When I was looking for a Mercedes-Benz E-Class for my father a few years back, the “sport” trim wasn’t really on my radar. I always thought the sport models had some obvious badging or visual cues, like in older models. But as it turned out, the 2011 E350 I ended up getting was the sport version. And honestly, the driving experience has been quite revealing.
From a ride perspective, the 2016 E350 Sport, much like the earlier models, isn’t harsh at all. It’s sporty without sacrificing comfort. Cornering feels planted and controlled, and the steering is surprisingly responsive. In fact, it feels a bit quicker than my older 2000 E430, which is saying something. Not that I ever found the steering in my E430 to be slow or lacking.
However, there’s one aspect of the sport version that has been a consistent point of concern: the front bumper. It sits quite low, and it’s prone to catching on just about anything on the road. Those concrete parking stops in parking lots? They become obstacles to be carefully navigated, otherwise you risk scraping or even tearing up the bumper.
I even had an unfortunate incident on the highway. Driving my sister to the airport early one morning, I encountered a traffic cone sitting right in the middle of the on-ramp during some roadwork. There was simply no way to avoid it. The cone ripped into the bumper, causing damage and breaking some internal parts, leading to a hefty $1800 repair bill out of my own pocket.
That low front bumper is really the only significant drawback to the sport version in my experience. The body shop managed to repair the damage using epoxy and paint, and I learned that for the W212 generation E-Class, there were actually several different front bumper options available.
These days, driving the E350 Sport means being extra cautious and aware of that “cow catcher” in the front. It’s a trade-off for the sportier styling and handling, and something any potential 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 Sport owner should definitely keep in mind.
