Cars costing more than $50,000 should be perfect. A bare-bones econocar can get the job done with four wheels, an engine, a radio, and a bevy of airbags for about ten grand. Plunking down five times that much should pluck that four-wheeled vision from your dreams and turn it into reality. But that’s not achieved by the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. Not even close.

True, this German sedan is one of the quietest cars on the road, with a compliant ride, comfortable seats, a 268-horsepower V6 that’s surprisingly quick, and tastefully understated styling. Add in standard stability and traction control systems, airbags stuffed into every nook and cranny, and electrically powered features that do everything but tuck you in at night, and the E350 starts to look pretty darn good. Then consider that a power sunroof tacks another $1,500 onto the already lofty base sticker price, the upgraded wood and leather interior goes for $6,275, that a split folding rear seat is optional for $300, and heated front seats set buyers back nearly $700. Again, keep in mind that the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350 has a base price of more than $50,000.

Besides the issue of value, there are a few other points of contention regarding the E350. Most significant is the steering, a speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion system that is supposed to require little effort at slow speeds while offering a tighter, more responsive feel at higher speeds. However, in real-world application the steering is too light at speed and too stiff on even slow-speed corners. Another quibble focuses on the center console – there’s a nice retractable storage cover surrounded by slightly padded leather, but there’s no real armrest on which to comfortably rest your arm. Finally, the styling is bland and dated. None of these are major complaints, nor are they issues that should arise with a car priced above the U.S. median income. – Thom Blackett