2025 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 450 4MATIC LWB review

Who Needs the E 53 AMG?
The thing about performance sedans these days is that they usually like to announce themselves. Big wings, flared wheel arches, aggressive grilles, and exhausts that pop and crackle like a Diwali celebration. But every once in a while, a true sleeper sneaks onto the sceneâ€"something that blends into traffic like just another business-class saloon but has the firepower to leave most sports cars looking silly at the lights.

Enter the Mercedes-Benz E 450 LWB, a luxury limousine that quietly packs 375PS under its elegant, unassuming skin. It's a proper wolf in an Armani suit, and for all practical purposes, it might just be the best of both worldsâ€"the thrill of a performance sedan without the flashiness of an AMG badge.

Design: The Business-Class Sleeper
You'd never know what lurks under the bonnet just by looking at it. Apart from the AMG-style wheels, there's nothing visually screaming performance here. No sporty bumpers, no giant air intakes, no unnecessary drama. And that's exactly what makes the E 450 brilliant. This is a car that won't turn heads at the valet but will definitely raise eyebrows when it demolishes a 0-100 km/h run in 4.5 seconds.

The E-Class LWB design continues to play the stately limousine cardâ€"clean lines, a stretched 3,094mm wheelbase, and that signature three-box silhouette that exudes presence without being loud. Mercedes has gone big on the stars again, placing them liberally in the grille and even in the tail lamps. But here, the bling doesn't feel excessiveâ€"it's subtle enough to maintain the E-Class's quiet confidence.

But for those who know, the E 450 carries a secret identity. One press of the accelerator and this refined business sedan catapults forward with the kind of urgency that would make an E 53 AMG owner sweat.

Performance: The Silent Assassin with a Sweet Six-Cylinder Sound
At the heart of this sleeper is the 3.0-litre inline-six (M256) engine, producing 375PS and 550Nm of torque, helped along by a mild-hybrid system adding an extra 17 kW. This isn't just an engine; it's a beautifully tuned masterpiece that delivers smooth, relentless acceleration while maintaining that signature Mercedes refinement.

And let's talk about 4MATIC all-wheel driveâ€"the unsung hero of that 4.5-second sprint. Unlike rear-wheel-drive sedans that require careful throttle management or fancy launch control tricks, the E 450 needs none of that fuss. There's no Race Start mode like in the E 53 AMG, where you have to fiddle with settings and get the perfect launch. Here, you just press the accelerator, and it's off like a shot, gripping the tarmac and firing forward with zero drama.

To put that into perspective, the E 53 AMG does 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, but that's only with launch control engaged. The E 450? No special settings, no theatricsâ€"just raw, instant power at your command. It's effortless speed at its finest.

And while it's whisper-quiet in normal driving, put your foot down, and the inline-six sings. No artificial pops, no cracklesâ€"just a rich, silky mechanical note that reminds you why enthusiasts love this engine layout. It's not an AMG's rowdy, over-the-top soundtrack, but it has just the right amount of aural character to make acceleration feel special.

Cabin: Business Class with a Side of Technology
Step inside, and you're met with the kind of interior that makes you want to cancel your next flight and just travel by road. The 64-colour ambient lighting wraps around the cabin, the seats recline like an Emirates first-class lounge, and there's even a wireless charging pad in the rear centre armrestâ€"because reaching for the dashboard is just too much effort these days.

Mercedes' MBUX Superscreen dominates the dashboard, merging the 14.4-inch central display with a 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen. It looks slick, but for a car like this, the rear seat experience is where it truly shines. You get electric sunblinds, a chauffeur package for extending rear legroom, and even a Burmester 4D sound system with Dolby Atmosâ€"because sometimes, you just need to feel the bass in your spine while on a conference call.

Speaking of tech, Mercedes has also included a selfie and video camera for the dashboard, which seems like an odd choice for a business sedan. If anything, it should have been in the rear so you could attend Zoom meetings from the comfort of your reclining seat. Then again, maybe Mercedes knows something we don't about CEOs moonlighting as influencers.

 Verdict: The Smart Man's AMG
The E 450 LWB is the ultimate stealth weapon. It has the power and acceleration of an AMG without the attention-seeking styling, making it a dream car for the discerning buyerâ€"someone who appreciates performance but doesn't feel the need to shout about it.

It delivers everything the AMG models do in real-world driving: effortless power, a rewarding drive, and a level of comfort that no sports sedan can match. If anything, it makes the E 53 AMG feel a bit redundant. Unless you really need the full AMG theatreâ€"complete with loud exhausts and aggressive bodyworkâ€"the E 450 offers 90% of the experience with 100% of the practicality.

So, who needs the E 53 AMG? Not you. The E 450 is all the AMG most buyers will ever need, wrapped in the understated luxury of an E-Class. It's the sleeper that delivers a punch where it mattersâ€"on the road, not on Instagram.

Photography- Neel Paradkar