2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz, like many other carmakers, is embracing the turbocharger en masse in reaction to calls for greater fuel efficiency. Smaller, forced-induction mills are spreading throughout the three-pointed star’s lineup; the only naturally aspirated holdouts are the company’s gasoline V-6s and the mighty 6.2-liter V-8 found in select AMG models. Although such high-tech downsizing rarely comes without a cost—be it sticker shock, underwhelming performance, or overpromised fuel-economy ratings—this 2012 E550 4MATIC sedan seems to pay no penalty.

More of a Good Thing, Less Guilt

The all-wheel-drive E550’s base price of $60, 665 is decidedly not cheap, but it’s a scant $190 higher than last year’s model’s, and you now get the company’s new 4.7-liter V-8 with twin turbos and direct injection. It’s good for 402 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque from just 1800 rpm—that’s 20 hp and 52 lb-ft more than last year’s nonboosted 5.5-liter eight-cylinder.

With the aid of now standard all-wheel drive, the additional power is enough to shave at least 0.5 second off a 2010 E550’s 0-to-60-mph and quarter-mile times, with the former now taking 4.3 seconds and the latter passing in 12.8 at 112 mph. Despite the power bump and extra mass of the all-wheel-drive gear (this E550 weighed in at 4411 pounds, 173 more than the last E550 we tested), fuel economy improves from an EPA-rated 15 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway to 16/26. Our heavy-footed average increased from 16 mpg to 18 mpg, too.