The Mercedes Benz E350 is the middle-level E-Class trim which means that it is also one of, if not the most popular and best sold E-Class model yet. The E350 typically comes with a 6-cylinder engine with between 200hp and 305hp which means that it is more or less perfectly positioned for a mid-size luxury sedan.
The best E350 model years are the 2009 Mercedes E350, the 2015 E350, and the 2019 Mercedes Benz E350. The 2009 E350 is on this list because it is one of the most reliable E350 models which was way ahead of its time when it came out. The 2015 E350 is the very latest W212 E-Class model which means that it is the best W212 there is.
Finally, the W213 E350 from 2019 is also the latest W213 model. The most reliable one of these three seems to be the 2009 model. The best value option out of these three is the W212 while the best overall experience is offered in the 2019 E350.
All three of these are popular options on the second-hand market which means that finding them is rather easy. The W213 post-facelift E-Class is probably the best E-Class to ever exist, but it does not come with a 350 model because Mercedes replaced it with the E300 with a smaller engine.
2009 Mercedes Benz E350
2009 was a fairly good year for Mercedes as their 2009 cars all seem to be reliable, good-looking, and desirable. The reason why the 2009 E-Class is the best E350 model yet is that it is the reliability champion. The W211 is also one of the most successful E-Class models ever, especially the post-facelift models like the one we have here.
The 2009 E350 comes with a 3.5L V6 with 272hp, 4MATIC AWD, and a dependable 5-speed automatic gearbox. The W211 bridges the gap between the modern-day technology-driven Mercedes philosophy and the old-school Mercedes reliability-comes-first approach.
The W211 E350 lacks the majority of features you’d come to expect from a modern-day mid-size luxury sedan, but that does not stop it from being what it is, and that is a great, comfortable, and luxurious car. The 3.5L N/A engine found in the W211 E350 is bulletproof and known to last upwards of 600,000 miles without needing major overhauls.
2015 Mercedes E350
The W212 facelift E-Class is also one of the best E-Class options ever. The facelift W212 introduces the E-Class to the modern era because the W212 facelift was the first E-Class to ever use LED headlights and taillights. The pre-facelift W212 was never loved because it looks a bit weird, certainly not as good-looking as the C7 Audi A6, or even the F10 BMW 5-Series.
The 2015 E350 comes with a 3.5L V6 with 306hp, the Mercedes 7G-Tronic 7-speed gearbox, and the Mercedes 4MATIC AWD. The W212 facelift also benefits from lots of modern-day technology and safety features which make it cutting edge even today. The reliability of the facelift W212 is also great and that is why so many people love the newest W212.
The 3.5L 306hp engine is perfect for a car such as the E-Class because it is powerful, but not overly inefficient. Sure, you could go for the top-level E63 model with its crazy 6.2L V8, but as a daily driver, the E350 is a lot better. Lastly, these have depreciated quite a bit which means that they can now be had for only a fraction of what they cost back in 2015.
2019 Mercedes E350
The W213 E-Class is the newest because the facelift model only came out a year ago. When it comes to choosing the best-looking E-Class ever, the W213 is certainly at the very top of that list. The reason why is that it looks like a better-proportioned Mercedes Benz S-Class.
The W213 E350 comes with a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine with 300hp. This is a huge departure from previous E350 models which rely on 6-cylinder engines and is the reason why not all that many people are interested in buying one. However, the E-Class is a luxury car, and the 2.0L 4-cylinder in the E350 is smooth, efficient, and powerful enough.
If you want a cray E-Class, go for an AMG model, but if you want a luxurious, effortless, and efficient E-Class, go for the E350. The days of high displacement engines are coming to an end which means that we will have to get used to 2.0L 4-cylinder luxury cars in the future.
FAQ Section
Which are the worst Mercedes Benz E-Class model years?
The 2006 Mercedes E350 is one of the least reliable Mercedes Benz sedans ever because many online sites list it as incredibly problematic. These problems are associated with the engine, shaft failures, transmission, and suspension. According to some sites, the 2006 E350 is the most complained about Mercedes model in general.
The W210 E-Class is also one of the worst Mercedes sedans ever because it looks outright weird and is also brimming with lots of issues. The W210 E-Class is the W220 S-Class of the E-Class range which means that it offers the biggest downgrade in outright quality in the history of the E-Class family tree.
Should I buy a Mercedes E350?
Mercedes has managed to sell upwards of 15 million E-Class models in its lifetime which means that many people decided that the E-Class is a great car. The E350 is the most popular E-Class in every model year the E350 was offered which means that you should indeed consider one.
The mid-size luxury sedan market is brimming with lots of amazing brands and models such as the Audi A6, the BMW 5-Series, the Jaguar XF, and the Volvo S90. All of these are now really closely matched and are able to trade punches for days, but if you love the Mercedes Benz approach, the E-Class is the car for you.
How does the Mercedes Benz E-Class compare to the Audi A6, and the BMW 5-Series?
The Mercedes Benz E-Class is the classiest and most grown-up feeling option of the three because it typically is the most luxurious one of the bunch. The BMW 5-Series is the most youthful option because it is a driver’s car that is a lot more fun to drive, but not as luxurious as the E-Class.
The Audi A6 is somewhere in the middle of these two, but closer to the E-Class. This means that the Audi A6 often feels the dullest to drive, but it manages to combine luxury, effortlessness, and dynamics the best.
