Very little, but there are pain points. MBUX remains a paragon of “where the hell is that function?” and “where the hell is that function I just used?” and “why is that function in this menu?” We’re slowly getting used to where to find frequently used items, but occasionally or rarely used settings always take a few dives into and back out of multiple menus—not great if you’re trying to use them on the run. And we haven’t yet found a real use for the giant infotainment Hyperscreen’s front passenger display.

Finally, it took me until approximately right now to figure out the rear cupholder situation. I would like to think my kids are smart—whether I am is another question—but the “one hard press to release phone holder, one gentler press to release cupholders” isn’t the most intuitive sequence, and it’s difficult if not impossible for much younger riders to execute. This is a family wagon, no? Plus, if both are extended, the drinks block the phones/tablet. It would be better if the cupholders emerged first, the far less frequently used device holder second.

Also, capacitive controls—especially those on steering wheels—clearly escaped from some circle of hell to torment us all.

We’re Testing a Mercedes-Benz Station Wagon for a Year. Here’s How It’s Going So Far.

You just knew we’d test the wagon over the sedan.Erik JohnsonWriter

Jim FetsPhotographerSep 04, 2025

Meet one of the newest cars in our long-term fleet, the 2025 Mercedes E450 All-Terrain station wagon. It’s here because the E-Class lineup won our 2025 Car of the Year award, and we always subject our winners to a yearlong torture test to see how they hold up to regular use.

Why the wagon? Because we’re pragmatists at heart, and while the E-Class sedan is a lovely and satisfying luxury car, the long-roof version is way more practical, thus encouraging more varied use by our staff. Plus, it’s gorgeous—just look at the thing. And of course, because we’re predictable automotive journalists who subscribe to wagon memes, we ordered ours painted Sonoran Brown over Tonka Brown (and black) leather.

There’s no diesel under the hood nor a manual transmission backing up the engine, though. This Merc is powered by a syrupy-smooth 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six backed up by a mild hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic.

How Long Will We Be Testing It?

As the title of the story should reveal, the E450 will be in our care for a year. It will be based at our Detroit office, which has four real seasons and should prove a truer challenge for its all-weather capabilities. We also plan to put the All-Terrain part of its name to the test, exploring how far off the beaten path we can take this E-Class.

What Options Did We Get?

You can see the laundry list below in the specifications panel, but we can tell you the big wheels don’t ruin the ride and look fantastic, the Advanced USB package (which brings the number of USB-C ports to six) is indispensable for those hauling kids and their devices, and the maple wood trim with aluminum lines is upscale and stylish. And those are just the cheaper options. In a future update, we’ll run down the rest of the add-ons and whether they’re worth the price.

What Do We Dislike So Far?

Very little, but there are pain points. MBUX remains a paragon of “where the hell is that function?” and “where the hell is that function I just used?” and “why is that function in this menu?” We’re slowly getting used to where to find frequently used items, but occasionally or rarely used settings always take a few dives into and back out of multiple menus—not great if you’re trying to use them on the run. And we haven’t yet found a real use for the giant infotainment Hyperscreen’s front passenger display.

Finally, it took me until approximately right now to figure out the rear cupholder situation. I would like to think my kids are smart—whether I am is another question—but the “one hard press to release phone holder, one gentler press to release cupholders” isn’t the most intuitive sequence, and it’s difficult if not impossible for much younger riders to execute. This is a family wagon, no? Plus, if both are extended, the drinks block the phones/tablet. It would be better if the cupholders emerged first, the far less frequently used device holder second.

Also, capacitive controls—especially those on steering wheels—clearly escaped from some circle of hell to torment us all.

What Do We Like So Far?

The ride quality is silken over pretty much any sort of pavement, even with our car’s upsized 20-inch wheels. “It handles big bumps like a 747 handles mild turbulence,” said one staffer. The seats are all-day comfortable, which is good because the range is incredible—we’ve covered more than 430 miles multiple times. The display will sometimes predict a range of more than 500 miles after some fill-ups, as well, and we can’t wait to put that to the test. We’re sitting at 26.9 mpg combined so far, nearly 2 higher than the EPA’s 25-mpg combined estimate, to boot.

Speaking of beating estimates, Mercedes reports a 0–60-mph time of 4.6 seconds for the All-Terrain, and we recorded 4.4. That’s mighty quick for a non-electric family vehicle, especially one pushing “just” 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Our first thought is that the E450 must be making more power than advertised. Perhaps a visit to a dyno is in order. Stay tuned.

The audio system is superb, forward visibility is fantastic, we appreciate the stowage space both up front and in the cargo area, and the E450 All-Terrain is genuinely rewarding to drive. Fingers crossed, this is going to be a really good year.