2010 MERCEDES-BENZ E550
By DAVID COLMAN
This is one sweetheart of a Mercedes. You can fall in love with it on looks alone. Or you can become enamored of its stellar performance. If neither of these criteria motivate you, then try practicality, because this is a car with two-seater looks and go, but room enough for four and their luggage. By any quantifiable measure, this all-new for 2010 pillarless coupe is the best bargain to come out of Stuttgart in decades with a base price of just $54,650. Of course, you’ll want to up the ante a bit with the $3,950 optional “P01” Premium Package which adds a 40GB Navigation hard-drive with COMAND control stick, Logic7 Surround Sound, plus all the entertainment and information sources any sentient being could possibly want (Realtime Traffic Data, HD and Sirius Radio, and iPod/MP3 interface with cable connector included). The P01 Package also adds really nice 3 setting heated front seats (used every day), a power rear window shade (didn’t use), and a rear backup camera (which we ignored).Â
Mercedes could easily market this svelte new coupe as a sports car, since its got the looks and performance to compete with Chevy’s Corvette and Porsche’s 911. That’s a pretty heavy league, but … the E550’s splendid 5.5 liter V8, which pegs the meter at 382hp at 6,000rpm and dishes out 391 lb.-ft. of torque all the way from 2,800rpm to 4,800rpm, propels this rocket from 0-60mph in just 5 seconds. You can select a sport setting by depressing a handily located button in the center of the dash that changes the behavior of the standard air suspension by revalving the shocks for less compliance over bumps. In this mode, the big Benz feels especially well planted and stable, helped along by the generously sized Pirelli P Zero Nero radials, sized 235/40/18 up front and 255/35R18 rear. The downside of the Pirellis is their excessive noise on certain types of pavement. Â
Mercedes has done wonders in upgrading their heretofore operationally puzzling COMAND system. The simple addition of a “Back” button next to the central joy stick on the console makes it ever so much easier to navigate without encountering dead ends. In fact, of the three German systems now in the market, I’d say COMAND ties with Audi as best in class, with BMW’s iDrive a distant third. In addition to this improvement is the reconfiguration of the coupe’s interior. If you want to carry 2 rear seat passengers, all you need do for access is pull a chrome lever up on the outside of the front seats and the entire seat slides forward automatically. When your passengers are aboard, reverse the slide by simply flopping the seat backwards. Your passengers needn’t fear claustrophobia because this coupe is equipped with the biggest sunroof I’ve ever seen, one that stretches from the A pillar header all the way to the rear window. It includes a full length shade which can be retracted for maximum cabin light, plus a half-length sliding sunroof that opens to the outside. Even the rear seats fold down in 1 60/40 pattern that allows you to configure the interior for virtually any kind of load. Try doing that in your Corvette or 911.Â
2010 MERCEDES-BENZ E550 COUPE
Engine:Â 5.5 liter 32 valve aluminum V-8
Transmission:Â 7-speed driver-adaptive automatic with shift paddles
Horsepower:Â 382 @ 6,000rpm
Torque:Â 391 lb.-ft. @ 2,800-4,800rpm
Fuel Economy: 15city/23 highway Â
Price as tested:Â $60,125