Page 50 - SHARP Winter 2022

AUTO
2021 Mercedes-Benz
E 450 4Matic All-Terrain Wagon Engine: 3.0-litre I6 hybrid Power: 362 hp
Price: $81,700
The Best SUV of 2021
It’s not an SUV, exactly
THIS LONG BOY IS A DEEP CUT FROM MERCEDES’S CATALOGUE. AS SUCH, it would be easy to overlook it — but don’t. The E 450 4Matic All-Terrain is a hidden gem and, sure, the name hardly rolls off the tongue, but this car is German. What did you expect?
The All-Terrain label means this wagon rides on (slightly) taller air-suspension and has SUV-esque black cladding to reassure drivers that, yes, this machine can tackle snow and the occasional gravel road with ease. The ride’s a tad firm, but the All-Terrain can do anything your old crossover SUV could do and look better doing it. The clever mild-hybrid engine delivers plenty of low-end grunt and surprisingly good fuel economy. Need lots of space? Two old-school jump seats in the back make this a real seven-seater.
At heart, under all that rugged cladding, this is still an E-Class wagon. Historically, these were the faithful chariots of families from Rosedale and the like, but today those driveways are filled with SUVs like the Mercedes GLE. That’s the obvious choice, but the All-Terrain wagon is just as capable and far from obvious, which is why it’s our pick for the best SUV of this strange year.
50 AUTO • WINTER 2022
SHARPMAGAZINE.COM