I drove Mercedes-Benz’s all-new $88,000 E450 sedan. It’s pricey but remains the pinnacle of modern luxury

The new front grille features a large Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star logo surrounded by a constellation of smaller three-pointed stars set against a black background. The design evokes the look of the brand’s EQ-line of EVs.

The redesigned rear end features stylized three-pointed stars embedded into the LED taillights. The rear bumper features a chrome-accented lower diffuser and a pair of exhaust outlets.

The handles retract flush into the door when locked.

Aesthetically, the E-Class is a solid blend of modern looks and features while maintaining the stately elegance that has defined the brand for more than a century.

This is a departure from past years when rear-wheel-drive was the standard.

Mercedes updated the system to be lighter and allow more power to be sent to the front wheels to improve driving dynamics.

The E450’s interior harmoniously blends traditional luxury materials and features with an almost overwhelming amount of tech.

The centerpiece of the Mercedes cabin is the MBUX Superscreen, which consists of a pair of 12.3-inch screens in front of the driver and passenger with a large 14.4-inch screen nestled in between.

It dominates the conversation, overshadowing the interior’s rich Nappa leather, ambient lighting, brushed metal accents, and open-pore black ash wood veneers.

The screen not only features compulsory infotainment features like navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but boasts additional capabilities like media streaming and social media through built-in apps like YouTube and TikTok.

The surround-view camera gives the occupants a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

The display is one of the most impressively configurable instrument clusters available today. My favorite is the 3D navigation map view.

The steering wheel features two sets of capacitive touch controls. The controls on the left side of the wheel control adaptive cruise control and the digital instrument display. The controls on the right side manage the multimedia functions and can interact with the central infotainment screen.

I’m not a fan of the touch controls that Mercedes has decided to use instead of physical buttons and knobs throughout the cabin.

The lack of haptic feedback from the buttons makes them difficult and even distracting to use while driving. It definitely feels like Mercedes-Benz sacrificed substance in favor of style.

The center console of my test car came clad in gorgeous natural grain black ash wood with metallic accents. Slide the wood grain lid open and you’ll find a pair of large cup holders, a set of USB-C plugs, and a wireless phone charger.

The E450’s 730-watt Burmester surround sound system features 17 speakers.

The rear bench folds down for additional cargo capacity.

For more than a century, Mercedes-Benz has been the byword for automotive luxury.

That continues with the new E-Class sedan.

Despite the quickly escalating price tag and some obtuse controls that look great but are difficult to use, the E-Class remains the best midsize luxury sedan on the market today.

The E450 successfully delivers on the brand’s reputation for world-class performance, luxury, and technology.

Unlike most cars, the E-Class is more than just transportation to get you from point A to point B. Like its big brother S-Class, it makes it makes the occupant feel special.

A drive in the big Merc is more than just a drive. It’s a luxurious multimedia experience.

And that’s why I’d gladly have the E-Class everyday of my life.