The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is an elegant and stylish executive sedan that competes with the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series. It’s comfy, high-tech, and offers a wide range of engine and trim options, but read on for our Mercedes-Benz E-Class review to find out whether it’s still a class leader.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a true institution with a long history of elegance, technology, and reliability. The interior has an actual design wow factor and loads of innovation behind its restrained but exquisite design. At the same time, comfort is the name of the game for a relaxing driving experience.
It should also be mentioned that the E-Class has an extensive engine range, ranging from the fleet-pleasing E220d to the very quick AMG E63. With the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant, the E-Class now offers one of the most diverse and modern propulsion lineups. Depending on the engine, you may also select between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, so the E-Class competes directly with the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series.
The base E220 d model, powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-liter diesel engine with an impressive 53.3 mpg, is one of the standout options. That would be astonishing even if the engine clattered like a cheap campground generator, but the fact that the E220 d is punchy and incredibly composed makes it a remarkable engineering achievement. It’s a board-level vehicle with factory-floor operating expenses.
If you need more speed, the six-cylinder diesel in the E300 d provides excellent low-rev pick-up, or you can go all-out with the rapid and smooth E400 d. There’s also the E53 AMG, a powerful six-cylinder gasoline vehicle that’s less expensive and flashy than the E63. See also: Mercedes-Benz GLC Class (2022)
Many people will also be interested in the gasoline and diesel plug-in hybrid variants. The carbon dioxide emissions from the E300 DE are as low as 34 g/km. It can go up to 32.9 miles on battery power alone, enough to accomplish most urban journeys with zero exhaust emissions.
The things you’d anticipate, such as GPS, temperature control, Bluetooth, a leather-type interior, a nine-speed automatic transmission, LED headlights, and radar cruise control, are all present and proper throughout its many trim levels. It’s a pity, too, that most of what elevates the E-Class to the story of a luxury automobile is only available as an option.
This features a twin-screen panoramic infotainment display with two 12.3-inch HD widescreens side by side, as well as a capability that enables the user to remotely un-park the vehicle from a garage or parking space using a smartphone app, which also serves as your car key.
The Mercedes E-Class nails the fundamentals, supporting all this clever stuff while remaining a cozy, roomy, and incredibly stylish executive sedan. The BMW 5 Series, on the other hand, achieves all of this while being more pleasurable to drive and giving somewhat more excellent passenger room.
Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2022 ideal for you?
The three-pointed star on the hood of an executive-class automobile is comforting, and the Mercedes E-Class realizes this. It symbolizes quality, comfort, and engineering strength, perfectly expressed in the E-Class.
This good citizenship is considerably more than skin deep with the E-Class, built as powerfully and solidly as its exterior indicates. There are also terrific engines, beautifully smooth driving, and good comfort, but most versions need an additional fee for the fantastic air suspension. If sharpness is essential, the 5 Series is the better choice.
Other reasons the E-Class should be on your shortlist? How about plenty of passenger room, standard equipment, top-tier refinement, and quiet, fuel-efficient engines? Of course, if you want thrills, the AMG models, with their brutally strong engines, manage to come off as gentlemanly rather than thuggish in their delivery.
What is the best Mercedes-Benz E-Class model and engine to buy?
Nothing else can compete with the speed and acceleration of AMG’s E53 and A63 models. However, we believe there are two absolute jewels in the E-Class lineup.
The first is the entry-level E220 d turbodiesel model, the corporate vehicle fleet’s favorite. It’s easy to understand why since the engine is a willing performer and incredibly smooth while also providing wallet-soothing efficiency and emissions that ensure you don’t get kidnapped every time the road tax is discussed.
There is also the E300 de EQ hybrid vehicle, which we mean in every way. It has the same 2.0-liter diesel engine as the E220 d but also has a 122PS electric motor. This vehicle can go up to 32.9 miles on battery power alone and has a combined efficiency and emissions of 217.3mpg and 34g/km in its most efficient version.
