In the vast automotive landscape, the quest for the “best car” is often a subjective and endless debate. However, pinpointing a vehicle that delivers virtually everything you could ever need in a car is a more attainable goal. For many, the benchmark for this sweet spot resides around the $73,000 price range. Enter the 2014 Benz E550 4MATIC, a vehicle that, upon rigorous testing, convincingly argues for this very proposition. This isn’t just about transportation; it’s about experiencing luxury, potent performance, sophisticated style, unparalleled comfort, and confident all-weather capability, all harmoniously integrated into one compelling package. Venturing beyond the price point of the 2014 Benz E550 often becomes an exercise in chasing marginal gains, driven more by prestige and less by tangible enhancements in the driving experience.
Adaptive Suspension: A Masterclass in Ride Dynamics
The cornerstone of the 2014 Benz E550‘s comprehensive capability is its meticulously engineered chassis. While Mercedes-Benz air suspensions have occasionally faced criticism for offering subtle differentiation between driving modes, the system in the E550 stands out. In “Comfort” mode, the car glides with remarkable smoothness, effectively isolating occupants from road imperfections and external disturbances. This setting transforms long highway stretches and country drives into serene, relaxing journeys.
Switching to “Sport” mode sharpens the E550’s character dramatically. Body movements become tightly controlled as the car lowers slightly, resulting in more direct responses and a welcome increase in road feedback transmitted to the cabin. This transformation doesn’t morph the E550 into a track-ready sports car, but it imbues it with the agility and responsiveness to confidently tackle spirited driving scenarios. Contributing significantly to this dynamic prowess is the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, which proves its worth in both dry conditions and challenging winter storms – the latter providing an ideal testing ground for its capabilities.
Further enhancing its adaptability, the 2014 Benz E550‘s adjustable air suspension incorporates a ride-height control feature. This practical addition allows the car to be raised for increased ground clearance, proving invaluable for navigating steep driveways, automatic car washes, and snow-rutted roads, adding another layer of everyday usability to this luxury sedan.
Conquering the Snow: 4MATIC in Action
A significant snowstorm, blanketing the landscape with 10 inches of fresh snow, presented the perfect opportunity to evaluate the 2014 Benz E550’s 4MATIC system in its element. The system, inherently rear-biased, intelligently redistributes power to the front wheels upon detecting any rear wheel slippage. Experimenting on a snow-covered corner with the stability control system deactivated reveals the system’s responsiveness. A deliberate application of throttle induces a momentary rear-wheel slide, but before control is compromised, the front wheels seamlessly engage, effectively pulling the car back on course. With stability control engaged, the E550 exhibits remarkable composure, making it exceptionally difficult to unsettle, even in slippery conditions.
The Pirelli Sottozero winter tires equipped on the test vehicle likely contributed to its confident snow performance, and also to the controlled slides experienced with stability control off. These high-performance winter tires are designed to excel on ice and in dry conditions, but can exhibit a slightly greasy feel in moderate snow, as encountered during the test. This nuanced behavior highlights the importance of tire selection in optimizing winter driving performance, even with advanced all-wheel-drive systems.
Potent V8 Power: Effortless Performance
At the heart of the 2014 Benz E550 lies a robust 4.6-liter bi-turbo V8 engine, producing a substantial 402 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. This torque-rich powerplant delivers its peak output across a broad rev range, from 1,800 rpm to 4,750 rpm, ensuring consistent and readily available power. The engine’s responsiveness is immediate, eliminating any sense of lag, and power delivery remains strong even at higher speeds. The engine feels even more potent than its official 402 hp rating suggests, a testament to its flat torque curve and generous displacement. Despite the E550’s curb weight of 4,145 lbs, it achieves an estimated 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 5.2 seconds, a figure that underscores its impressive performance capabilities. Furthermore, aggressive acceleration is accompanied by a classic V8 burble, pleasantly louder than anticipated, adding an auditory dimension to the driving experience.
Channeling the V8’s power to the 4MATIC system is Mercedes-Benz’s ubiquitous “7G-Tronic” seven-speed automatic transmission. While this transmission has been criticized for slow responses in other applications, its calibration in the 2014 Benz E550 is notably refined. Gear changes are sufficiently quick for both relaxed cruising and spirited driving. The abundance of power and torque might mask any inherent transmission limitations, but subjectively, the transmission performs admirably in this application, providing smooth and seamless gear transitions crucial for a luxury vehicle.
Subtle Refresh, Commanding Presence
In the realm of luxury vehicles priced at $70,000 and above, visual appeal is paramount. While the pre-facelift 2013 E-Class possessed an undeniable elegance, the subtle restyling applied to the 2014 Benz E550 significantly enhances its road presence. Even with relatively minor revisions, primarily focused on the headlights and taillights, the updated styling imparts a distinctly more contemporary and cutting-edge aesthetic to the E550.
Inside, the 2014 Benz E550 envelops occupants in the refined elegance characteristic of Mercedes-Benz. The overall cabin design is aesthetically pleasing, and while the black and tan color scheme of the test car might not align with all tastes, a wide array of interior options are available. The leather front seats are exceptionally comfortable, featuring plush, pillow-like headrests. The optional active multicontour driver’s seat, equipped with dynamic side bolsters and a massage function, adds a further layer of luxury, albeit perhaps an indulgent one. A particularly appreciated feature during the cold weather testing was the standalone heated steering wheel option, a consistent favorite among the AutoGuide staff.
COMAND: User-Friendly Infotainment
Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND infotainment system continues to impress with its user-friendliness. The system’s logical layout and responsive operation, free from lag or stuttering between screens, are commendable. Mercedes-Benz deserves recognition for resisting the industry trend of frequent infotainment system overhauls and the elimination of physical buttons. In this case, maintaining a functional and intuitive system proves to be the optimal approach.
However, the 2014 Benz E550 is not without minor shortcomings. Even at this price point, features like adaptive cruise control and a forward-view camera are not standard and require optional packages. An isolated electrical issue surfaced during the test period: on a few cold starts, a warning message indicated that the blind-spot monitoring system was disabled. However, after a few minutes of driving, the warning would disappear, and the system would function normally.
The E550 also exhibits slightly constrained rear passenger space, offering 35.8 inches of rear legroom, and a trunk capacity of 15.9 cubic feet. For comparison, the BMW 550i xDrive provides similar rear legroom (35.3 inches) but a significantly larger trunk (18.4 cubic feet). However, the 2014 Benz E550 4MATIC holds a price advantage, starting nearly $5,000 less than the 550i xDrive, with a base price of $62,325.
Final Verdict: The E550’s Compelling Case
These minor criticisms are far outweighed by the 2014 Benz E550’s overall excellence. It genuinely delivers on its promise of offering a comprehensive luxury package. While the S 550 elevates luxury further, and the E 63 AMG offers enhanced performance, they command significantly higher price tags. The price differential is disproportionately large compared to the incremental improvements offered by those higher-tier models, positioning them more firmly in the realm of automotive excess. For those seeking an exceptionally well-rounded vehicle that masterfully balances luxury, performance, and practicality, the 2014 Benz E550 4MATIC stands as a formidable contender, and arguably, the sweet spot in the luxury car market.
LOVE IT
- Potent V8 Power
- Adaptive Suspension Modes
- Refined Styling
- Exceptional Comfort
LEAVE IT
- Limited Rear Seat Space
- Occasional Blind Spot Monitoring Glitch
- Some Desirable Options are Extra
