Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

If you’re after a car that can cover vast distances in comfort and style, then the Mercedes E-Class is hard to beat. Its excellent refinement, luxurious interior and wealth of technology make it ideal for motorway cruising or daily commutes.

If, however, you’re after driving fun and engagement behind the wheel, there are better choices, namely the BMW 5 Series. There are performance options for the E-Class in the form of the powerful AMG model, and while we suspect they’ll be a lot more fun, we’ve yet to try them.

For those needing more space, there's the Mercedes E-Class Estate to consider. 

Our test car was the very impressive petrol-powered E300e plug-in hybrid, which has a superb electric-only range of up to 70 miles and a combined power output of 313PS. That large electric range means short-to-medium journeys can pass by with minimal fuel use, and only on the longest motorway schleps does the MPG start to dip as reliance on the petrol engine increases. It’s a very impressive powertrain – pricey up-front, but particularly attractive as a company car due to its low tax implications. A diesel plug-in hybrid – the E300de – is also available, which will be more efficient when you rely on the engine.

Those regularly covering longer journeys may find the regular diesel models more appealing. The E220d offers a great balance of economy and performance, promising up to 58.9mpg according to official figures, while the E450d has even more grunt from its straight-six engine and a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds. A petrol model – the E200 – is also available and is the most affordable version of the E-Class. It could be a solid option for all-round use, while the AMG performance model offers big power for a big price.

The big rivals for the E-Class are the German alternatives - the BMW 5 Series and the Audi A6, which both offer similar levels of luxury and practicality. A more left-field choice could be the more affordable but less impressive Genesis G80, while within the Mercedes range the EQE electric saloon occupies a similar space in the line-up, but with zero emissions. 

The Jaguar XF and the Volvo S90 were rivals for the previous-generation E-Class, but both have since been discontinued. That said, there are plenty of nearly new examples of each on heycar. 

You expect a certain level of quality from a Mercedes, and the E-Class doesn’t disappoint. Luxury exudes throughout, with high-quality materials and rock-solid build.

Maybe the Audi A6 has a razor-thin edge when it comes to the tactility of the materials, that final edge of “thunk” when you close a door or the robustness of flaps, buttons and dials, but it’s very close and the Mercedes more than holds its own, especially with its innovative design and attention to detail. Merc went through a phase of slightly disappointing interiors after years of being top-notch, so it’s nice to see that era fading into obscurity and a return of genuinely high-end cabins. 

Crank up the options list and you can upgrade the upholstery to various grades of leather, spec out the trim with open-pore wood, piano black lacquer or high-gloss metal, and AMG-related cars have lashings of carbon fibre.

Every E-Class is fitted with Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system, with a 14.4-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver display behind the steering wheel. The system is packed with features, so set some time aside to go through and understand what it can do, but it’s straightforward to navigate and quick to respond.

The Superscreen setup, which is optional on lower-spec cars and standard from AMG Line Premium onwards, is the centrepiece of the whole interior, meaning the whole front of the cabin is covered in screens with a third display added in front of the passenger.

Most interactions rely on the central touchscreen, which is responsive and easy to navigate, though the absence of physical buttons for quick access to key functions can be annoying. The system’s large icons help with usability but lack the intuitive feel of tactile controls, which are generally easier to operate while driving.

Touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel are also provided for controlling infotainment features, but their performance is inconsistent. They often require multiple swipes to register your commands, which can be distracting. Traditional buttons would offer a more reliable and user-friendly experience. That said, the system as a whole is both visually appealing and functional.

There are four USB-C ports to plug mobile devices into – two in the front, two in the back – and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. A wireless phone charger is integrated into a stowage tray in the centre console, and the AMG model gets a built-in dashcam.

The E-Class is a large car and has an impressive level of space and practicality. Up front, there’s lots of room although it feels cosy and cocooned thanks to the high centre console. The seats are very comfortable and supportive. There are numerous storage spaces, including a large compartment under the armrest for things like wallets or keys, and large door bins that can comfortably hold water bottles. The cupholders sit under a sliding cover in the centre console.