What other vehicles are comparable to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The Mercedes E-Class cannot be considered without discussing its arch-rivals, the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series. The Audi is a beautiful piece of machinery with a build that screams accuracy and cares in its construction. However, it lacks the refinement of the Mercedes.
BMW’s 5 Series has the advantage of driving pleasure, but comfort and quality are close calls. However, the BMW is more accommodating for rear passengers. Consider the Jaguar XF and the outstanding Volvo S90, while the Lexus ES and Genesis G80 are intriguing out-of-the-box options.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class interior comfort and design
“In addition to the usual saloon suspects, the E-Class now competes with a slew of premium SUVs, all of which provide a superior sense of space and practicality due to their basic square bulk.”
In the presence of these more popular SUVs, the current E-Class doesn’t seem as magnificent or valuable as it once did, but there’s still enough of the S-Class vibe about its front quarters to make it feel highly distinctive.
Some of this sensation of luxury might be attributed to the E-Class’s generous interior space. It’s an undervalued trait when so many others attempt to persuade you of their premium appeal with fancy finishes and technology.
Sure, the E-Class may compete on this front with its optional big infotainment screen, but it also offers plenty of leg, shoulder, and headroom and a slew of other options. This is achieved via partly electric movement, and the steering wheel moves for height and depth.
With the driving posture adjusted, the E-Class provides a good view of the road ahead and to the sides. Like others in this class, the high rear pillars restrict view over the driver’s shoulder, although parking sensors and a reversing camera mitigate this included on all versions, which saves straining your neck and fretting about damaging that pricey and elegant bodywork. There’s also the option of remote parking through a smartphone app.
Finishing and quality
Mercedes has based its whole business on the assumption that its automobiles are designed to a higher level than the average herd. This impression is more than justified with the E-Class, where attention to detail and construction quality are second to none. We mean it in the executive sector and across the board, including Mercedes’ own S-Class.
It implies that the fit and finish of the E-Class are a source of great joy for its owners, as are the materials utilized. The seat upholstery on some models is synthetic leather that Mercedes has used for decades. You’d be hard-pressed to tell it wasn’t actual hide, such is its warmth and feel.
Mercedes also gives its drivers and passengers a sensation of a high-end finish via the operation of all of the controls, buttons, switches, and levers. There isn’t a single squeak or creak in the E-Class, and everything functions with a substantial, deliberate motion.
Infotainment includes a touchscreen, a USB port, navigation, and a radio.
The panoramic twin-screen display is one of the interior’s main attractions, but it’s also one of the few disappointments with the Mercedes E-Class cabin. The disappointment is that this is only available on cheaper trims rather than standard across the board. You’ll receive two HD 12.3-inch widescreens in a shared case if you acquire it. The typical instrument binnacle is replaced with one that fills the driver with clear, well-presented information.
The graphics are occasionally naff, and the Command rotary control system, as refined as it has become since its clunky first outings, is still a fundamentally flawed way of navigating the screens, like drawing with an Etch-A-Sketch when you want to put a pencil to the screen itself. On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz I Connect voice control is straightforward to use.
If you go with a SE or AMG Line Hybrid vehicle, you’ll receive a more straightforward system shown on the 12.3-inch screen. It contains a control wheel, a Bluetooth connection, and the ability to link with your smartphone. Only the most costly E-Class AMG Line Night Edition Premium Plus has superb Burmester surround-sound audio with 13 speakers.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class boot space
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has traditionally been one of the most accommodating executive vehicles, which explains its appeal among private hire drivers. This model is no exception, so when you open the wide-opening back doors, you’re greeted with a spacious passenger compartment.
The broad bench is large enough for three youngsters, and even three adults may sit without bashing elbows too much. The center back seat has a scooped-out base to prevent you from hitting your head on the ceiling, although headroom in the E-Class is somewhat less than in the Audi A6 and 5 Series, particularly if you opt for the optional panoramic glass sunroof.
