2018 Mercedes-Benz Updates Include New E400 Sedan, Nine-Speed for C300

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Launching the new W213-generation E-class with a four-cylinder E300 as the only non-AMG model was a risky move on Mercedes-Benz’s part, so Mercedes is hedging its bets for the the E’s second model year by adding a six-cylinder E400 to the sedan lineup. This new variant matches the E400 coupe, convertible, and wagon variants launched recently, with the 329-hp E400 slotting in just below the 396-hp AMG E43, which has a higher-output version of the E400’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6.

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4MATIC all-wheel drive comes standard on the E400, and the V-6 routes its 354 lb-ft of torque through the same nine-speed automatic transmission found on the E300. The extra power is a welcome upgrade, as our test of an E300 4MATIC sedan turned in a somewhat laggard zero-to-60-mph time of 6.5 seconds. Expect the E400 sedan to match or beat the 5.1-second sprint we recorded for the E400 4MATIC wagon. Mercedes hasn’t yet announced 2018 pricing for the sedan, but the E400 should come in somewhere in the low-$60,000 range, given that the 2018 E300 4MATIC starts at $56,445 and the E43 at $72,595.

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C300 Sedan and Coupe: From 7 to 9

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The 2018 C-class sedan and coupe are getting powertrain upgrades as well. Benz’s nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the seven-speed unit in four-cylinder C300 models (the C300 cabriolet already had the nine-speed). Mercedes says the new gearbox will improve acceleration slightly, to an estimated 5.8 seconds; our most recent tests of 2017 C300 4MATIC and C300 rear-wheel-drive coupes saw times of 6.0 and 6.2 seconds, respectively.

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• Tested: 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 4MATIC
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• Tested: 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe
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• Mercedes-Benz E-class Research: Reviews, Specs, and More
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The other notable update for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz lineup is the addition of a backup camera to models where it wasn’t already included as standard, including the GLA-class, CLS-class, E-class, and SL-class. This is in accordance with the new federal law mandating backup cameras in all new cars by May 2018.

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