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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Jacob York

Building luxury: The components of comfort

A collage of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Whether you're on a cross-country road trip or a grocery run, driving a luxury vehicle should always be a delightful experience. Crafting that perfect driving experience involves countless decisions that keep the driver's experience top of mind. This dedication to excellence is most evident in the latest E-Class Sedan.

The creatives at Mercedes-Benz are visionaries who push the brand toward refinement, making sure your ride is smoother, your environment is more comfortable and the information you need is easily accessible. The new E-Class is defined by a combination of traditional craftsmanship and next-generation technology that sets a new benchmark for driving satisfaction.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

The Approach

Yes, we care about the drive, but let's first take a moment to appreciate the aesthetics. We love a subtle touch — in particular, the option for an illuminated radiator grille adorned with dozens of tiny Mercedes-Benz logos throughout and the rear LED lights featuring a star design.

From the outside, you might also take in the sheer size of the panorama roof. Large enough for everyone in the car to enjoy, the power-operated sunroof can open wide for a fresh breeze or be covered with the mesh screen for shade. In classic Mercedes-Benz fashion, every detail has been meticulously designed.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

The Comforts

In any luxury vehicle, certain expectations are universal — comfortable seats being one of them. Each front seat provides lumbar and lateral support, with customization options for both driver and passenger. The upholstery presents multiple customization options, including sew patterns, colors and trim. While hand-fitted tailoring and exceptional comfort are expected in a Mercedes-Benz, the remarkable quality should never go unnoticed.

The E-Class delivers audio in cinema quality. While you expect high-quality sound in a car like this, the optional 17-speaker Burmester®️ 4D Surround Sound system will blow your expectations out of the water. Beyond the Dolby Atmos®️ and Apple Spatial Audio, it also features seat resonators and active ambient light with sound visualization, transforming every song into a truly bespoke, four-dimensional auditory experience.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

The Technology

The E-Class is packed with cutting-edge tech, starting with the advanced Mercedes-Benz User Experience, also known as MBUX. The latest third-generation system with more advanced AI offers even quicker voice recognition. As you enter your E-Class, the driver camera can recognize your face, activating your Mercedes Me profile to recall your custom seat settings, radio presets and more. With the ability to create up to seven profiles per vehicle, you can be sure your settings are secured. You can even set routines, so your E-Class automatically adjusts to provide a seat massage after work during the week or blasts the air conditioning during those hot summer months.

The fully digital wide-screen cockpit, called the Superscreen, provides three displays. An optional passenger screen can enhance the experience by providing entertainment choices, including third-party apps* tailored specifically for the E-Class (including games, social media and video conferencing options). This means all the passengers (especially the little ones) can enjoy their own activities while you're able to operate distraction-free. With Bluetooth headphones for their audio and visual shield technology to block your view of their screen, you can stay focused on the road.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Your safety is the foremost priority in every technological decision made throughout the creation of the vehicle. The optional Head-Up Display helps keep key driving info closer to your natural line of sight. The Digital Light technology projects images directly onto the road to assist your driving.

You don't have to take my word for it, though. Mercedes-Benz Dream Days is happening now through September 3. Experience these features firsthand. They'll make you a believer.

*Use of the MBUX Entertainment Package also requires the customer’s own data plan. In order to use certain apps via the Mercedes Me connect service, a separate customer-specific contract with app provider may be required. 

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