Mercedes Benz E55 AMG (2001-2003) Review

On the road

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The E55 AMG makes it easy for you - some would say too easy, given all that power. For something so large, it remains controllable and predictable in potentially hairy situations. The specification includes race-spec brakes with ABS and EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), and ESP (electronic stability programme) plus a responsive five-speed auto 'box that changes up or down when it should. This car virtually drives itself. Less inert than the standard cars, the E55 AMG is extremely accomplished and surprisingly agile. It doesn't give the feedback and driver involvement of, say, the BMW M5, nor does it have the sheer grip of the four-wheel drive Audi S6 quattro (which also comes in both saloon and estate form) but that's not to say that it's dull - think in terms of high-speed transcontinental progress, rather than playing around on tiny sub-B roads, though it can certainly tackle tight and twisty bits with ease.

With 354bhp to play around with, the E55 AMG's hardly slow. The smooth power delivery is impressive - and very strong - though it's never less than civilised. As far as estate cars go, there's nothing else in a similar class bar the 340bhp Audi S6 Avant quattro, which is cheaper but slower; a BMW M5 or Audi S8 will outrun the saloon.