Sitting in a field at my grandmother’s with the 2025 Mercedes-Benz E450 All Terrain wagon, the car is in Off-road mode that raises the air suspension about an inch for additional ground clearance. It’s not your typical E-Class. While it still prefers open highway to river bottoms, it’s a bit more comfortable getting to my grandpa’s favorite fishing spot.
The base suspension setting provides about 6 inches of ground clearance. Even raised, it sits about 7 inches. By comparison, a base Subaru Outback has 8.7 inches with the super capable Wilderness edition raised to 9.5-inches. If you want to look the part, buy the Mercedes, but if you really want to go off-roading, maybe shop others.
Still, it looks really slick with the big star in its grille, 20-inch AMG wheels, low roof rails and arching roofline that connects it to the brand’s elegant coupes. Flush doorhandles retract for the EQ look, but are sometimes difficult to coax back out. I’m a big fan of the current Mercedes styling that hearkens back to the ‘90s when Bruno Sacco kept designs understated and aero-focused. Crisp body lines add tension, but there’s little superfluous…except perhaps the black wheelwell trim and chromed rocker that hint at adventure.
The backpacker pretensions drift away when you fall inside. Base E450s come with a tablet-style touchscreen proud of wood panels, but ours added Mercedes’ Hyperscreen that stretches across the cabin with a large infotainment screen in the middle and a smaller co-pilot screen embedded on the right. Flatscreen gauges underline the head-up display. A camera on the dash allows video conferencing when parked. I can definitely imagine taking Teams calls from a rest area while traveling.
Heated and ventilated leather seats, twin-panel sunroof, and Bermester audio add luxuries. My family made clear they’d like it more if Mercedes added massagers up front and heat in the back. A plus of driving a wagon over a similarly-priced crossover is cargo area length. Pop switches to watch rear and seats fold instantly. You can get a lot in there! However, there’s no spare tire under the floor. Relying on tire sealant and air compressor do not confer confidence when off-roading.
Most drivers will rarely touch wheels to anything more challenging than a grass parking area. So, the All Terrain is quite happy crossing continents expeditiously. On a two-hour Interstate run to see my grandmother, the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine put down 375 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque through a 9-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive system provided equal confidence on soft roads and slick highways. A mild hybrid system enables frugal fuel economy rated 22/31-MPG city/highway.
Putting this in perspective, Mercedes enthusiasts will remember the 300E-based AMG Hammers from the 1980s – cars that ate Porsches on the Autobahn. Hammers ran 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds. Our E450 does it in 4.6s. With two fewer cylinders. Even disguised as a mountain jack, it’s an historically potent sled.
With the drive mode set in Comfort mode, the air suspension provides a wafty ride that’s reminiscent of older Mercedes. Sport mode tightens up the suspension, steering, and throttle responses more in the spirit of Mercedes’ Bavarian rival. Rear steering enhances maneuverability. With adaptive cruise, it essentially drives itself on the highway, but hands must remain on the wheel. I’d prefer to take them off.
Mercedes has figured out that if you want to sell wagons in America, then need to at least look like they can tackle trails. While it’s not the typical E-Class, it comes with a typical E-Class price. Base models start at $76,100, but came to a loftier $87,960 as-tested. Competitors include the Volvo V90 Cross Country, Audi A6 Allroad Quattro, and Subaru Outback XT Touring.
Storm Forward!
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