Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate review

Discounts are rife for the E-Class Estate, so while it has a pricier list price than rivals, such as the Audi A6 Avant and Volvo V90, you can level that with a good old haggle.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that for company car buyers looking for low benefit-in-kind tax payments, the E220d’s CO2 emissions of 129g/km are impressive in this class, and even the emissions for the E220d 4Matic are competitive by the standards of four-wheel drive rivals.

In our real-world True MPG fuel tests, we achieved a combined average of 41.2mpg for an E220d AMG Line – a figure some way off the claimed 67.3mpg but competitive with rivals.

Private buyers will be pleased by the E-Class’s relatively strong resale values, which have the knock-on effect of keeping PCP finance payments low. Servicing will cost slightly more than for the A6 Avant, 5 Series Touring or V90, though.

If you're looking at the more powerful AMG models, be prepared for fairly hefty bills – not just for purchase, but also to run them.

On the standard E-Class Estate, stick with the entry-level SE trim. It comes with enough goodies to make life easy, such as power-folding door mirrors, parking sensors and a rear-view camera, as well as some agreeable luxuries, including leather trim and heated seats.

AMG Line models are harder to justify. The 19in wheels and sports suspension harm the ride and, oddly, manmade leather replaces the real cowhide you get with SE.

Check out the Premium package option if you want more toys. This adds keyless entry, a panoramic roof and fully electrically operated front seats with lumbar support and memory settings. A pricier Premium Plus package adds a 13-speaker sound system and adaptive LED headlights.

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the E-Class Estate specifically, but the E-Class saloon gets the full five stars. That’s partly down to it having lots of safety kit to prevent you from having a shunt or keep you safe if one proves unavoidable. This includes automatic emergency braking, seven airbags and an active bonnet to help cushion unlucky pedestrians. The optional Driving Assistance Plus package adds blindspot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance and a semi-autonomous driving system that can steer, brake and accelerate the car for you.

Mercedes finished a lowly 26th place of 31 manufacturers in our latest Reliability Survey, with rivals BMW, Audi and Volvo all finishing above it. Every E-Class model does come with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, at least, but this is a pretty average offering by class standards. Mercedes does, however, offer a free roadside assistance programme that covers the car for three years.

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