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2008 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec Road Test

I'm not sure if it's an outcome of getting older or something specific about the cars themselves, but in the last five or so years I've grown from being a diehard BMW guy, having owned

The E-Class might be one of the older models in Mercedes' current lineup, but it still looks good from this angle. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

six, to finding myself more at home in almost any new Audi, Lexus or Mercedes-Benz. And I'm not quite sure where or when the transition occurred, but there hasn't been a new BMW sedan that has caused me to go all aflutter, in a way that would send me running into a dealership and laying real money on the table, in years, whereas the new Lexus IS and LS, Audi A4, A6 and A8, plus the new M-B C-, CLS- and S-Class really speak my language. Now don't get me wrong, from a driving perspective BMWs are still fabulous, but there's more to living with a car than on-road dynamics.

I know there are many who feel diametrically opposed to my viewpoint, evidenced by BMW's year over year growth, and it's all fine by me as such variety makes life in the car industry interesting. I just happen to be a very visual person, and BMW's four-door designs, whether outside or in, often tend to leave me a little flat. Really, the 5 gives off more of an Asian ambiance than its competitors from Lexus and Infiniti. The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec I tested recently, however, affects me in an entirely different way. It doesn't do a great

Its triangular taillights are starting to look a little derivative. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

deal for me as far as styling goes. It's attractive, in a very conservative sort of way, but standing next to the aforementioned C-, CLS- or S-Class it looks somewhat dated. The quad-oval headlamps were very fashionable when they debuted, and still look handsome flanking the classic Mercedes grille and three-pointed star hood ornament, contrasted by the car's overall side profile that is sleek and almost sporty. From the rear its triangular taillights, rounded at their outermost points, were a big improvement over the previous generation's ovoid horizontal lenses, but due to lesser cars copying M-B design elements they now look a little derivative. Hmmm... maybe that's what BMW was doing when they came up with designs that no one in their right mind would copy?

All of this hardly matters when inside, mind you, as the E-Class cabin is quite marvelous. Where the aforementioned 5 is overly techie and leaves me feeling

The E's interior is rich, and one of my favorites. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

a bit cold, and the Lexus is a tad too common, leaving me feeling a little old, the Merc is just right, with nice contemporary design, not too edgy yet not too boring either, plus acres of high-gloss burred walnut to give it that rich parlor room atmosphere most of us expect in a luxury car. The textures of the plastics and fabrics are high-quality, of course, and the leather, either the Artico man-made material or the genuine stuff is generally soft and supple enough to add grip to the seat cushions, where it's needed. And those ten-way power adjustable seats are extremely comfortable too, supportive in all the right places to my backside's content, with seat heaters that do a good job of relieving minor back pain, important with a car that can achieve more than 683 miles of driving between fill-ups. Other comfort-related goodies available to E320 buyers include a nice, large panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats and SmartKey proximity sensing keyless access and push-button start (integrated into the top of gearshift knob no less);

The audio system is great, enhanced with this cool powered cover that allows access to the CD player. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

probably my favorite new convenience feature that is fortunately now available on most luxury cars and many entry-level ones too. Navigation and xenon headlights, which are pretty much a must for any car in this class, will set you back further still. Even the stock stereo system is a treat, a harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound unit with an MP3-compatible six-disc CD changer, auxiliary input in glove box and Sirius satellite radio. The COMAND system also includes cell phone preparation with a Bluetooth adapter and the OnStar-like TeleAid emergency calling system.

Also surprising, the E320 is quiet inside. Actually, this diesel-powered E is just as quiet as the V8-powered E550, and much quieter than the outgoing 3.2-liter CDI model. Of course, this is what should be expected in a luxury sedan. Then again, while quiet is all nice and everything, does it go? Just because it's a diesel-powered luxury four-door doesn't mean that it can't perform when called upon. Actually, it's quite agile, something I experienced throughout my test week and

It's quick and handles well. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

especially so during a jaunt up to a favorite local ski hill. The road switchbacks on its way up the mountainside with everything from long, sweeping curves to sharp hairpins, while the road surface is mostly good, although in some places it dips down suddenly where the roadbed underneath has given way. This makes for some excitement at high speed if the test car isn't up to the challenge, but Mercedes' midsize model is more than capable of sorting out pavement imperfections. It absorbs such abnormalities with grace and complete composure, all the while tracking wonderfully. Part of this stability is due to its rigid body structure, never even spouting out a groan of dissatisfaction, while its highly responsive and well-damped fully independent suspension system is oh-so German.

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