Item: Used Mercedes E-Class 2016-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/used-review/n991">BMW 5 Series</a> is wonderfully plush and classy inside and drives better than anything else in this class. It corners with composure and rides comfortably and is a great used buy.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/xf/saloon/used-review/n17415">Jaguar XF</a> strikes a superb balance between ride and handling, and is great fun to drive. It’s well equipped, too, and comfortable. It’s a little noisier than rivals and not as spacious, but it’s good value on the forecourts.

<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here</a>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>The engine may lose power</h3>

Due to an engine management software issue, examples built from the start of production to 31 May 2016 could lose power without warning and coast to a halt. Find out from your Mercedes dealer if yours is affected because it'll need to have an update performed to prevent this from happening.

<h3>Vehicle may cut out</h3>

This recall is different from the previously mentioned one and involves an issue where the rear seat bench affects the electrical wiring for the fuel pump that lives under the back seats. This means that the fuel supply can be cut to the engine and cause it to stall. It affects E-Class' manufactured from the start of production until 31 August 2016.

The current version of the E-Class didn’t perform as well as the older one, believe it or&nbsp;not. It still managed to get a decent score of 93.7%, though.

Mercedes-Benz as a brand finished a disappointing 26th out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers in the same survey.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Saloon

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

E CLASS

The E-Class is elegant, classy, well equipped and good to drive, and good value used.

Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2016-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

The E 300 de diesel hybrid model is officially the most economical engine, with a claimed fuel consumption of 188.3mpg, quickly followed by two&nbsp;petrol hybrids at 141.3mpg for the E 300 e and 134.5 for the E 350 e,&nbsp;but as previously mentioned, you’re unlikely to get anywhere near that figure in regular mixed use. However, if all your journeys are short and you have use of a charging point at each end, it may well work out to be the best.

The E 200 d and E 220 d both managed 72.4mpg under the old NEDC test, but that figure was downrated to a rather&nbsp;a more realistic 53.3mpg under the later WLTP tests.&nbsp;

The E 300 d and E 350 d returned 47.9mpg and 47.1mpg, respectively. Despite having a similarly sized engine as the latter, the E 400 d returned a less impressive 42.8mpg, but that's probably down to being saddled with a heavy four-wheel drive system.

If you prefer&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;the E 200 is the most cost-effective choice, returning&nbsp;38.2mpg. The low 31.7mpg of the E 450 means you might as well go for the E 43 or E 53 AMG models, which can manage 33.6mpg and 31.4mpg, respectively. Don't bother with the E 63 unless you have deep pockets; 23.7mpg is all you can expect from it.

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

Not all of the engines in the E-Class range were available before 1 April 2017, so here we'll&nbsp;concentrate&nbsp;on the ones that were. The lowest CO2 emitter is the E 350 e plug-in hybrid at 49g/km, followed by the E 200 d at 102g/km. Stepping up to the E 220 d increased emissions to 109g/km, but that's nothing compared with the AMGs. The E 43 emits 192g/km, while the E 63 is the worst at 207g/km.

<h3>Car tax</h3>

Tax for all cars registered after April 2017 will be at the flat rate, and there's currently a small&nbsp;saving on that for the hybrid, but any models costing over £40,000 will attract a supplementary charge that's&nbsp;payable for five years from the car's second year. Anything registered before this date will fall under the old system that based the amount of tax you paid upon the amount of CO2 (see paragraph above). You can find out more about <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs here</a>.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Servicing costs will be high, but Mercedes&nbsp;offers a number of servicing plans to help spread the cost via direct debit. It'll still be pricier than comparative servicing costs from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/audi">Audi</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/bmw">BMW</a>.

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Used Mercedes E-Class 2016-present

The E-Class is elegant, classy, well equipped and good to drive, and good value used.


A lot of E-Classes have done high mileages, so watch out for those - not for nothing is it known as the Stuttgart taxi. A 2016&nbsp;example with high-mileage starts at around £14,000. Up your budget to £17,000 for something from the same year with below average mileage.

A tidy 2018 E 220 d at a dealer should be around £21,000. A good six-cylinder E 350 d with reasonable mileage costs a similar amount, while the stonking E 400 d or an early E 43 AMG can be had for roughly £30,000.

Buyers looking for a plug-in hybrid will need £24,000 or more for petrol-electric&nbsp;E 350 e without galactic mileage, or £33,000 for the E 300 de diesel-electric.&nbsp;

At the other end of the&nbsp;E 53 and&nbsp;E 63. Expect to pay £44,000 at least for the E 53 and £55,000 or more for an E 63.

Check the value of a used Mercedes E-Class with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3>Engine</h3>

With excellent on-paper economy and a smooth and mostly refined soundtrack, the E220d would be the one we’d seek out.

<h3>Specification</h3>

We’d keep things simple and stick with the SE trim, which offers most of what an E-Class owner would expect.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz E-Class: E220d SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

Luxury

Check the exterior of the car carefully for any scuffs and dents; the E-Class is a surprisingly long car that may well have been used in tight car parks. Make sure all electrical equipment works as it should. Also check the alloy wheels for any kerb damage.

