Mercedes-Benz E-Class review

Driving position 

At cinch, we test a lot of different cars, which means we’re constantly jumping in and out of the latest and greatest models.  

Finding the most comfortable driving positions in each can often be a fiddly faff. But not in the E-Class, because the car arranges your optimum driving position for you.  

Simply input your height (in centimetres or inches) and it automatically and electronically adjusts the wheel, seat height, position and headrest to fit you. We have to say, it was spot on. 

Comfortably seated in seconds, you'll enjoy a great view of the road ahead, and despite the E-Class being a saloon, a decent view out the back too. 

All the controls fall easily to hand except for the seat positioning and temperature controls. They’re located on the door, rather than to the side of the seat, which means you may need to take your eyes off the road to make any adjustments until you’re used to them.  

Tech and features 

Mercedes has thrown not just the kitchen sink, but everything else too at the E-Class's interior. 

The star of the show is the MBUX Superscreen, which comprises a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a 14.4-inch central infotainment screen and a third 12.3-inch passenger display. 

This third screen is handy if your passenger wants to set the satnav, change the music, annoy you with your massage seat functions or watch YouTube while on the go.  

But don’t worry, Merc has fitted some clever technology, which means the driver can’t see what the passenger is watching while driving. The screen just appears off, like those darkened screen protectors MI5 agents might use. 

The MBUX infotainment system itself is really intuitive and straightforward to use, though of course there’s Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for you to choose too, along with a wireless phone charger and USB C ports. 

Our one criticism of the display is that it’s tilted relatively far back, so you do get a lot of glare in bright sunlight, but it’s fine most of the time, especially in cloudy England. 

Other clever features to note are the Active Ambient Lighting, which makes the interior lights dance to your tunes, alongside the seats, which will jig along at the same time. 

This is all part of the car’s incredible Burmester 4D Surround Sound system with Dolby Atmos. It truly is one of the best car speaker systems we’ve had the pleasure of listening to. 

Engines and power 

There are plenty of different E-Class Saloon engine variants available, 25 to be exact, so it’s safe to say everyone’s covered. 

Our test car was the popular E220 d AMG Line Premium Plus model, which is a fancy Mercedes term for a ‘diesel car with lots of options’. 

The engine itself is a turbocharged 197hp, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 440Nm of torque (meaning it accelerates fast), sitting alongside a 48V mild-hybrid system, which brings an extra 23hp. 

This diesel may not be quite as refined as other diesel engines and can be a bit ‘chuggy’ at times. But it’s truly a brilliant engine, especially when mated to the 9G Tronic Plus – a nine-speed automatic gearbox. 

It has a nice gradual acceleration to suit its relaxed interior, yet it doesn’t lack grunt when overtaking or joining at a junction. 

Other popular engines include the 204hp E200, the E300 e hybrid and the sportiest 612hp E53 AMG. 

Handling and ride comfort 

The on-the-road experience, though, is where the E-Class comes into its own. 

As standard, the E-Class drives fine; it’s nothing special, but it feels solid. Our car, however, was fitted with the optional Refinement Package, which is honestly worth the extra £3,500. 

This gets you Mercedes’ AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping and rear-wheel steering. 

It makes the driving experience feel as if you’re floating on a cloud (clichés aside), because it soaks up every bump in the road, even on relatively thin, eco-friendly Michelin tyres. 

Then, when you reach slower speeds and need to navigate tight streets, the rear-axle steering comes into its own, turning the rear wheels and enabling a turning circle of 11.6 metres.  

For reference, a London Taxi is legally required to have a turning circle of less than 7.6 metres, and when you consider the length of the E-Class, this is mighty impressive. 

Boot space 

Being a saloon car, you wouldn’t expect the E-Class to have a big boot, but because this car is popular with taxi drivers and airport chauffeurs, it has to accommodate. 

This is why our diesel E220d (and E200 petrol) gets a roomy 540 litres, which goes very deep and right up to the back of the seats.  

But bear in mind, E300 e and E300 de hybrid models get less at 460 litres, and the E53 AMG Hybrid only gets 370 litres. 

Rear seats 

The E-Class is designed as a premium family car and a practical taxi-style vehicle, so the rear seats need to be spacious. 

In our testing, we found there to be plenty of space for normal-sized adults, and if you’re on the taller side, there’s enough space for six-footers too. 

There isn’t as much tech in the back as there is at the front, but you still get two USB-C ports, air vents and ISOFIX points. 

Storage solutions 

The E-Class is pretty good when it comes to nifty storage options. For example, passengers in the rear have a flap behind the front seats to store magazines, iPads, etc. 

Up front, there are sizeable cupholders, a wireless phone charger, a deep centre console and big felt-lined door bins to stop bottles rattling around. 

Safety 

Mercedes is one of the world’s most safety-conscious brands out there, which stems from its long history of making robust 4x4s and even its Formula One programme. 

This is why the E-Class comes packed with all sorts of features, such as active distance assist (which helps you maintain your distance from the car ahead), traffic sign assist, active brake assist, active lane keep assist and blind spot assistance. 

Fuel economy 

If it’s a long-distance mile-muncher you're after, you can’t really beat a diesel, as unfashionable as they may be. 

Our E220 d has a phenomenal, claimed range of 850 miles on a single tank. While we didn’t see this figure in normal driving, we did get more than 700 miles of range, which is enough to drive from London to Berlin... and still have fuel in the tank. 

Mercedes also claims the E220 d will return 58.9mpg (WLTP), and we’re pleased to report that during our time with the car, we averaged 62.9mpg with a mixture of motorway, countryside and town driving. 

However, diesel power isn’t for everyone, and because there are 24 other engine options on offer, you’re not going to be caught out. 

Even the most basic petrol engine gets up to 43.5mpg (WLTP). 

Reliability 

The Mercedes E-Class comes with an industry-standard three-year/unlimited mileage warranty that’s on a par with its rivals, though some don’t offer as many covered miles in that time. 

Then, for plug-in hybrid versions, you get a separate battery warranty that covers you for six years/62,000 miles – whichever comes first. 

Overall, reliability is really strong across the board, as has been the case for Mercedes for decades.