2011 Mercedes E350 BlueTec Diesel Review

2011 Mercedes E350

At first glance, the 2011 E350 BlueTec looks like just another mid-sized diesel car from Mercedes-Benz. Nothing special, right?
At the heart of the E350 BlueTec is a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that – true to form – produces adequate horsepower and monster torque: 210-hp and 400 lb-ft respectively. Combined with the short gearing in the seven-speed automatic transmission, this Benz just flat-out scoots, hitting 60 mph from a stop in 6.7 seconds.
The electronic assists work hard to keep the rear wheels from peeling out, especially since the torque peaks at only 1,600 rpm. Floor it, feel the gearbox drop a couple – or three! – ratios, and it’s just a quiet, refined shot of power. The gears slur from one to the next with no real sense of change, unless you choose Sport mode where things are programmed to deliver slightly more feedback.

2011 Mercedes E350

For those wondering if the BlueTec is a smelly, noisy mess, the answer is no. The engine is 50-state certified for emissions, and in the E350 provides fuel economy ratings of 22-mpg in the city and 33-mpg on the highway. That’s a massive leap forward from the gas-powered model, which only gets 17/24-mpg. With the 21 gallon fuel tank, the BlueTec has a potential range of over 600 miles between fill-ups.

BUT THERE’S A CATCH

The only complication is Mercedes-Benz’ reliance on urea injection into the exhaust – known as AdBlue – which does require topping up with almost every oil change to keep the NOx emissions low. While not horrendously expensive, it is another regular cost to consider above and beyond the maintenance costs compared to a gasoline-powered equivalent.

2011 Mercedes E350

Regardless, the E350’s extra costs might be swept away after experiencing one yourself. The E-Class sedan is the segment leader in style and poise. The modern, sculpted shape is designed to cut through the air more efficiently, hiding a well-engineered platform with an independent suspension all around that’s adjustable for firmness. The brakes are well sized to bring the 4,059-lb. sedan to heel quickly, while standard 17-inch wheels with 45-series all-season tires do an adequate job of translating the driver’s demands to the pavement.
Visually, every E-Class can be ordered in either traditional Luxury trim with a four-slat grille and a monochrome interior highlighted by Burl Walnut, or with a no-charge Sport package that adds cross-drilled front brake discs hiding behind different 17-inch wheels, a three-bar grille, LED running lights, and a two-tone interior with aluminum accents. Regardless of which you choose, all BlueTec models come with LED taillights, heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals and dual exhaust.