There’s also not as much space behind the front seats for adult feet as we’d like, but the E-Class handles two people in the rear seat behind another pair in the front wall. The transmission tunnel is vast, which infringes on the area for the middle passenger’s feet.
With a capacity of 540 liters, the boot of the E-Class saloon is one of the biggest in the class. This puts it 10 liters ahead of the BMW 5 Series, and the Mercedes also benefits from a large, flat floor.
However, the E-Class’s boot aperture has a prominent slope to its bottom edge, which makes loading more significant cases and boxes more difficult than it should be. It also makes the whole boot aperture seem considerably smaller than it is. A motorized boot is an option unless you pick the AMG 43 or 63.
There are a few storage compartments in the trunk for smaller items, and the split and fold rear seats are an option rather than standard, as they should be. With these installed, moving the back chairs forward with a single pull on a lever to make additional space is simple.
The external measurements of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are 4935mm long, 1852mm wide, and 1460mm high. That is smaller in every dimension than the most recent BMW 5 Series.
Are you driving and maneuvering in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
“Except the E63, all Mercedes-Benz E-Class models are available with Air Body Control air suspension.” This is unfortunate since it gives the E-Class a magical carpet ride, elevating this saloon from an excellent executive to a class leader.”
Instead, you get Agility Control suspension with Dynamic Select damping as standard. You may choose between ECO, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Individual settings. The Comfort option is the one to stick with on most roads since the E-Class maintains decent control and flow even while driving over rutted terrain. In town, you’ll notice the odd tiny bump that wouldn’t bother a BMW 5 Series, but the Mercedes feels entirely at home on the highway, with excellent stability even when there’s a sharp side wind.
Also, wheel size influences the ride quality of the Mercedes E-Class, so we’d go with standard 17-inch wheels for the best driving experience in the E220 D.
The E-Class is, of course, rear-wheel drive and has inherent balance, but Mercedes-Benz has sensibly chosen to concentrate on comfort rather than compete with the recognized dynamism of the BMW 5 Series. As a result, the steering is weak and lacks precision. Even in Sport mode, which stiffens things up, there’s a clear sense that the E-Class doesn’t want to be driven aggressively.
What engine and transmission options are available for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
At 70-80 mph, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine in the E220d and 300d is almost quiet, with both settling well below 2000 rpm. This is due to the nine-speed automatic transmission used in all E-Class models. This engine is also used in the hybrid E300 de EQ; however, it is connected to a 122 PS electric motor for quick performance, exceptionally low emissions, and fuel consumption.
The E350 d and 400 d share a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbodiesel engine with massive torque and thrust for leisurely cruising and forceful overtaking.
Petrol fans will be pleased with the E200’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, which produces 184 PS. It does a fine job, but it lacks the acceleration we’d expect in an E-Class, so the 300e with the same engine but a hybrid electric motor is a better option for both performance and the environment. This engine, together with the 300d, makes the Mercedes E-Class range the only one in its segment, if not the only one, to offer petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles in the same lineup.
Then there’s the E450, which has an incredibly quick 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine. Or at least it seems speedy until you try the AMG versions, like the E53’s 435PS 3.0-liter unit or the E63’s unrelenting pace and power from the 612PS twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.
Noise levels and refinement
The E220d is a quiet vehicle with little wind and road noise. This is aided by its standard 17-inch alloy wheels, which produce significantly less road rumble than more giant rims seen on more premium and expensive vehicles. Sitting on the highway in the E63, you’ll hear the tires whirling over the road’s surface much more than its massive V8 engine.
Other diesel variants in the E-Class lineup are as quiet as non-AMG petrol vehicles, but hybrid cars in EV mode are entirely silent. They are reticent and, as a consequence, make urban travel a breeze.
