2007 Mercedes E350

I always enjoy when I have a Mercedes Benz to test drive. The 2007 E350 is another fine example of a 5 passenger luxury sedan. Unfortunately it was not the all-wheel drive model and I had to leave it parked during our secondweekend blizzard of the season. It did fine until I got into one foot of unplowed snow at the top of Floyd Hill. I would definitely recommend the 4Matic all-wheel drive option for our mountain dwellers.

The current E-Class design has introduced many innovations not necessarily apparent to the eye. This was the first Mercedes sedan to use aluminum body components extensively, starting with the hood, front fenders, trunk lid, front cross member and front sub frame. Aluminum is lighter and stronger but more expensive than steel. According to Mercedes, aluminum amounts to 10 percent of the body's weight. About 37 percent of the total is modern high-strength steel alloys. From an aerodynamic perspective, the E-Class is one of the most wind resistant sedans in existence. Its 0.27 coefficient of drag, identical to the 2006 model, is a benchmark for sedans and helps minimize wind noise and maximize fuel economy, 19 mpg/city and 26 mpg/highway. It is one of the quietest cars you will ever ride in.

I really enjoyed the Mercedes E-Class interior. The E-Class sedan delivers plenty of passenger space, and has all the luxury features you would expect. It's luxurious, yet functional, and loaded with features without being excessive. The E-Class has all the traditional Mercedes interior cues, starting with its standard dark stained burl walnut trim. Dual-Zone automatic climate control, 10-way power adjustable front seats with 3-position memory, auto dimming rear/drivers side mirrors and speed sensitive steering all come standard on the 2007 E350.

The E350 comes with a 3.5-liter engine introduced for 2006, which was the first Mercedes V6 with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The 3.5-liter V6 generates 268 hp and it matches well with the high-tech seven-speed automatic transmission that comes standard. The E350 is as responsive at altitude as any V6-powered car I have ever driven. The 3.5-liter V6 has fully variable valve timing, delivering an impressive amount of torque from idle all the way to redline. The E350 responds immediately, no matter how fast it's already traveling when the driver hits the gas pedal. The 3.5-liter engine is also very smooth, particularly at higher rpm's. And thanks to the seven-speed automatic, it delivers decent fuel mileage. The 2007 E350 Mercedes-Benz E-Class ($57,855) features a more powerful engine, along with subtle styling changes, new interior elements, and a few tweaks for handling and safety.

Denis and his wife Jeanie live in Evergreen and own the Mountain Man Nut & Fruit store in Bergen Park.