The Natural Beige and Black Leather surfaces are uncannily inviting when the doors are opened. If wanting to get in was ever an obstacle, Mercedes' upper-class cabins can sway anyone. The large seats provide support and all matters of comfort. This applies to both front-facing rows. In the case of the third-row, rear-facing bench, headroom is limited to those well under five feet tall, but they are still ever so cool. On my tester, I noticed that the lower bench was loose in its cavity, bouncing in and out over rough roads.
To be honest, I used to dislike the Benzed squared-out centre stack first seen on the current C-Class; I thought it lacked flow and was anti-organic, whatever that means. I guess that everyone changes their mind in time as I'm really into the straight-forward simple design now.
V6 only
And, although I naively wish that the E63 AMG wagon will come to Canada, the oft-utilized 3.5L mill is a fine performer. At 268 hp, this 3.5L V6 is almost short on stats given that many “lesser” competitors’ V6s produce nearly 300 hp. This same lump does manage 300 hp in the SLK so it's not impossible.
What is impossible is how smooth a powertrain this is. So much so that it cost me a few clams to have it put in my face. Yes, I managed a speeding ticket (71 km/h in a 50 zone) without ever realizing how fast I was going.
The 7G-Tronic 7-speed autobox seamlessly glides from one gear to another and engine revs climb inaudibly. Factor in a competent audio system and you get how I got into trouble with my proverbial pants around my ankles.
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| If wanting to get in was ever an obstacle, Mercedes' upper-class cabins can sway anyone. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
To be honest, I used to dislike the Benzed squared-out centre stack first seen on the current C-Class; I thought it lacked flow and was anti-organic, whatever that means. I guess that everyone changes their mind in time as I'm really into the straight-forward simple design now.
V6 only
And, although I naively wish that the E63 AMG wagon will come to Canada, the oft-utilized 3.5L mill is a fine performer. At 268 hp, this 3.5L V6 is almost short on stats given that many “lesser” competitors’ V6s produce nearly 300 hp. This same lump does manage 300 hp in the SLK so it's not impossible.
What is impossible is how smooth a powertrain this is. So much so that it cost me a few clams to have it put in my face. Yes, I managed a speeding ticket (71 km/h in a 50 zone) without ever realizing how fast I was going.
The 7G-Tronic 7-speed autobox seamlessly glides from one gear to another and engine revs climb inaudibly. Factor in a competent audio system and you get how I got into trouble with my proverbial pants around my ankles.
 |
| At 268 hp, this 3.5L V6 is almost short on stats given that many “lesser” competitors’ V6s produce nearly 300 hp. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |