{"id":4516,"date":"2025-10-07T09:39:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T09:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/?p=4516"},"modified":"2025-10-07T09:39:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T09:39:22","slug":"c0710017_fingerless-magician-dean-lahan-gets-ksi-involved-in-magic-audition_part2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/?p=4516","title":{"rendered":"C0710017_Fingerless magician Dean Lahan gets KSI involved in magic audition_part2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Do We Dislike So Far?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very little, but there are pain points. MBUX remains a paragon of \u201cwhere the hell is that function?\u201d and \u201cwhere the hell is that function I just used?\u201d and \u201cwhy is&nbsp;<em>that<\/em>&nbsp;function in&nbsp;<em>this<\/em>&nbsp;menu?\u201d We\u2019re slowly getting used to where to find frequently used items, but occasionally or rarely used settings always take a few dives into and back out of multiple menus\u2014not great if you\u2019re trying to use them on the run. And we haven\u2019t yet found a real use for the giant infotainment Hyperscreen\u2019s front passenger display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, it took me until approximately right now to figure out the rear cupholder situation. I would like to think my kids are smart\u2014whether I am is another question\u2014but the \u201cone hard press to release phone holder, one gentler press to release cupholders\u201d isn\u2019t the most intuitive sequence, and it\u2019s difficult if not impossible for much younger riders to execute. This is a family wagon, no? Plus, if both are extended, the drinks block the phones\/tablet. It would be better if the cupholders emerged first, the far less frequently used device holder second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, capacitive controls\u2014especially those on steering wheels\u2014clearly escaped from some circle of hell to torment us all.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=476&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F100088633698345%2Fvideos%2F1335806937953968%2F&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=476&#038;t=0\" width=\"476\" height=\"591\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We\u2019re Testing a Mercedes-Benz Station Wagon for a Year. Here\u2019s How It\u2019s Going So Far.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You just knew we\u2019d test the wagon over the sedan.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/staff\/erik-johnson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Erik Johnson<\/a>Writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jim FetsPhotographerSep 04, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"group\/card block w-full text-left @container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/files\/68b9c1dbf4be9800029520e5\/004-2025-mercedes-benz-e450-4matic-all-terrain.jpg?w=768&amp;width=768&amp;q=75&amp;format=webp\" alt=\"004 2025 Mercedes Benz E450 4Matic All Terrain\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meet one of the newest cars in our long-term fleet,&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/cars\/mercedes-benz\/e-class\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the 2025 Mercedes E450 All-Terrain station wagon<\/a>. It\u2019s here because the E-Class lineup&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/news\/mercedes-benz-e-class-2025-car-of-the-year\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">won our 2025 Car of the Year award<\/a>, and we always subject our winners to a yearlong torture test to see how they hold up to regular use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">0:10 \/ 3:34<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why the wagon? Because we\u2019re pragmatists at heart, and while&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/motortrend.com\/reviews\/2024-mercedes-benz-e450-sedan-first-test-review\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the E-Class sedan<\/a>&nbsp;is a lovely and satisfying luxury car, the long-roof version is way more practical, thus encouraging more varied use by our staff. Plus, it\u2019s gorgeous\u2014just look at the thing. And of course, because we\u2019re predictable automotive journalists who subscribe to wagon memes, we ordered ours painted Sonoran Brown over Tonka Brown (and black) leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no diesel under the hood nor a manual transmission backing up the engine, though. This Merc is powered by a syrupy-smooth 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six backed up by a mild hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"group\/card block w-full text-left @container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/files\/68b9c2324c1a68000250b2dd\/044-2025-mercedes-benz-e450-4matic-all-terrain.jpg?w=768&amp;width=768&amp;q=75&amp;format=webp\" alt=\"044 2025 Mercedes Benz E450 4Matic All Terrain\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Long Will We Be Testing It?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the title of the story should reveal, the E450 will be in our care for a year. It will be based at our Detroit office, which has four real seasons and should prove a truer challenge for its all-weather capabilities. We also plan to put the All-Terrain part of its name to the test, exploring how far off the beaten path we can take this E-Class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Options Did We Get?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can see the laundry list below in the specifications panel, but we can tell you the big wheels don\u2019t ruin the ride and look fantastic, the Advanced USB package (which brings the number of USB-C ports to six) is indispensable for those hauling kids and their devices, and the maple wood trim with aluminum lines is upscale and stylish. And those are just the cheaper options. In a future update, we\u2019ll run down the rest of the add-ons and whether they\u2019re worth the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"group\/card block w-full text-left @container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/files\/68b9c2678c74a10002158e0d\/033-2025-mercedes-benz-e450-4matic-all-terrain.jpg?w=768&amp;width=768&amp;q=75&amp;format=webp\" alt=\"033 2025 Mercedes Benz E450 4Matic All Terrain\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Do We Dislike So Far?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very little, but there are pain points. MBUX remains a paragon of \u201cwhere the hell is that function?\u201d and \u201cwhere the hell is that function I just used?\u201d and \u201cwhy is&nbsp;<em>that<\/em>&nbsp;function in&nbsp;<em>this<\/em>&nbsp;menu?