Coinciding with an E-Class mid-cycle refresh, Mercedes-Benz鈥?choice of a four-cylinder diesel for the new E250 BlueTEC is its first for a U.S. 1980s, and it replaces the V6 of the previous E350 BlueTEC. And, the BlueTEC is the most frugal fuel sipper, surpassing even the E400 Hybrid and competitive with comparable sedans from BMW and Audi. All 2014 E-Class sedans produced after January received extra reinforcement - thus weight - in the footwell area to improve small overlap crash results. The downside is highway mpg - a diesel鈥檚 normal claim to fame, and a chief advantage of M-B鈥檚 under-the-hood downsizing - suffered more than city mpg. The E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC we drove was built before January and easily beat its number with upward of 44-plus mpg on the highway with cruise control set and varying speeds up to 70 mph. With no offense to Mercedes-Benz - and indeed the contrary intended - the new all-aluminum DOHC 2.1-liter turbo four is like giving the E-Class a compact-sized heart of a Peterbuilt. To smooth the in-line four, Lanchester balance shafts spin at twice crankshaft speed in, low-friction roller bearings. Two-stage turbos essentially eliminate lag.

Coinciding with an E-Class mid-cycle refresh, Mercedes-Benz鈥?choice of a four-cylinder diesel for the new E250 BlueTEC is its first for a U.S. 1980s, and it replaces the V6 of the previous E350 BlueTEC. And, the BlueTEC is the most frugal fuel sipper, surpassing even the E400 Hybrid and competitive with comparable sedans from BMW and Audi. All 2014 E-Class sedans produced after January received extra reinforcement - thus weight - in the footwell area to improve small overlap crash results. The downside is highway mpg - a diesel鈥檚 normal claim to fame, and a chief advantage of M-B鈥檚 under-the-hood downsizing - suffered more than city mpg. The E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC we drove was built before January and easily beat its number with upward of 44-plus mpg on the highway with cruise control set and varying speeds up to 70 mph. With no offense to Mercedes-Benz - and indeed the contrary intended - the new all-aluminum DOHC 2.1-liter turbo four is like giving the E-Class a compact-sized heart of a Peterbuilt. To smooth the in-line four, Lanchester balance shafts spin at twice crankshaft speed in, low-friction roller bearings. Two-stage turbos essentially eliminate lag.

Mercedes-Benz also has this engine in the GLK250 BlueTEC. Common to a long-haul truck and the new BlueTEC is a low-revving torquey powerplant that just eats miles without a fuss - plus the accoutrements of the sedan make for a very comfortable interstate drive. The 2.1-liter鈥檚 195 horsepower is respectable, and its characteristically higher torque figure - 369 pounds-feet at 1,800 rpm - is a big number coming from such a modest-sized four. It helps to check local diesel prices. The 50-state emission-certified vehicle uses AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid which is metered into the exhaust in small quantities to control nitrogen oxides. Mercedes-Benz does this with sequential twin turbos, 28,400-psi direct injection, vane-type variable valve timing, and - lacking 900cc and two cylinders - it gives up little compared to the 210-horsepower, 400-pound-feet 3.0-liter V6 it replaced. Channeling the power is a 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters which makes good use of the torque, usually revving very low to save fuel. Despite the ostensibly big torque figure, 0-60 mph takes around the middle-7-second range, although once rolling, speed can build deceptively fast up to and beyond the limit.

Stylistically, the E-Class has a more aggressive face, and comes in a sport or luxury trim. The look is now crisper, intended to appeal to younger drivers. Ours was the sport model, and one giveaway to that is the lack of luxury model鈥檚 traditional silver star hood ornament replaced instead with a big star in the grille. Accenting the front are bigger air intakes, LED daytime running lights with LED headlamps available as an option, and rear tail lights are LED. The result is a sportier yet still dignified-appearing car with a presence a cut above the increasingly common C-Class Benzes but still not to be confused with the head-of-state-worthy S-Class sedans. 64,554 including destination. Gauge arrangement is well thought out, and white-backed analog dials are clear, and aesthetically pleasing. Along the dash centerline is a tasteful rectangular analog clock that borders on jewelry. Seats were vented MB Tex - Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 super high quality vinyl that appears and feels like genuine leather but may wear better and is easier to clean.

Other materials too were high-quality imitations - such as the wood that was not real wood, but looks close, and also ought to be lower maintenance and longer lasting. Front leg and head room is fine for the over-6-foot crowd, and rear seating is adequate, if not as spacious. In all, this is an extremely nice upper-mid-level luxury sedan, but the COMAND infotainment is only OK. It comes with a generation-behind 30-pin connector for your wireless device, and learning its idiosyncrasies is not the most intuitive. Is it a deal breaker? Not unless this is the most important feature to you, and we could make use of it well enough while enjoying so many other positives in the balance. The system also handles voice commands well, and we like the old-fashioned-looking HD Radio Receiver too. Mercedes-Benz makes a classy car. Rounding out an overview of what鈥檚 inside, our car came with 11 airbags, and was laden with the company鈥檚 Intelligent Drive safety tech, now a suite of over 30 active and passive safety technologies that work together.

2800 Driver Assistance Package includes a multiple-radar and stereoscopic camera enabled adaptive cruise control system verging on self-driving capability in certain situations, though officially, that鈥檚 discouraged. Its proper name is Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, and it鈥檚 intended to relieve stress in bumper-to-bumper traffic, maintain safe following distance, and more. It might also let you survive inattentive driving, and even - we are not recommending it - texting at the wheel. Brake Assist BAS PLUS. Distronic Plus with Steering Assist. Stereoscopic cameras read 1600 feet in front to sense traffic patterns. 鈥?DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist: radar-based cruise control system with semi-autonomous steering inputs that can work from 0-124 mph depending on road conditions. 鈥?PRE-SAFE Brake: Autonomously brakes the vehicle up to 31 mph with or without driver input, and can partially mitigate accidents up to 45 mph. 鈥?PRE-SAFE PLUS: rear-facing radar that senses possible rear collisions and prepares the vehicle for a possible secondary incident into an active intersection.