2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec
Luxury
If Mercedes can't win in this category, they've really got to start some soul searching, right? There's certainly a lot of luxury to be found in the E-Class: 14-way power front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, burl walnut or black ash wood trim, a 6-disc in-dash CD/DVD changer and rich leather upholstery. Hold on a minute — that's not leather, that's MB-Tex, Mercedes-Benz's own brand of vinyl, which does a pretty good job of fooling the casual observer. If you want real leather, you're going to have to cough up another $1,620. In fact, there are quite a few luxuries that don't come standard on the E-Class. Heated seats cost $450; a parking guidance system costs $970; even split-folding rear seats that give access to the trunk cost an additional $440.
The Sonata Limited is already that sedan's highest trim level, so it comes with pretty much everything Hyundai's got to offer in terms of luxury. That means 8-way power adjustable leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats (front and rear), in-dash CD changer, Bluetooth phone link, wireless key with push-button start and a sunroof. The only option for this vehicle is a $2,100 navigation package that also adds a backup camera and premium audio, topping out the Sonata's price at just under $30,000. The E350, on the other hand, can really escalate in price when you tack on the options. We managed to add more than $25,000 in extras without even exploring alternate engines or all-wheel-drive options.
Granted, when you option the E-Class out, you're getting a truly opulent vehicle with amenities such as a dual-screen, rear-seat entertainment system; intelligent cruise control; chrome accents; illuminated doorsills; massaging seats; a wood steering wheel; and a blind-spot monitoring system. But then you're comparing a $30,000 car with a $75,000 car. For that much money, you could buy a Hyundai Sonata, hire a driver for a year, buy an iPad and sit in the back as you're chauffeured around — effectively giving you automated, intelligent (i.e., human) cruise control and a backseat entertainment system.
Compare: Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs. Cadillac DTS vs. BMW 5-Series
Reliability
This has generally been a strong suit of Mercedes-Benz. It has for years scored high on J.D. Power and Associates' long-term dependability and initial quality surveys. The E-Class, in particular, gets high marks for its fit and finish and initial quality. But after some poor results in the early 1980s, Hyundai has been trending up in the reliability and initial quality surveys. Now, as a brand, the South Korean manufacturer gets the same 4-star J.D. Power ranking as Mercedes.
The Sonata was redesigned for 2011 and the E-Class was redesigned for 2009, so it's impossible to predict how the current models will hold up over time. In Hyundai's favor is a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, plus a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, so pretty much any major problem that occurs within that time frame isn't your problem. The E-Class is covered by only a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty; to buy coverage equivalent to Hyundai's from Mercedes, expect to pay upward of $3,000.
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Style
This is, of course, a subjective assessment. Do you like the sharp, angular Teutonic lines of the E-Class or the equally sharp, sweeping cuts on the flanks of the Sonata? What is clear is that the luxury segment no longer has a monopoly on rich paint jobs, dramatic grilles and stately sheet metal. In our humble opinion, the E-Class still outshines the Sonata when it comes to the fit and finish of its interior and the quality of the materials used inside the cabin. The Sonata still has a high plastic-to-metal ratio when it comes to trim, while the wood accents in the Mercedes add a distinct touch of class. But is the Mercedes twice as handsome?
In the End
The point here isn't to trash Mercedes-Benz; the E-Class is a remarkable car and an engineering triumph. And Mercedes is hardly alone in charging top dollar for a prestigious marque. But there's a lesson here when you think of the astounding amount of car you can get for under $30,000 these days. And Hyundai isn't the only manufacturer delivering luxury on the cheap. Ford, Chevrolet and Infiniti are also doing an excellent job producing cars that seem far more expensive than they really are — and not simply by tossing in features just because more is better. And after a few hard years of an economic recession, perhaps it's time new-car buyers start taking a long, hard look at exactly what they're getting for the money.
Bing Video: 2011 Hyundai Sonata
Sam Foley is a Connecticut-based automotive journalist who has written for GQ, Forbes, USA Today, the New York Post and various other publications.
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