\u201d We\u2019re slowly getting used to where to find frequently used items, but occasionally or rarely used settings always take a few dives into and back out of multiple menus\u2014not great if you\u2019re trying to use them on the run. And we haven\u2019t yet found a real use for the giant infotainment Hyperscreen\u2019s front passenger display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, it took me until approximately right now to figure out the rear cupholder situation. I would like to think my kids are smart\u2014whether I am is another question\u2014but the \u201cone hard press to release phone holder, one gentler press to release cupholders\u201d isn\u2019t the most intuitive sequence, and it\u2019s difficult if not impossible for much younger riders to execute. This is a family wagon, no? Plus, if both are extended, the drinks block the phones\/tablet. It would be better if the cupholders emerged first, the far less frequently used device holder second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, capacitive controls\u2014especially those on steering wheels\u2014clearly escaped from some circle of hell to torment us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"group\/card block w-full text-left @container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/files\/68b9c2a99221f8000295f296\/019-2025-mercedes-benz-e450-4matic-all-terrain.jpg?w=768&amp;width=768&amp;q=75&amp;format=webp\" alt=\"019 2025 Mercedes Benz E450 4Matic All Terrain\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Do We Like So Far?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ride quality is silken over pretty much any sort of pavement, even with our car\u2019s upsized 20-inch wheels. \u201cIt handles big bumps like a 747 handles mild turbulence,\u201d said one staffer. The seats are all-day comfortable, which is good because the range is incredible\u2014we\u2019ve covered more than 430 miles multiple times. The display will sometimes predict a range of more than&nbsp;<em>500 miles<\/em>&nbsp;after some fill-ups, as well, and we can\u2019t wait to put that to the test. We\u2019re sitting at 26.9 mpg combined so far, nearly 2 higher than the EPA\u2019s 25-mpg combined estimate, to boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking of beating estimates, Mercedes reports a 0\u201360-mph time of 4.6 seconds for the All-Terrain, and we recorded 4.4. That\u2019s mighty quick for a non-electric family vehicle, especially one pushing \u201cjust\u201d 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Our first thought is that the E450 must be making more power than advertised. Perhaps a visit to a dyno is in order. Stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audio system is superb, forward visibility is fantastic, we appreciate the stowage space both up front and in the cargo area, and the E450 All-Terrain is genuinely rewarding to drive. Fingers crossed, this is going to be a really good year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"group\/card block w-full text-left @container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/reviews\/2025-mercedes-benz-e-class-e450-all-terrain-yearlong-review-arrival\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/files\/68b9c32e5cbd300002c3c4a3\/023-2025-mercedes-benz-e450-4matic-all-terrain.jpg?w=768&amp;width=768&amp;q=75&amp;format=webp\" alt=\"023 2025 Mercedes Benz E450 4Matic All Terrain\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>2025 Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic All-Terrain Specifications<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>BASE PRICE&nbsp;<\/td><td>$77,250&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PRICE AS TESTED&nbsp;<\/td><td>$92,080&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>OPTIONS&nbsp;<\/td><td>Tonka Brown and black Nappa leather, $2,990; multicontour seating package, $2,950; Pinnacle trim, $2,550; Driver Assistance package, $1,950; MBUX Superscreen package, $1,500; Digital Light package, $990, 20-inch AMG multispoke wheels, $850; Leather package, $350; Advanced USB package, $300; Night package, $200; center console in natural grain brown maple wood with aluminum lines, $200&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>VEHICLE LAYOUT&nbsp;<\/td><td>Front-engine, front-motor, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door hybrid wagon&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>POWERTRAIN&nbsp;<\/td><td>3.0L turbo direct-injected DOHC 24-valve I-6, 375 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 369 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm<br>Permanent-magnet motor, 23 hp, 151 lb-ft&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>TOTAL POWER&nbsp;<\/td><td>375 hp&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>TOTAL TORQUE&nbsp;<\/td><td>369 lb-ft&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>TRANSMISSION&nbsp;<\/td><td>9-speed automatic&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>BATTERY&nbsp;<\/td><td>0.9-kWh NCM lithium-ion&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CURB WEIGHT (F\/R DIST)&nbsp;<\/td><td>4,594 lb (52\/48%)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>WHEELBASE&nbsp;<\/td><td>116.6 in&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT&nbsp;<\/td><td>194.9 x 74.4 x 58.5-60.3 in&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>TIRES&nbsp;<\/td><td>Pirelli P Zero PZ4 MO-S<br>F: 255\/40R20 101Y XL&nbsp;<br>R: 285\/35R20 104Y XL<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>EPA FUEL ECONOMY,CITY\/HWY\/COMBINED<\/td><td>22\/31\/25 mpg&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>EPA RANGE&nbsp;<\/td><td>435 mi&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>MotorTrend Test Results<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>0-60 MPH&nbsp;<\/td><td>4.4 sec&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>QUARTER MILE&nbsp;<\/td><td>13.0 sec @ 107.4 mph&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>BRAKING, 60-0 MPH&nbsp;<\/td><td>104 ft&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>LATERAL ACCELERATION&nbsp;<\/td><td>0.91 g&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>FIGURE-EIGHT LAP&nbsp;<\/td><td>26.1 sec @ 0.72 g (avg)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>Ownership Experience<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SERVICE LIFE&nbsp;<\/td><td>1 mo\/2,004 mi&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>REAL-WORLD FUEL ECONOMY&nbsp;<\/td><td>26.9 mpg&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ENERGY COST PER MILE&nbsp;<\/td><td>$0.18&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>DAYS OUT OF SERVICE&nbsp;<\/td><td>0&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MAINTENANCE AND WEAR&nbsp;<\/td><td>None&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>DAMAGE&nbsp;<\/td><td>None&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>RECALLS&nbsp;<\/td><td>None&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Do We Dislike So Far? Very little, but there are pain points. MBUX remains a paragon of \u201cwhere the hell is that function?\u201d and \u201cwhere the hell is that function I just used?\u201d and \u201cwhy is&nbsp;that&nbsp;function in&nbsp;this&nbsp;menu?\u201d We\u2019re slowly getting used to where to find frequently used items, but occasionally or rarely used settings [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4516"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4518,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4516\/revisions\/4518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gottanlent.vansonnguyen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}