New E350 SE Petrol First Impression

[akeithj]

I am currently on holiday in the USA and have a new model E350 as a rental.Initial impressions are that it's a big car even out here, the new front and rear profiles give the car great road presence.The interior is the artificial leather and for the most part looks ok, it reminds me a bit of the leather in 3 series BMW's.The car has wood accents on the dash and door and although not generally a fan of wood this looks good and compliments the interior of the car very well, the ambient lighting also looks very nice.
In my view this particular engine suits the car very well,smooth and quiet when crushing but with a nice sound when accelerating hard, the auto box is also very smooth, the biggest difference from the UK autos is its ability to step off the line, there is no hint of a delay whether in sport or Eco mode.The ride is first class, al though the roads out here tend to be well surfaced and quite smooth.All in all I am impressed.

A

 

[BigSilverEstate]

Do they really alter the gearbox for the US market? Why would we Europeans want the laggy version?

Have a nice holiday and thanks for the review

 

[moff]

Do they really alter the gearbox for the US market? Why would we Europeans want the laggy version?

Have a nice holiday and thanks for the review

Will be the same gearbox.

 

[st13phil]

Do they really alter the gearbox for the US market?

I don't think they do. I think that people in the UK are increasingly used to driving turbo charged engines which, despite massive improvements over the years, simply don't have the instant response off the line that a bigger normally aspirated engine does.

My E350CDI is pretty quick off the line, and has impressive mid-range acceleration, but the initial response to the throttle is nowhere near as explosive as my wife's normally aspirated SLK350.

 

[akeithj]

I suspect the actual gearbox is no different, but perhaps the software controlling it is, whatever it is I like it.