You will enjoy the AMG models’ engines’ noise if you sit in one of them. The E53’s six-cylinder engine has a sophisticated grit to its tone, but unless you have a very soft right foot, there’s no escaping the fierce and lovely sound of the E63’s V8 engine.
Safety features: How secure is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Each Mercedes-Benz E-Class has twin front, side, and curtain airbags and a separate ‘bag for the driver’s knees. They also include ESP, cruise control with a speed restriction, and a tire pressure monitoring system, which is now standard.
Mercedes equips all E-Class models with Focus Assist, which alerts the driver if they are feeling drowsy, and Blind Spot Assist is standard on all models. Each person wears a three-point seat belt, and the outer two rear seats include Isofix child seat attachments.
Front and rear parking sensors function in tandem with a reverse camera, and automated emergency braking applies the brakes if the driver fails to recognize a potential hazard ahead. Mercedes also includes an Active Bonnet, which deploys in the event of an accident to protect pedestrians further. However, traffic sign assist is not included in the stated price of the SE and AMG Line Hybrid versions.
Although the test standard is harsher, Euro NCAP awarded the Mercedes-Benz E-Class a five-star safety certification in 2016.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the most extended range of electric vehicles.
Depending on the amount of power in the car, the Mercedes E300 de Hybrid could go up to 32.9 miles on battery power alone. By comparison, the gasoline-powered E300 e hybrid, which uses the same 122-hp electric motor, gets 32.3 miles.
Both require about five hours to charge using a home outlet entirely but can be done in an hour and 25 minutes using a wired wall box at home. Both hybrid models also have cords with universal fast chargers, which may achieve the same recharging results in as little as 30 minutes.
How much does it cost to run a Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
“Of the non-hybrid Mercedes E-Class models, the E220d is the most fuel-efficient.” It achieves an official high of 53.3 mpg combined consumption, which means a potential range of more than 750 miles per fill with its 66-liter fuel tank. Real-world MPG numbers indicate that this engine can get 50.6 mpg in everyday driving, very close to the advertised amount.”
The 300d is the best hybrid, with a best of 217.3 mpg. Of course, this amount is purely speculative and is only for comparison with other plugins.
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been around for some time in this generation, so the company has had plenty of time to iron out any shortcomings.
Mercedes-Benz ranks in the top ten on honorjohn.co.uk, indicating that owners are usually satisfied with the service and reliability they receive.
Cost and insurance groups
The cheapest Mercedes E-Class to insure is the petrol-powered E200, classified as Group 28 in SE. When you upgrade to the AMG Line model, it goes one range up to the 29 Series.
Choose the popular E220 d in Group 31 for your premium, whether you’re looking for the SE or AMG line.
On the other hand, the AMG E63 manages to evade the top bracket by sitting in Group 47 or 49 if you include all the option packages.
Trim levels and standard features
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class SE is an entry-level model featuring Agility Control suspension and Dynamic Select driving modes. In addition, 17-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, LED lighting, all-around parking sensors, and a reversing camera are included. Keyless entry, heated front seats, leather upholstery, cruise control, and a 12.3-inch cockpit display are also included. Choose the SE Hybrid with 18-inch wheels, a Seat Comfort package, and four-way lumbar support on the front seats.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG Line cars feature 19-inch wheels, the AMG Body Package, faux leather upholstery, and black headlining on the interior. This model also comes with the Command Online system, which includes a control wheel, an internet connection, and a 12.3-inch color display.
Upgrade to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG Line Edition Premium, which includes Multibeam LED headlights, Memory Pack front seats with total electronic adjustment and position settings, and a navigation system. It also consists of a parking package with a 360-degree camera and wireless charging for cell phones that support it. This model’s Premium Plus version includes 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a panoramic glass sunroof, gloss black exterior trim, and a Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers.
Mercedes-AMG cars offer features like Ride Control on the Air Body Control suspension and AMG Dynamic Select driving modes.