Not quite as large and expensive as the mighty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/used-review/n984">S-Class</a>, and not quite as common a sight as the compact executive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/used-review/n796">C-Class</a>, for many the E-Class has always represented&nbsp;the sweet spot in the Mercedes-Benz saloon range.

This is the fifth-generation model; it's the E-Class at its most technologically advanced&nbsp;and fit to compete with&nbsp;with a number of hugely competent rivals, most notably the magnificent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/used-review/n991">BMW 5 Series</a>. You can buy it as a saloon, as here, or a commodious <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/estate/used-review/n915">estate</a>, a nifty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/coupe/used-review/n17879">coupé</a>, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/sports/used-review/n20197">cabriolet</a> or a mildly off-road estate called the All-Terrain. That its adaptability means the E-Class can fulfil so many roles so well points to its sheer in-built engineering strength.

The breadth of engine choice&nbsp;is huge.&nbsp;The entry-level option is the 148bhp E 200 d, with&nbsp;the six-cylinder 335bhp&nbsp;E 400&nbsp;d at the opposite end of the range. There are&nbsp;also two petrol plug-in hybrids starting with the 232bhp E 300 e&nbsp;and 295bhp E 350 e,&nbsp;or there's a 222bhp&nbsp;E 300 de diesel-electric plug-in hybrid. Petrol options start with a 181bhp E 200, then step up to&nbsp;the 362bhp E 450, before winding up with&nbsp;the super-sporty AMG models beginning with the 395bhp&nbsp;E43 (later revised to the 451bhp&nbsp;E 53) and ending with 563bhp&nbsp;E 63 and 603bhp E 63 S models that both used versions of the same turbocharged 4.0-litre V8.

There are just three basic trims for regular E-Class models: SE, AMG Line and AMG Line Premium. Entry-level SE comes with plenty of luxuries, including alloy wheels, climate control, sat-nav, a DAB radio, cruise control, LED headlights, a self-parking system, heated leather seats and keyless start. AMG Line adds lots of sporty design touches, including bigger alloys, a sporty bodykit and a faux leather-wrapped dashboard. Oddly, it also gets you faux-leather seats instead of the real leather ones that feature on the cheaper SE.

Even the smaller four-cylinder diesels are smooth and quiet, helped by their standard nine-speed automatic gearbox. The E 220 d has the edge over the E 200 d on oomph and, seeing as its claimed fuel economy is the same, there seems little point in seeking out the smaller engine. The E 350 d has plenty of performance and is refined, but you’ll pay for it at the pumps. The intriguing E 300 e hybrid’s performance is only slightly behind the E 350 d’s, with an electric driving range of around 20 miles.

While that sounds fantastic in principle, the petrol engine is disappointingly rough; the handling is poorer than the regular E-Class's due to the additional weight of the battery, and real-world economy (with a discharged battery pack) was in the 30mpg range at best. At least the integration between the power sources is smooth. As with most plug-in hybrids, it perhaps only really makes sense if you do lots of short journeys punctuated by recharging. In some ways, the E 43 model doesn’t feel as quick as you might expect on the highways, or even the later E 53s, but the E 63 versions are real flyers.

In bends, the E-Class acquits itself well. There’s just about enough grip in the more basic cars and plenty in the sportier models, while all models steer with reasonable precision and speed and handle well, although the balance is definitely towards comfort rather than outright sportiness.

The E-Class is available with three distinct suspension options: firstly, regular 'passive' steel springs, in which its soft and spongy suspension smooths over larger obstacles with ease, even if you are jostled around a little along patched-up urban streets. Then there’s the pricey optional Air Body Control suspension, on which the high-speed ride is superb, but sharper-edged obstacles, including potholes and expansion joints, aren’t dealt with quite so deftly. And finally there’s a cheaper adaptive suspension system for the E 220 d, which adds a little adaptability to the basic set-up. Cruising refinement on all models is generally excellent, although there's a little more road and engine noise in the sportier versions.

The E-Class has an interior of rare class. It feels like a smaller S-Class from behind the wheel, and that’s a real compliment. The driving position is excellent, and the dashboard is logically laid out and adds a touch of style to everyday proceedings, especially if the original buyer opted for the giant display that stretches from centre console to behind the steering wheel.

Interior quality is one of the E-Class’s strongest suits. It runs the 5 Series close for quality and even matches the A6, yet it has a far more flamboyant-looking interior than both of those cars, which many buyers will appreciate. The materials used to construct the cabin are mostly classy and the buttons and switches, in the main, operate with precision.

Space is plentiful both front and rear, although two rear-seat passengers will be much more comfortable than three abreast, which is a bit of a squeeze, and the boot is an excellent size and shape with room for a week’s worth of holiday luggage.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mercedes-benz/e-class">used E-Class</a>, or any of the other luxury cars&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Mercedes E-Class 2016-present review

Advice for buyers

What should I look for in a used Mercedes E-Class saloon?

What are the most common problems with a used Mercedes E-Class saloon?