Recession-Proof Cars

Gold Standards: Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec

$52,900 Mercedes has been doing diesels for a very long time, and its latest cars are absolute freight trains—with none of the rattling and smoking people associate with diesels of old. While the Bluetec isn't the fastest E-Class, it'll hit 60 mph in under seven seconds, and its highway passing power is tremendous, with 400 ft. lbs. of torque at a very low engine speed. The mileage (23/32) is far better than the 17/24 of the E-350 and will likely make the higher cost of diesel fuel pay for itself in a short period of time. Also important to note is that diesels tend to last much longer than gas engines, so this becomes a wiser buy the longer you intend to hold onto the car. The cabin of the E-Class feels elegant and airy, like a richly furnished room; the driving experience is luxurious and confident. The emphasis is on everything being smooth, so the seven-speed transmission is quiet and unobtrusive, while the suspension is firm but not sporty.