Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  To kick things off this morning we're going to get back to our Mercedes review coverage, starting with a total of four articles analyzing the Mercedes-Benz E500, the E300 BLUETEC by BRABUS, the E320 BLUETEC and the CLS320 CDI. 

First up:  a comparison review pitting the E500 against the BMW 550i, the Jaguar XF SV8 and the Lexus GS450h, with the full collection of reviews immediately after.

Enjoy.


Mercedes-Benz E500 (via Autospies)
Reviewer's rating:  1st place (out of four)

"The Mercedes V8 is refined, torquey and always eager to perform. At high speeds the Mercedes V8 is quieter than the screaming Lexus V6. The E-Class has outstanding comfort ratings and performs well in driving dynamics and has top ratings in having the car drive straight without the driver touching the steering wheel (like the Lexus). The seats don't offer enough side support though. The fuel consumption of 13.3 liters per 100 km is acceptable given the sporty driving style the car was exposed to. Inside the E-Class offers a lot of space for both front and rear passengers and the trunk is enormous with 540 liters of space. The trunk can be expanded by having the rear seats fold down giving the E-Class excellent markings in versatility. Overall the E500 is a very versatile car offering great performance, cabin- and luggage space, acceptable fuel economy and the best comfort in the group."

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Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetec by BRABUS (via car)
Reviewer's rating: 

"Just how do these tweaked diesels drive?  Muscular in a word, even in the environmentally conscious Bluetec version we tested. The Mercedes V6 diesel is a brilliant engine anyway and, in all honesty, not compromised at all by the Bluetec modifications.

Throttle response is sharp, the torque seemingly unstoppable and on the autobahn you’re playing with the big boys in the fast lane in no time. It means back home in the more regulated UK you’ll have to watch yourself if you’re to keep your licence clean, so effortless are big speeds in this car.

If you really want to drive hard you’ll still get more satisfaction from a petrol motor, for which Brabus also offers numerous upgrades of course. But if you cover a lot of miles and want some hassle-free extra oomph for minimal outlay there really seems no good reason not to spec your E320 CDI with a bit of Brabus magic if you live in the UK."

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Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC (via FOX)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

On paper, the E320 stacks up well against its closest gas-powered competitor, which happens to be Mercedes-Benz’s own E350. They look exactly the same, have identical interiors and each accelerates just as quickly as the other. At $53,025, the E320 does cost $1,000 more, but it’s actually cheaper to own in the long run.  With an EPA rating of 32-mpg highway/23-mpg city, the E320 gets 35 percent better mileage than the E350, at 24/17, and is the most fuel-efficient luxury car you can buy. Even factoring in the higher price for diesel fuel, an E320 owner should make up the premium she spent on it in less than three years. After that, it’s money in the bank.

The E320 is a fantastic long-haul companion. While there is a little of the familiar diesel clatter at idle, on the road the engine is as silent as any other. The only noise in the cabin comes from the wind and the road, and there’s not much of either of those. You can actually hear light gusts of wind hit the car, the normal rush of air that accompanies a car at a speed is that subdued.  As far as those seats are concerned, I have back trouble that usually kicks in after less than two hours behind the wheel of most cars. After 10 in the E320, I was feeling no pain. At that point, it was averaging 33.8 mpg, and that figure was up to 33.9 by the time I crossed the 600-mile mark."

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Mercedes-Benz CLS 320 CDI (via car)
Reviewer's rating: 

"It’s not bad but BMW’s similarly sized if less stylish 530d auto takes a couple of tenths out of the Merc to 62mph, does 42.8mpg and emits 30g/km less than the CLS. The Benz rides far better though with an assured big-car feel that smothers most imperfections with ease despite now having 18-inch wheels as standard.

And thanks to its quicker steering rack the CLS is more agile and communicative than its sensible E-class brother, if not quite able to shrug off its mass as well as Jaguar’s gymnastic XF. But it is incredibly quiet, barely a whisper of wind, tyre and engine noise creeping into the cabin. And for many buyers, that will be a more welcome character strength."

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And before I go, as special thanks to Shiv and Monk, both of whom were gracious enough to send us the reviews above.  As always gentlemen, we sincerely appreciate it.