The E-class is what many drivers picture when they think of a Mercedes-Benz. It’s classy and luxurious, has a cushy and composed ride, and is loaded with features and tech.
2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC Coupe
Base Price: $67,450
As Tested: $81,589
Horsepower: 362
Mileage: 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined
The E-class was first introduced for the 1993 model year. Its last makeover came for the 2017 model year. For 2018, the coupe and cabriolet models were redesigned. The E-class gets several significant updates for 2021. The exterior gets some styling tweaks, there’s a new mild-hybrid powertrain and the COMAND infotainment system is replaced by the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system.
The E-class comes in sedan, coupe, cabriolet and wagon body styles. The coupe comes in E 450 and AMG E 53 trims. Starting prices for the E 450 coupe are $64,950 with rear-wheel-drive and $67,450 for all-wheel-drive. The AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Coupe starts at $76,250. These are high for the class.
E 450 has a 3.0-liter mild-hybrid turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that makes a stout 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The AMG E 53 gets the same engine, but horsepower gets bumped up to 429 and 384 pound-feet. The 48-volt mild hybrid system adds some oomph and improves fuel economy by regenerating power from decelerating and braking. Every engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
As you’d expect, the E-class is more about enveloping the driver in a comfortable cocoon and less about extreme performance. With that said, the E 450 is sporty, responsive, and a lot of fun to drive. Mercedes-Benz says the E 450 can jet from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds. There’s plenty of power for merging and passing at freeway speeds. Steering and brakes are responsive. Choose from Comfort, Eco, Sport and Sport+ modes to get the handling and ride quality you prefer.
Fuel efficiency is about average for the class. EPA estimates for my tester are 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with a combined rating of 25. I got 24 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Premium fuel is required.
The interior oozes class and luxury. Materials are all top notch, as you’d expect, including saddle-quality leather with real wood and metal trim. There’s room for four passengers in the coupe. Seats in both rows are comfortable and supportive; however, the rear seat is tight for adults. The cabin is well-insulated and quiet as a library.
Standard features on the E-class coupe include proximity keyless entry, remote start, push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, real leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touch screen, touchpad controller, navigation, FrontBass audio system, HD Radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, two USB ports, 64-color ambient interior lighting, and a sunroof.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, upgraded Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, heated front armrests, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel with wood trim, 13- or 23-speaker Burmester audio system, satellite radio, gesture-based infotainment controls, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, dual rear-seat USB charge ports, panoramic roof, power rear sunshade and power soft-close doors.
Standard driver assistance technologies include blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, driver attention monitor, and crosswind assist which detects when a crosswind has affected your driving line and corrects the course of your vehicle, reducing the chance of you moving into another lane or off the road. The Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe system is also standard. If this system senses a collision, it tightens seatbelts, adjusts headrests, and closes the windows. Pre-Safe Sound also comes with the Pre-Safe system. This emits pink sound to protect your ears from the damage loud noises produced by a collision can cause to your hearing.
Available driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, evasive steering assist, side impact sensors, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and traffic sign recognition.
The E-class Coupe has 10 cubic feet of storage in the trunk. This is less than some rivals.
The good:
Coupe styling stands out from the crowd
Strong engines with mild hybrid system
Smooth, uber-comfortable ride
Beautiful and luxurious cabin
Loaded with tech and safety features
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
High starting price for the class
Performance not as robust as some rivals
Infotainment system has learning curve
Below average trunk space
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $67,450. Mojave Silver metallic paint is $720. Black Nappa leather is $1,370. Air Balance is $350. 19-inch AMG Twin 5-spoke wheels with black accents are $500. Augmented video for navigation is $350. Illuminated door sills are $350. Ventilated front seats are $450. Airscarf is $460. Air Body Control air suspension is $1,900. MBUX Interior Assistant is $200. The Driver Assistance Package is $1,700 and includes Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Pre-Safe Plus (rear-end collision protection) and route-based speed adaptation. The Exterior Lighting Package is $900 and includes an LED Intelligent Light System, and adaptive highbeam assist. The Night Package is $400 and includes high-gloss black elements including front splitter, rear diffuser, side mirrors and window trim. The AMG Line is $2,500 and includes AMG body styling, brushed Aluminum sport pedals with rubber studs and sport wheels. The Warmth and Comfort Package is $840 and adds heated armrests and rapid heating functionality for the front seats. Destination fee is $1,050 bringing the grand total to $81,589.
Bottom line:
Stylish and luxurious, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC Coupe also boasts sporty performance, a smooth ride, posh cabin and the latest tech and safety features. Plus the coupe body style really makes it stand out among all the SUVs and crossovers on the road today.
