E-nough to stand alone
Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon is in a class of its own

There aren't many vehicles in the hyper-competitive Canadian car market without direct competitors, but Mercedes-Benz will soon be selling two: the Mercedes-Benz E320 4MATIC wagon and the recently confirmed Smart Fortwo (née City coupe), the bubbly cute microcar that has brightened up European cities for five years now.

Considering the fact that the Fortwo won't be in dealerships until September, that leaves the E320 4MATIC wagon as one of the few vehicles on the road that doesn't have to look around at what others in its class are doing. Even the aerodynamic as a brick, military-style Mercedes G500 has the Hummer H2 to battle with for vehicular muscle seekers.

Meanwhile, the E320 wagon is the only mid-size, all-wheel drive luxury wagon that doesn't pretend to be an SUV. The Audi allroad is its closest rival, but is still $18,000 or so less than the Benz and pushed more as an SUV than a wagon (although whether buyers care how it's marketed is up for debate). The Volvo V70 T5 is a luxurious wagon, but a further step down from the Merc in size, opulence and price. Plus, neither offers the 7-passenger seating that's standard on all E-Class wagons.

You can chalk up this lack of market pressure to the flocking of luxury carmakers to SUVs (generally 4-wheel drive pickup-derived trucks) and crossover models (mainly all-wheel drive wagons on stilts). Which leaves the $76,300 E320 4MATIC wagon on its own lonely pedestal, waiting for the winds of high fashion to blow back in the direction of fine handling wagon versions of luxury sedans.

From a styling standpoint, our E320 wagon tester struck a handsome, but conservative chord. Mercedes takes relatively few risks in this area, in contrast to market nemesis BMW, especially over the past couple of years. This brand-wide traditionalism is partly why Mercedes-Benz has garnered a reputation as the stolid old guard of the luxury car class.

This theme of classic Teutonic opulence is continued inside, but with a pronounced dose of technology. Finely polished burl walnut wood warms up the interior of the E320 (it's also available on the steering wheel and shifter).

Although both front seats are heated, only partial leather seats are standard, which is an eyebrow raiser at this price. A host of full leather seating options are available, but at a pricey $2,950 or more. If I'm dishing out almost 80 large on a premium automobile, I might be willing to pay a little extra for super cushy Nappa leather ($3,655), but even a $33,000 Hyundai XG 350 comes standard with a full hide interior.

Mercedes has thankfully stayed away from the multi-function knobs that are multiplying through the upper echelons of luxury carmakers, and most major functions will be familiar to those who have driven other Benz models. Simply sitting in our tester conveyed a sense of timeless quality that will look good 30 years from now.

The driving experience reinforces this feeling of quality. A sophisticated, independent suspension with multiple links all around allows road bumps to be subdued on all but the most rim-abusing potholes.

The muted sound coming from under the E320's hood while you're having fun in the corners is courtesy of a 3.2-litre gem of a V6 engine (and plenty of sound-absorbing material). Highway cruising is as serene as a quiet holiday spent lounging by the lake. Power is plentiful if not outstanding, with 221 hp, although low-end grunt of 232 lb-ft of torque moves the two-tonne Merc around with gusto. Those looking for major muscle in their Benz wagon can always move up to the V8-powered E500, which becomes a serious hauler with over 300 hp.

The E320 wagon offers more than a larger rump for extra cargo. The rear-facing third row comes complete with cupholders for the little ones and disappears when not needed. The second row can also be folded flat, allowing for a huge 1950 litres of cargo space or more than four times what an E-Class sedan can hold in its trunk.

Once you have gear loaded in the cargo area, there's a button on the bottom of the rear door that powers the load floor up and out a few inches, ostensibly to ease loading and unloading, but likely more for the "gee-whiz" factor. There's also a powered cargo cover that motors up and back when opening the tailgate, and re-covers your valuables after closing the hatch. You can even order a power tailgate control that allows you to open and close the tailgate from your remote.

A veritable alphabet soup of safety devices is available. Besides ESP, there's also side airbags and side curtains to protect outboard rear seat occupants, so the E320 is never short on safety systems.

Other neat optional electronic tricks, besides the moving cargo floor and tailgate, include radar-based cruise control, a Keyless Go system that lets you unlock and then start your car without removing the key fob from your pocket, swivelling bi-xenon headlights that follow steering wheel inputs and a heated steering wheel.

None of which are offered on its non-existent competition.

Immediate competition:
Audi Allroad,
Volvo V70 T5