October 15, 2009 By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
DriverSide Overview
For years, Mercedes-Benz has defined the luxury segment. The name speaks to those who want perfectly fitted leather seats, the latest technology and a drive worthy of a country whose highways rarely see a speed limit. With the new 2010 E-Class sedan, Mercedes-Benz has done it again. The key to its continued success is in the details, more specifically the obsessively perfect details. From gorgeous stitching on the seats to a tiny spoiler on the tail lamps to keep them in pristine condition, every minute detail is covered, meaning that you get to focus on the most important aspect: the drive. The difference between the V-6-powered E350 and the more powerful E550 isn’t as conspicuous as in the coupe , but it’s still significant. We’re sure your id would agree it’s worth the extra $8,000 to get that 382 horsepower. Which brings us to the best part about the new sedan: the reduced price. In one model year, Mercedes has slashed E350 pricing by almost $5,000 to bring it to an attainable $48,600. Yes, the E550 will top $56,000 but the MSRP still undercuts many of its direct competitors. Attainable luxury may have something to do with those 12 million E-Classes they’ve sold in the last 62 years.
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
What's to Like
Pricing on the base model is within reach, thanks to Mercedes-Benz’ price reduction program. Cutouts on the backs of the front seats add the needed space for rear occupant comfort. The bucket seats are spacious and well bolstered. Safety systems stay behind the scenes until needed, keeping your drive worry-free. As if that wasn’t enough, Mercedes-Benz offers a 24-hour roadside assistance program as well.
What's Not to Like
The rear end styling isn’t innovative, we didn’t want to say it but Hyundai did it better with the Genesis. The navigation system hasn’t seen an update; it’s not outdated yet, but it may well be by the time the competitors bring their newer wares to the table.
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The E sedan is a cruiser, as evidenced by its propensity to feel smooth and unworried as it nears triple digit speeds (not that we’d know). It’s hard to unsettle this car in any way; over bumps and around corners the sedan grips the road like a rock climber grabs notches in a cliff, and we’re still trying to find a fault with the steering. Compliant, direct, with no discernable dead spots, it’s exactly how you want a car to steer.