2017 Mercedes-Benz E-class: All In the Family

Every brand has its darling. For BMW, it’s the 3-series. At Honda, it’s the Accord. And for Mercedes-Benz, it is the E-class, the popular and prolific mid-size luxury car that’s been buttering the bread in Stuttgart for nine vehicle generations, soon to be 10. But despite its crucial position in the product range, the E-class was last in line among Benz sedans to get refashioned in Mercedes’ new “Sensual Purity” design language that did wonders for the S-class in 2014 before the C-class adopted it one year later. The outgoing E-class did receive a major restyling for 2014 to hold it over before replacement, but now the long wait for the new car is over. The all-new, “sensually purified” 2017 E-class has made its official debut at the 2016 Detroit auto show. Embodiment of Modern Mercedes Design With the arrival of the 2017 E-class, we find that the signature look for this generation of Mercedes-Benz cars is no less beautiful in size medium. While its predecessor appeared rather stiff, even after the mid-cycle update, the new car’s cab-rearward profile, fluted body sides, and gently sloping tail convey a relaxed elegance. Lovely though it may be, little about the E-class’s design actually breaks much new ground. All of the signature identifying marks—grille, headlamps, taillamps, and windows—are translated more or less verbatim from the other Benz sedans. The E-class appears to have moved the needle inside the lights, however, with futuristic LED matrix headlamps (unlikely for the U.S.) and new “stardust effect” taillamp illumination, but it may take an eagle’s eye to tell the E-class apart from its siblings until you’re close enough to read the badge. VIEW 64 PHOTOS