The 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC All-Terrain is in a very small and upscale niche: the swanky wagon. It’s got the practicality of an SUV with the luxury and handling of the E-Class sedan.
Base Price: $68,400
As Tested: $83,270
Horsepower: 362
Mileage: 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 mpg combined
The E450 All-Terrain gets a couple of tweaks for 2022: automatic high-beam headlights become standard, and Nautical Blue Metallic is added as an exterior color. The wagon was first introduced for the 2010 model year and was last redesigned for 2017.
It comes in just one trim starting at $68,400. All-wheel drive is standard. Numerous packages and options are available that quickly send the price higher. There’s room for seven passengers thanks to a rear-facing third row.
Its rivals are the Audi A6 Allroad and the Volvo V90 Cross Country. Of course, the Subaru Outback is also a wagon but it’s not considered a luxury vehicle.
The E450 All-Terrain is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and a mild 48-volt hybrid system with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Total output is 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
The E450 All-Terrain handles a lot like the E-Class sedan. The powerplant is always willing and responsive. Acceleration is snappy from a stop—Mercedes-Benz says it can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds—and there’s plenty of smooth power when speeding up for merging and passing. This wagon excels as a cruiser, eating up the miles on a family road trip. Engine, wind and road noise are barely noticeable. You can adjust the air suspension to get a little more ground clearance if your adventures include some light off-roading.
Fuel economy is decent for the class. EPA ratings are 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with a combined rating of 24. I got 23 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Premium gas is required.
The posh cabin is beautiful with top-notch materials and exemplary fit and finish. There’s plenty of room for passengers and cargo. The latest technology abounds including a huge 12.3-inch touchscreen with the latest MBUX interface that dominates the center stack. The front seats are extremely supportive and comfortable. My tester has the optional massaging seats to pamper the driver and front passenger. The folding, rear-facing third row seats give you the option of hauling more passengers when needed.
Standard features include remote start, keyless entry, pushbutton start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats with memory, heated front seats, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen and touchpad controller, navigation, FrontBass audio system, HD Radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, power tilt/sliding tinted glass sunroof, 64-color LED ambient lighting, HomeLink garage door opener, adaptive high beam assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a household-type 115V power outlet.
Available features include a dashcam, surround view camera system, three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, Nappa leather upholstery, 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, cabin air purification system, cabin fragrance system, ventilated front seats, rapid heating feature for front seats, active multicontour front seats with massage, heated front armrests, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, manual rear-side window sunshades, black microfiber headliner, soft-close doors, various types of wood trim, and panoramic roof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, Mercedes Pre-Safe (tightens seat belts and rolls up windows if an impending rear-end collision is detected), Mercedes Pre-Safe Sound (makes pink noise to protect your ears from the noise of a collision), Mercedes Car-to-X communication (equipped vehicles can communicate with each about traffic and roadway hazards), and driver drowsiness monitoring.
Available driver assistance technologies include active distance assist, active steering assist, evasive steering assist, active blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist, active lane change assist, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, congestion emergency braking, active emergency stop assist, active speed limit assist, extended restart in stop-and-go traffic, active stop-and-go assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and parallel and perpendicular park assist.
The MBUX infotainment system is overwhelming at first with a huge array of menus and will take time to figure out. Once you’re up to speed, the system works well and responds quickly to commands via the touchscreen, touchpad, steering-wheel controls, voice, and gestures.
The E450 All-Terrain has 35 cubic feet of space behind the rear bench, and 64 cubes with it folded. The cabin has numerous bins and cubbies for stashing smaller items. The split-folding 40/20/40 second row makes it easy to haul passengers and cargo. A power liftgate is standard.
The good:
Practical wagon design with lots of luxury features and tech
Handles like a sedan
Responsive powertrain
Sumptuous cabin
Loaded with tech and driver assistance systems
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Lots of space for passengers and cargo
The not-so-good:
Price can quickly escalate
Infotainment system has steep learning curve
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $68,400. Black leather upholstery is $1,620; no additional charge for natural grain black Ash wood. Air Balance package with cabin air fragrancing and ionization is $350. Illuminated door sills are $350. Ventilated front seats are $450. Panorama roof is $1,000. Heated steering wheel is $250. MBUX Interior Assistant is $250. Heated rear seats are $580. Inductive wireless charging with NFC pairing is $200. Rapid heating front seats are $450. The Driver Assistance package is $1,950 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), PRE-SAFE impulse side, and route based adaptation. The Exterior Lighting Package is $750 and includes LED intelligent light system and adaptive high beam assist. The Night Package is $200 and includes high-gloss black elements, front bumper trim, grille trim, rear bumper trim, side mirrors, window trim and roof rails. The Acoustic Comfort Package is $1,100 and includes increased cabin insulation, and windshield and side windows with acoustic and heat absorbing membrane. The Premium Package Lite is $2,300 and includes PARKTRONIC with active parking assist, surround view system, Burmester surround sound audio system, and SiriuxXM satellite radio trial. Destination fee is $1,050 bringing the grand total to $83,270.
Bottom line:
Ultra-luxurious and practical at the same time, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC All-Terrain is one posh wagon. With its sumptuous cabin, extravagant features, responsive powertrain, up-to-the-minute tech, and ample cargo space, this wagon stands out among luxury vehicles.
