A week with the new W214 E‑Class highlighted how far Mercedes has pushed cabin quality, infotainment integration, and long-haul comfort in the midsize luxury segment. Here’s what stood out from daily commuting to a 300‑mile highway loop.
Our test car was a 2024 Mercedes‑Benz E350 4Matic with the Superscreen package, Airmatic air suspension, and the Burmester 4D audio upgrade. The cabin mixes Nappa leather, open‑pore wood, and knurled metal details, anchored by a 12.3‑inch driver display and 14.4‑inch central touchscreen; a 12.3‑inch passenger display rounded out the panel. Wheelbase is 116.6 inches, and the larger body brings tangible benefits to rear space and trunk capacity (about 19 cu ft). Testing covered 520 miles: dense urban traffic, pockmarked secondary roads, and two long interstate stints.
Temperatures ranged from 48–76°F with steady crosswinds. On 19‑inch wheels with all‑season tires at 36 psi, our sound meter logged 68 dBA at an indicated 70 mph on smooth asphalt and 71 dBA on coarse aggregate, competitive for the class. We carried four adults and luggage for an overnight trip to evaluate real‑world comfort and storage. Material execution is first‑rate.
Seams align, the doors shut with a muted thud, and there were zero squeaks over broken pavement. The open‑pore wood feels authentic, and the metal HVAC toggles have clean detents. Mercedes’ Active Ambient Lighting (64 colors) isn’t just a party trick: it pulses with safety alerts and mirrors climate changes, making settings intuitive at a glance. Storage is smartly packaged—deep door bins, a two‑tier console, and a phone shelf with rubberized sides to stop devices from skittering.
Tech is equally ambitious. MBUX (latest gen) is snappy, with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, an embedded 5G modem, OTA updates, and a robust voice assistant that reliably handled climate and nav commands. The augmented‑reality navigation overlays are genuinely helpful in dense city grids, and the 360‑degree camera delivers crisp, low‑light images. The optional passenger screen streams video only when the driver’s view is blocked, and the built‑in camera supports Zoom/Webex when parked.
A biometric login and a digital key (phone) worked flawlessly in our week of use. Comfort is the headline. The multi‑contour front seats (heated/ventilated with massage) offer extensive adjustment plus a manual thigh extender; the “hot relaxing back” and “deep waves” programs eased fatigue over a 3‑hour stint. With Airmatic, the E‑Class rounds off sharp edges and smothers expansion joints without float; Sport tightens body control yet remains supple.
Rear passengers praised thigh support and headroom, and the optional 4‑zone Thermotronic kept consistent temps front to back. The Burmester 4D system (17‑speaker array with seat exciters) delivers clean dynamics and a wide soundstage, though bass can overwhelm at default settings. Not everything is perfect: the touch‑sensitive steering wheel controls are better than before but still prone to stray inputs, fingerprint smudges on the glass surfaces are constant, and some app features sit behind subscriptions. Still, for buyers prioritizing interior quality, seamless tech, and all‑day comfort, the E350 with Airmatic, multi‑contour seats, and Burmester audio is the sweet spot.
Those who prefer physical controls should sample the car in person, but the E‑Class currently sets the benchmark for luxury feel and usability in its class.
