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What's New: The stunning E55 gets a one-touch opening sunroof and…nothing else for the 2001 model year. But that's OK. We already liked the car the way it was. Type: Mid-size car Pros: Bottomless reserves of power, passive/aggressive personality, roomy and comfortable interior. Cons: High price, optional COMAND system, no manual transmission. Review Seventy grand will buy plenty of sedan these days. Buyers shopping in this stratosphere can select from prestigious and powerful models from Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. Some of these exclusively priced executive cars boast more luxury than performance, while others can coddle but are primarily focused on transporting people and their goods at warp speed. Examples of this latter breed include the outstanding BMW M5, the rapidly aging Jaguar XJR, and the subject of this tale, the AMG-massaged Mercedes-Benz E55. What makes the E55 special and worth a premium over the less expensive E430? How does 349 horsepower and 391 ft-lbs. of torque from a 5.5-liter V8 grab you? That's 74 more ponies and 96 more ft-lbs. of twist than the rightfully quick E430 spins out, and the result of all that thrust is incredibly rapid transit. From a standstill, 60 mph comes up in just 5.4 seconds, and the E55 keeps pulling strong well into triple-digit territory, topping out at an electronically limited 155 mph. But the E55 isn't just fast. It handles too. The double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspensions are beefed up with thicker stabilizer bars for a flatter cornering stance. Gigantic 18-inch ultra-performance tires are mounted to purposeful AMG Monoblock alloy wheels. Power rack-and-pinion steering is responsive, but no more so than the more pedestrian E430. Like other 2001 E-Class models, the E55 is equipped with standard ABS and Brake Assist working through massive vented discs front and rear. All-speed traction control keeps the rear wheels from setting themselves afire during quick starts, and stability control keeps you on the straight and narrow if you get in over your head. A Touch Shift automanual transmission can't really substitute for the thrill of rowing your own gears, but with the abundant luxury exhibited by the E55's cabin, this is actually OK. Standard gear includes the usual upscale fare found on lower-level E-Class models, and adds niceties such as power sunroof (one-touch opening this year), multi-adjustable sport seats dressed in unique two-tone premium leather, black bird's eye maple wood trim, and an automatic climate-control system with active charcoal filter and smog sensor. You also get TeleAid, which can summon help in the event of a medical emergency or accident, but don't bother the live operator for excuses on how to get out of speeding tickets when a black-and-white has you on the shoulder of your favorite twisting canyon road. And this will happen, eventually. Skip the optional COMAND system, which groups navigation, stereo, trip computer and integrated telephone functions into a single, difficult to understand unit operated using a small dash-mounted screen. COMAND is confusing, and distracts the driver from the task at hand. Get yourself a good atlas of the U.S. and the optional StarTAC digital cell phone with voice-recognition technology. Deceptively fast, with exceptional handling and astounding braking, this E55 is the Benz for those who love to drive. But the competition has its own unique advantages. Choose wisely. Styles & Prices at Edmunds.com | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
