1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The sophisticated stance of the E420 emphasizes its solidity. The car remains a traditional Germanic sedan that presents a mature, '90s interpretation of conventional styling, relieved by its raked-back, ellipsoidal headlamps. In between them is a traditional Benz chrome grille opening to bridge the gap between old and new.

It's a daring look by Mercedes standards, one that enhances aerodynamic efficiency. The tidy overall design includes a large wheel/tire combination that fills the wheelwells with grippy rubber whose competence we'll discuss again later.

In synch with today's upscale design practice, the E420 is devoid of excess chrome embellishment. This is a true example of the less-is-more principle. Besides the grille, the coveted three-pointed star, and modest badging on the rear, the only other chrome is a narrow strip virtually encircling the car at the beltline. The E420 is a clean and subdued design, and one that doesn't need any chrome dress-ups. That would be like pinning an orchid to a tuxedo. You can do it, but what's the point.

There are desirable features galore in this car, but the one that grabbed our attention like a 200-point rise in the Dow was the powerful V8 engine. Few other world-class automobiles produce such a sensational combination of sound and fury. In addition to the 275 hp at 5700 rpm, it pumps up 295 pound-feet of torque and scores EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway.

The engine's variable intake-valve timing is a bit of technical wizardry that brings some important benefits. By continuously adjusting the opening and closing of the valves, maximum performance and optimum fuel economy is achieved throughout the operating range. Ancillary blessings include smoother idle quality, improved torque, and more power at high speeds.

Though our test car wasn't so equipped, Mercedes' intelligent Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is an option worth checking into. With this quick-witted system, electronics constantly monitor the car's forward progress and compare many simultaneous inputs to determine if the sedan is going in the direction the driver is trying to achieve. If not, the computers decide a skid or slide is in progress, reduce engine power, and selectively engage the antilock brakes to square the car to the steering inputs.

Interior Features

Before Mercedes began creating its recent string of high-tech road rockets, its principal claim to fame was as a first-class luxury liner. That hasn't changed in the modern era.

German cars, this make included, are sometimes criticized for a perception of Spartanism, a chilly sort of luxury. It's true that Mercedes refrains from overt ostentation. But it's hard to think of this car's quietly sophisticated interior as cold.

Tasteful use of burl walnut wood trim and a matching color scheme make the E420's interior easy on the eyes. Dual front airbags face front bucket seats, and two more airbags reside in the front door trim panels to help protect against side impacts. Leather seat covering is standard for the E420 and E320, optional for the E300D.

A laundry list of standard equipment includes all of the usual comfort and convenience suspects, including all the power-operated amenities. Chief among them are some of our favorites, such as keyless remote entry, integrated universal garage door opener, automatic dual-zone climate control with a charcoal particulates filter (very nice for those of us with hay fever), and an anti-theft system.

But then, this being Mercedes, we get a few decidedly non-standard standard items. Two we especially like are the power tilt/telescope steering column and the power headrest adjusters. We like the tilt/tele feature for its ultimate convenience, but we like the power headrests mostly because they're so darn cool. And they provide fast adjustment to an individual driver, too, of course.

One of the few extra-cost options with which our tester was equipped had two constituents: the integrated hands-free mobile phone installed in the center-console armrest, and a six-disc CD changer located in the trunk. These were supplements to the E420's standard AM/FM/Weather band radio, a unit that can pump out more volume than most of us would care to hear on short notice.