Overview
Hiding behind phony SUV styling, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-class All-Terrain wagon combines the premium cabin of the E-class sedan with the added practicality of a larger cargo bay and a rear-facing third row of seats. A 362-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six uses a 48-volt hybrid system and all-wheel drive to provide snappy performance, and the All-Terrain’s slightly raised adjustable air suspension gives it a touch more ground clearance than previous versions. This slightly rugged, luxury longroof formula isn’t unique. In fact, the E-class All-Terrain has not one but two natural rivals—the Audi A6 Allroad and the Volvo V90 Cross Country—and all three are fighting for a piece of a very small niche. If a performance station wagon is what you’re looking for, however, we’d direct your focus to the Mercedes-AMG E63 wagon (reviewed separately) or the raucous Audi RS6 Avant.
What’s New for 2022?
The E-class wagon gets just two enhancements for 2022: Automatic high-beam headlamps are now standard, and buyers can now choose Nautical Blue Metallic for the exterior. Otherwise, the luxury wagon rolls into the new year unchanged.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
There’s only one trim offered for the E450 All-Terrain, but there are many options and packages to choose from, all of which really ratchet up the luxury. If you aren’t careful, the price of this wagon can quickly get out of hand, but we’d still suggest splurging on the massaging front seats, the Driver Assistance package, and the Premium package.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The E-class All-Terrain is offered with just one engine: a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 362 horsepower and is assisted by a 48-volt hybrid system. All-wheel drive is standard. At our test track it needed just 4.4 seconds to blast to 60 mph. While we expected the E450 All-Terrain to deliver similar ride and handling dynamics as the outgoing E450 wagon, the transition to a higher ride height and four-corner air suspension has introduced some skittishness to the wagon’s handling. Bumps in the road are more pronounced than they were before, and overall it appears that on-road refinement has taken a step back.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
According to the EPA, the E-class wagon’s fuel-economy estimates are 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the E450 All-Terrain delivered 29 mpg. For more information about the E-class wagon’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside its luxurious cabin, the E-class wagon offers plenty of room for both people and cargo as well as a few surprises. There’s a stowable, rear-facing third-row seat and an optional scent diffuser with a Benz-specific fragrance. Fit and finish are top notch, and the cabin materials are appropriately upscale. The base seats are covered in a simulated leather so convincing you’d think it was the real thing, but genuine leather is optional. You get your pick of a variety of interior color themes and five open-pore, glossy, or pinstriped wood trims. The upside of the E-class wagon’s longroof body—besides its handsome good looks—is ample cargo space. With its rear seats folded, we crammed 24 of our carry-on suitcases inside—proof that a station wagon is just as practical as a crossover SUV. However, interior cubby storage is average for the segment, and the bin under the cargo floor is too shallow to be of much use.
Infotainment and Connectivity
With a widescreen infotainment display, standard navigation, and plenty of connectivity, the E-class wagon is a technology showcase for the Mercedes-Benz brand. The sophisticated MBUX infotainment interface is displayed onto a large, high-resolution 12.3-inch screen that is tucked into the dashboard above four round climate-control vents. Navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates is standard, as are Bluetooth phone and audio streaming with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB connectivity. The system is controlled by a rotary knob and an accompanying touchpad located on the center console.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning are both standard. A more advanced suite of driver-assistance features is offered—including a semi-autonomous driving mode—but it costs a pretty pfennig. For more information about the E-class wagon’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
- Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Mercedes-Benz offers a four-year warranty with a 50,000-mile limit across the board but does not include any scheduled maintenance visits. Other rivals match and exceed this coverage. Prepaid maintenance plans are available, however, through Mercedes dealers nationwide.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$87,635 (base price: $68,595)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
183 in3, 3000 cm3
Power
362 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque
369 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 14.2-in vented, cross-drilled disc/14.2-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 RunOnFlat, F: 245/40R-20 99Y MOExtended R: 275/35R-20 102Y MOExtended
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 115.7 in
Length: 194.8 in
Width: 73.7 in
Height: 58.9 in
Passenger volume: 98 ft3
Cargo volume: 35 ft3
Curb weight: 4585 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.4 sec
100 mph: 11.5 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
1/4 mile: 13.1 sec @ 106 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 128 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 339 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.89 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 24/22/28 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
