As a fitting contrast to the Audi A6 I drove last week, I just spent some time in a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550. Here's a car that's basically the antithesis of that Audi. Seductive styling? Nope. Nimble handling? Not really. Engaging interior design? Umm...no.


Does this mean the Mercedes has no redeeming qualities? Not at all. In fact, if you like your cars powerful and tank-like (which many luxury sedan buyers do), this one tramples the Audi and BMW competition. I found myself repeatedly going really fast in this car. Not only because the 5.5-liter, 382 horsepower V8 feels purpose built for speeding, but because the entire car's confidence level builds as the speedo swings clockwise. Of all the high-end German sedans sold in this country, M-Bs seem the most German, and that includes their inclination for traveling at autobahn speeds.


Comparing the interior to a bank vault works on several levels. First, it's pretty much all one color. Second, it foregoes silly trivialities -- like style -- in favor of stark ambiance and single-minded purpose. I can only assume that a Mercedes-Benz engine never falters, because the information conveyed in the gauge cluster is limited to speed, rpm, temp, fuel and time (as in time of day). That last item must be quite important to M-B buyers, as it takes up 1/3 of the gauge area.


But the Mercedes folks know how to have fun, too, as evidenced by the convenient iPod plug in the glovebox. Attach your iPhone and within seconds the audio system switches to that imput source and starts playing whatever playlist you last listened to. Doesn't get much easier than that, and you can control the iPhone with the steering wheel buttons while seeing the song title inside the speedo.


This car starts at $60,000 (you can get an E350 for $52K), so like most modern luxury sedans the price goes well beyond logic. For just over half that amount a Dodge Charger or Pontiac G8 will give you similar performance (at least in terms of numbers in a chart) and interior space, if not equivalent bragging rights with your neighbors. But bragging rights mean enough to enough sedan buyers in this country to keep Mercedes-Benz profitable (usually), so the company known for taxi cabs and rental cars in Europe obviously has its own brand of logic. If you subscribe to that way of thinking this is another exceptional luxury car. 