Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain (2021-)

 

Back to the regularly scheduled content in progress for now. The entire Mercedes-Benz E-Class range was given a mid-cycle refresh for the 2021 model year. As for the wagon version, the current standard E-Class wagon is now only offered in the more rugged All-Terrain form in the U.S. This follows a similar move made by Audi and Volvo, who only offer their base wagon models in the U.S. as Allroads and Cross Countries respectively. Powering the E450 All-Terrain is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six producing 329 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed limited to 128 mph. As with nearly all new wagons sold in North America, the additional body cladding and more rugged appearance are intended to fool buyers in the market for a crossover or SUV into thinking that the E-Class All-Terrain is a crossover. Automakers who offer these kinds of cars market their tall wagons this way, especially in North America, as a cool and fun alternative to the typical crossovers and SUVs that many people are driving on a regular basis. 

The E450 All-Terrain features a slightly raised adjustable air suspension that gives it a tad more ground clearance than previous E-Class models. It also offers a beautiful, customizable interior that can be outfitted in a variety of fine materials and stowable, rear-facing third-row seats. Plenty of cargo space is available as well as two 12.3-inch screens, one of them housing Mercedes-Benz's MBUX infotainment system and the other housing the digital gauge clusters. Pricing for the Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain starts at $69,450, with options bringing that total well past $80,000. In all, The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain is an excellent and underrated wagon and the best new non-performance wagon on the market. It would be great if the the updated regular E-Class wagon without the extra body cladding was still offered alongside the All-Terrain in the U.S., but I understand that the standard E-Class wagon won't sell very well Stateside. Despite this, I'm grateful that the AMG E63 S wagon, my dream car and the ultimate daily driver, is still offered in the U.S. to cater to enthusiasts like me who love fast wagons.

Included below are photos I took this year of the current standard Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon before it was given a mid-cycle refresh for comparison and reference. 

P.S. I recently received a sample of my personal-branded merch (pictured below). Become one of the first besides me to own a piece of my merch today: CPF Store