When I was a kid, my mom drove a station wagon. It was the kind with a wood-paneled look on the outside, something right out of a sitcom. But she loved that thing.

Now, decades later, I found myself behind the wheel of an honest-to-goodness station wagon, something I haven’t seen in ages.

Thank you, Mercedes, for the trip down memory lane!

Oh, but this is 2025, and it’s not your mother’s station wagon.

For one thing, this vehicle is designed to go off-road, which, at first glance, didn’t even seem possible. But throw this baby into Off Road Mode and you get more than seven inches of ground clearance. No, you can’t take it on all the crazy trails you might with more traditional off-roaders, but still.

On top of that, it’s a freaking Mercedes, which means it’s stylish, comfortable, and luxurious. Take THAT, Jeep!

The Basics

Of course, you can get the E450 as a sedan, but I spent a week with the All-Terrain Wagon, and had a blast.

For 2024, this wagon got a little bit longer and a little bit wider. And who benefits from that added room? Mostly the passengers.

Powering this beast is a 3.0-Liter turbocharged engine with a mild-hybrid addition, pumping out 375 horsepower. It smoothly transfers to the wheels with a 9-speed transmission and Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive.

Because it’s a station wagon—I still can’t believe I’m writing those words—you get generous space in the back.

How generous? Here’s a true story for you: During my test drive, I picked up my son and daughter-in-law at the Denver airport after they flew in from Hawaii . . . with a surfboard. And yes, the surfboard fit without sticking up into the front seats.

The Inside

Other than the dashboard, which I’ll cover in the Tech section, there’s not much that jumps out in this cockpit. And I mean that in a good way.

The E450 has a clean, lush look to it. There’s plenty of room up front, including decent storage space. The seats are plush and comfortable, and front-seat passengers get spoiled with the variety of positions to choose from.

The rear seat folds down in a 40-20-40 configuration. With the seat up, you’ll get around 21 cubic feet in the way-back. Fold the rear seat and that space jumps up to around 64 cubic feet. Is it as much as the big brother, the GLE? No. But let me say it again: A SURFBOARD.

The Drive

In a word: Smooth.

The acceleration is terrific, getting you up to 60mph in less than five seconds—for a station wagon, for crying out loud—and the ride is calm and quiet. 

When tooling around off-road, some might point out that the Merceds GLE is better equipped. And maybe it is. But the E450 Wagon is actually more nimble, thanks to its lower center of gravity and being 400 pounds lighter.

The Tech

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Consider upgrading to the Superscreen package. With that, you essentially have three screens across the dash. One is the usual driver’s instrument panel. But you’ll also get a center infotainment screen AND a screen in front of the passenger. That passenger screen isn’t small, either, coming in at 12.3 inches. (see photo above) The center and passenger screens are nested under one piece of glass, and the look is dazzling.

I give the wagon only a couple of small tech dings. For one thing, the charging pad for your phone is somewhat difficult to get to if you’re using the front cup holder. A minor issue, for sure.

But then there’s the learning curve of the touchscreen itself. I’d give anything for more knobs and buttons, rather than forcing me to monkey around with a touchscreen while I’m driving.

It’s not the most intuitive system I’ve driven. Gorgeous? Yes. Easy to use? Eh, not so much.

I’m always a fan of the panoramic sliding sunroof. It makes the interior feel so open and light.

The Bottom Line

Other than the fact that my test vehicle was brown, I think the All-Terrain looks pretty cool. Maybe it’s the whole “retro” thing, but with so many vehicles looking alike these days, it’s nice to be able to spot your car in the parking lot.

The drive is smooth and powerful, the interior is luxurious, and it has good storage, along with a capability of playing off-road.

The E450 4Matic All-Terrain should be on your radar.

The Details

2024 Mercedes E450 4Matic All-Terrain Wagon

3.0-Liter turbocharged engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid

9-speed automatic transmission

4Matic all-wheel drive

Fuel economy: 22/31/25 combined

MSRP: $74,700

As tested: $84,660

Reviewed by Dom Testa

Vehicle provided by manufacturer