However, the CLE is 4850mm long, 1860mm wide and stands 1428mm tall, which technically puts it in the large coupe segment – one above the 4 Series and old C-Class coupe.
Serving as the coupe version of both the C-Class and E-Class sedans, the CLE rides 15mm lower than both models on sports suspension to emphasise its more athletic intent and deliver sharper dynamics, with the help of a pointier steering set-up.
Upping the visual factor, every Australian-delivered CLE will come fitted with an AMG-Line body kit and Night Package exterior trim as standard, plus black 19-inch AMG alloys.
Equipment highlights include an 11.9-inch infotainment interface, 64-clour ambient lighting package, Burmeister surround sound system, head-up display, panoramic sunroof, MBUX Navigation Premium package with augmented reality display, automatic seatbelt feeder, wireless phone charging, smartphone integration, 360-degree camera and adaptive cruise control.
Apart from AWD, the only major difference in equipment between the 200 and 300 4MATIC variants is upholstery: ARTICO ‘pleather’ for the 200 and leather for the 300.
When you step into of the 2024 EQB, you’ll see a similar star pattern now adorning the dashboard and door panels, with some of the stars being part of the 10-colour ambient lighting system. The new-look steering wheel is certainly more elegant and features touch control panels. Three additional trim options can be specified.
Standard equipment has been expanded and all EQBs now come with the 10.25-inch centre touchscreen and the USB package. The presentation of the charging features within MBUX has been improved. Speaking of MBUX, the so-called Zero Layer interface means you don’t have to scroll through submenus or give voice commands, which is great. That being said, by activating online services in the Mercedes me app, the intelligent voice assistant becomes even more capable of dialogue and learning. Furthermore, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is now offered.
For the first time in the EQB, Sound Experiences are available in combination with the optional Burmester surround sound system. “Silver Waves” and “Vivid Flux” can be accessed at launch. “Roaring Pulse” and “Serene Breeze” will be added shortly and can be activated online as part of the Individualisation Package (optional equipment).
When it comes to driver assistance technologies, a new mono-multipurpose camera and a new backup camera enhance visibility and obstacle detection. The Driving Assistance package contains improved functions in detail. For example, Active Lane Keeping Assist now works more comfortably with steering intervention instead of ESP. What’s more, thanks to more powerful environment sensors, the parking systems can better support the driver when manoeuvring.
As mentioned up top, Mercedes-Benz will sell two models in Canada: the FWD-equipped EQB 250 (188 hp, 284 lb-ft., 394 km of range, base MSRP of $59,990) and an AWD-equipped EQB. It will likely be the same EQB 350 4MATIC we already know (288 hp, 384 lb-pi, 356 km of range) rather than the less powerful EQB 300 4MATIC available in other global markets. The company plans to make an announcement “in the near future.”
In all cases, the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery has the same capacity of 70.5 kWh and the same maximum DC charging power of 100 kW, good enough to go from 10-80 percent charge in 32 minutes.
Lo, the new suite of technological offerings of the latest E-Class do indeed represent the future of comfort melded with connected entertainment. From the pillar-to-pillar MBUX Superscreen and its trove of apps, to the dash-mounted selfie camera, to the active ambient lighting synced to the Burmester 4D surround sound system, to the AI-enhanced routines for daily convenience — the 2024 E450 emerges as a class leader in delivering a sybaritic experience. Which, let’s face it, is what you want in a luxury car, right?
2024 Mercedes-Benz E450: What We Think
Concisely: I love it. On the basic physical level, it’s more satisfying; the 2024 E450 boasts increased headroom and legroom, delivering ample room for this 6’2” journalist to enjoy the backseat; it also boosts the overall cargo space to 19 cubic feet.
The 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder melds with a 48-volt mild hybrid system to generate 375 horsepower, a 13-pony increase over prior generations, bestowing it with beyond adequate hustle on more dynamic roads. Yet while it’s happy to have the hammer down, the 2024 E450 shines as a sedate cruiser, its Airmatic suspension system sopping up road imperfections … all while affording the driver and passengers a chance to enjoy that slew of interactive entertainment we mentioned.
This screen, which only active when the passenger seat detects an occupant — otherwise it’s effectively used as a decorative digital photo display — is a heap of fun. I bopped around the Zync app, sampling movies, live TV news and more, all without bothering the driver. While Mercedes claims copilots can enjoy the entertainment without the need for headphones, an included wireless over-the-ear set completely blocked out the car’s radio, leaving me to enjoy The Dark Knight in private aural bliss.
It’s not all play and no work inside the E-Class, however. An included selfie camera, mounted in the center of the dash, works for the driver when parked — meaning Zoom or other virtual video conferences are feasible from the side of any road. A test run between two E450s highlighted the hyper-clarity of the screen’s resolution, and an included whiteboard section of the app means you can send notes, scribbles, or sillier missives with a casual finger drag on the central screen.
For passengers, that camera can also be used in motion. While barreling down an Austrian highway, we messed around with snapping goofy TikTok videos, regular selfies, even filtering the images captured. Is the ability to recreate Carpool Karaoke necessary? Nope. Will you do just that at some point anyway? Yep.
Couple this mega screen with the Active Ambient Lighting with Sound Visualization) and a continuous lightstrip from the doors through the dash will augment your content experience in real-time. Gentle music or audio is represented by calm, tranquil lighting rhythms; pop on Warren G’s “Regulate,” and be treated to a high-pulse, beat-backed light show that feels ripped from a concert venue.
I do have the most minor of quibbles about the passenger screen, however. The rearward angling of the screen can sometimes lead to a bit of glare and wash out your content under heavy sun. Then again, that’s common to many such glass panels.
The E-Class uses A.I. to anticipate your wants and needs
The aim here, as per Mercedes, was to create a car that learns your personal habits and can facilitate your desires — sometimes without being prompted. Three routine options are offered with the 2024 E450: templates are basic, easily customizable routines; you could hop in and say “Kids mode,” and the car switches to fun and dynamic lighting while also firing up a playlist of your offspring’s favorite hits.
Self-created routines are also available. Here, for example, you could create a program entitled “Bad Day,” wherein after you utter those words to the infotainment system, the car’s Energizing Comfort mode would deliver a soothing aromatic scent and a hot, relaxing seat massage while blasting your favorite Fuel song — and when that’s finished, it calls your partner so you can vent.
Lastly, Mercedes’s foray into in-car A.I. sees the E450 trying to detect and fully automate repeated patterns. Maybe you always drive past the same water treatment plant on your way to work, and have to roll the windows up. By tapping into the GPS and learning your behavior, your windows can automatically go up when you pass a certain waypoint. Or, if you stop at a particular coffee shop daily, the car can recognize this and lower your windows and quiet the music as you pull into the drive-thru.
