2011 Mercedes Benz E350 BlueTec.There’s a reason German taxi drivers (among others across the globe) tend to favor Mercedes diesel sedans and this is it.
For the past few years, the automaker has only offered diesel enthusiasts a choice of two SUVs, the Mercedes Benz ML350 BlueTec and the GL350 BlueTec. The new Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec sedan is a 50-state diesel, meaning it meets emissions requirements in all 50 states by injecting AdBlue (urea) into the exhaust, which renders Nox harmless.
While the diesel only produces 210 hp, it carries a big stick, namely 400 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. For the sake of comparison, the Mercedes-Benz E550’s massive V-8 only manages to produce a rating of 391 pound-feet.
Despite the massive torque, acceleration is not the car’s strong point.
2011 Mercedes Benz E350 BLUETEC Review Summary: The 2011 Mercedes Benz E350 BLUETEC is unique among five-passenger luxury sedans, delivering an unmatched combination of fuel efficiency, European design, luxury, and endless torque. The 2011 Mercedes Benz E350 BLUETEC is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel and seven-speed driver-adaptive automatic transmission.
The official fuel economy estimates for the 2011 Mercedes Benz E350 BLUETEC are 22 city / 33 highway miles per gallon (MPG).
All testing performed with ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. Highway driving range is excellent, with a 21.1 gallon fuel tank and 2.4 gallon reserve.
A distinctive leather-wrapped steering wheel provides integrated controls for the phone and COMAND system.
All-in-all, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BLUETEC delivers wonderful fuel economy, with its torquey turbo-diesel and seven-speed transmission ensuring efficient cruising at speed.
The Mercedes-Benz diesel-powered mid-size sedan is as durable a notion as you’ll find in autodom. Mercedes created the world’s first production diesel-powered passenger car in 1935 and began putting oil burners in its mid-sizers (a.k.a. Pontons) in 1955. Stirring Diesel into the E-class Formula
Aside from torque, the other great advantage of diesel engines is their range. The higher energy density of the fuel compared with gas means that cars like the E350 BlueTec burn juice at a slower rate. We’ve enjoyed 35-mpg highway cruises in other contemporary E-class diesels.
6/13/11
2011 Mercedes Benz E350 BlueTec
