Mercedes E-Class review

Fun fact – the Mercedes E-Class gets its E from Einspritzmotor. It’s German for 'fuel-injected engine', and that used to be something to shout about.

Anything that's not an electric vehicle gets fuel injection these days, but the point is that the E-Class is always at the vanguard as technology advances, getting the latest and greatest gadgets soon after the flagship S-Class.

It’s not just the gizmos that are fascinating, though. The diversity of the E-Class range is staggering, too, with every bodystyle available, including an Estate, a Coupé and a Cabriolet. Oh, and don’t forget the CLS, which is basically a four-door coupé E-Class wearing a very fetching frock.

All of those models are in addition to the traditional four-door saloon that we're focusing on in this review, plus Mercedes offers a huge range of engines.

There are petrols and diesels with mild hybrid technology to improve their efficiency, and plug-in hybrids that are a godsend for company car drivers looking for a completely legal tax-avoidance scheme. Then there are the mind-blowing AMG versions with sports-car performance, including the E53 and the time-warping E63 S (we have a separate review of that).

If it all sounds more complicated than the Higgs boson particle, don’t stress. We’re here to make sense of it all in an easily digestible form. Keep clicking through this review and we’ll talk you through which engines and trims make the most sense, and how the Mercedes E-Class stacks up against the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF, which are its de facto rivals. 

We can even help you save money on a new E-Class, because our New Car Buying service delivers big discounts without you having to go through the hassle of haggling.