Meet The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain: The Perfect Cure For Crossover Fever

• Wider, taller, and a larger trunk
• Turbocharged inline-six with mild-hybrid assistance
• 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds
• Standard air suspension with adaptive ADS+ dampers

The all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain has been unveiled in Germany, and it will be the second member of the E-Class family, following the introduction of the sedan earlier this year.

Americans loved the previous-generation model, so Merc hasn't messed with the recipe too much. Naturally, it's wider (75 inches) and taller (58.9 inches) than before. Mercedes says this will make journeys more comfortable than ever before, as passengers in the second row have 59.8 inches of elbow room. This should go well with the slightly increased wheelbase of 116.6 inches. The cargo capacity is rated at 21.7 cubic feet with all the seats in place.

But to focus only on the practicality would be a disservice to a rather striking car. In many ways, this is the thinking man's Porsche 911 Dakar, as the lifted wagon can transport the average family with ease while sprinting to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

This is the best version of the E-Class we've seen so far. The wagon body is quite appealing, and Mercedes adds a few more bits to make it look off-road-ready. The most striking feature is the twin-louver grille, finished in Iridium Silver. The star is proudly displayed in the middle, surrounded by a Mercedes-Benz pattern. It also has a model-specific bumper with a chrome underride guar panel, which works well with the dark grey wheel arch cladding and side sills. Another piece of chrome underbody protection is also added to the rear. On the inside, the All-Terrain treatment includes stainless steel sports pedals and floor mats with the All-Terrain logo.

Obviously, the All-Terrain is not meant to be a Jeep Wrangler rival, but Merc has equipped it with enough goodies so you don't have to turn around when you arrive at a badly corrugated gravel road.

As standard, it has Airmatic air suspension that combines air suspension bellows with adaptive ADS+ dampers. The rebound and compression stages of the dampers are individually controlled at each wheel. The car has sophisticated sensors and algorithms to ensure that an imperfection on one side of the road doesn't upset the whole vehicle. Level control is also standard, maintaining a constant ride height. When switched to Comfort mode, the car is lowered by 0.6 inches at more than 75 mph to decrease wind noise and improve efficiency.

Only one model is coming to the US: the E 450. That means a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six connected to a mild-hybrid system. The result is 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system can boost the output by 23 hp and 151 lb-ft for short periods, like when dashing to 60 mph in less than five seconds, for example.

If you opt for the optional front passenger screen, you get the complete MBUX Superscreen treatment. Without the passenger screen, a sizeable trim element extends to the center. In this case, you might want the larger setup because the All-Terrain comes with nifty model-specific features like the 360-degree camera with a "transparent hood." The car uses several cameras around the car and displays a virtual view of the ground under the front of the vehicle. This will undoubtedly help avoid rocks that are a bit too large for the car to drive over.

The MBUX Entertainment Plus package will be standard fitment, and you can add cool features like Active Ambient Lighting with Sound Visualization. Mercedes says this allows owners to experience sound with three senses. You hear the sound from music and movies, feel vibrations via the standard Burmester 4D surround sound system, and see beats visualized on the light strip that runs across the front section of the dashboard.

Merc's digital key is now available for iPhone and Apple Watch owners. Using this feature, drivers can unlock and lock the vehicle. The "key" can also be shared with other users via the primary user's Mercedes me account. Up to 16 people can have their own digital key.

As you may know, Mercedes has added a new compatibility layer to MBUX, allowing third-party apps to be installed. The same is true here. The All-Terrain has a selfie cam and can be equipped with TikTok, Angry Birds, Webex, Zoom, and Vivaldi. The Zync entertainment portal also provides access to video streaming services.

Over time, MBUX will also learn your routine and which comfort features you use most often, and it will be well-prepped for your arrival before you enter the car.

Standard safety features include attention assist, active brake assist, and a Parking Package with a reverse camera. As is usually the case with Mercedes, most of the more advanced driver assistance features are optional via the Driver Assistance Package.

Mercedes-Benz did not provide pricing for the All-Terrain, but we expect it to retail in roughly the same ballpark as the outgoing model. That's approximately $72,000-$75,000, with some options added. It will arrive in dealerships in 2024, but we don't know the exact month.

We expect the new All-Terrain to be a big hit with adventurous families looking for something a bit different from a crossover or SUV.