styles are only available with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 and the option of 4Matic all-wheel drive. But they lack much of the most advanced active safety technology available on the Sedan and Wagon.