Drive program E (drive program C on AMG vehicles) is characterized by the following:
• the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully
• increased sensitivity. This improves driving stability on slippery road surfaces, for example
• the automatic transmission shifting up sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels being less likely to spin

Drive program S is characterized by the following:
• sporty engine settings
• the vehicle pulling away in first gear
• the automatic transmission shifting up later
• the fuel consumption possibly being higher as a result of the later automatic transmission shift points