In the back, there’s loads of legroom – more than in the BMW 5 Series – although headroom can be tight for the tallest occupants because of the sloping roofline. The middle seat is best used for emergencies only, as the transmission tunnel down the side of the car impacts considerably on legroom. There’s a small storage compartment and two cup holders for rear-seat passengers.

In petrol and diesel models the boot has a 540-litre capacity, which makes the E-Class one of the most practical cars of its type. That’s plenty of space for luggage, shipping or miscellaneous business kit that needs hauling up the motorway. Being a saloon, the aperture at the boot opening is quite small for larger items. If you regularly need to carry larger items then the E-Class Estate could be a better option.

It’s worth noting that PHEV versions of the E-Class get a considerably smaller boot. The reduced 460-litre capacity is still far from tight, but the battery equipment under the boot floor impinges considerably and means there’s no underfloor storage for charging cables, either. The AMG model also loses boot space due to its own plug-in hybrid drivetrain, dropping the space further to just 370 litres.

There’s a comprehensive range of powertrains for the E-Class, all of which use a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic gearbox. The range starts with the sole petrol option, the E200, which has 204PS from a 2.0-litre engine and can reach 62mph from a standstill in 7.5 seconds. It uses a mild-hybrid system to boost fuel economy.

There are two mild-hybrid diesels to choose from. The E220d has a 2.0-litre engine with 197PS and can reach 62mph in 7.6 seconds, while the E450d 4MATIC model uses a 3.0-litre straight-six engine with 367PS for a 4.8-second 0-62mph time, helped by four-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive.

There are also two PHEVs to choose from. Both combine a 2.0-litre engine with an electric motor and battery to give an electric-only range of 70 miles, but the E300e runs on petrol and the E300de runs on diesel. The E300e puts out 320PS, while the diesel has 313PS. Both reach 62 mph in 6.4 seconds.

Then there’s the AMG model, officially called the Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid 4MATIC+. Equipped with all-wheel drive and a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, it uses a 3.0-litre petrol straight-six engine with 449PS and a 163PS electric motor, which deliver a 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds. Despite its performance credentials, it can still run on electric power only for up to 62 miles thanks to its 21.2kWh battery.

In previous E-Class generations there’s also been a fire-breathing AMG E63, although a thusly designated model is yet to be confirmed for the current range. 

The Mercedes E-Class is exceptionally quiet at motorway speeds, with minimal wind noise or road noise, except for a modicum of road noise at higher motorway speeds. Diesel models can sound slightly gruff under hard acceleration, but generally, the refinement is excellent, whatever type of driving you’re doing.

The Refinement section seems a good place to also mention the optional Refinement Package, which adds Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping and is intended to smooth out the ride quality. It’s also available as part of the Technology Package. We’ve not had a chance to try it yet, but it should up the ride quality and increase the overall feeling of refinement – in theory, at least.

Safety organisation Euro NCAP awarded the Mercedes E-Class a maximum five-star score when it was tested in 2024. It scored particularly highly – a mark of 92% – for adult occupant safety, and managed 90% for child occupant safety. In short, it’s a very safe car.

All models feature adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking, as well as parking sensors and a reversing camera.

An optional Driving Assistance Plus package adds features like Active Lane Change Assist, which will automatically switch lanes for you. You can also upgrade the headlights and add a Parking Package that features a 360-degree camera system. 

i-Size child seat attachments are included on the outer rear seats. 

The latest E-Class is rather new so meaningful reliability data hasn’t yet been gathered. We hope it can perform better than previous generations, which had tended to rank slightly below rivals in independent reliability surveys. The warranty is a three-year, unlimited-mileage one, which is comparable to the model’s peers.

While we don’t want to overly worry you, Mercedes-Benz as a brand ranked fifth from bottom in the latest Honest John Satisfaction Index, which canvassed the opinions of 6,000 people over several aspects of car ownership, including reliability. Take heart, however, that Merc was at least ahead of fellow premium carmakers Porsche, Audi and Jaguar.

Depending on the model, the Mercedes E-Class sits in insurance groups 36 to 50 of 50. Its premium nature means it’ll be pricier than some other cars to insure, with the PHEVs and the AMG models particularly spicy when it comes to cost.

You’ll pay a premium to tax an E-Class, because as well as the standard flat rate of annual Vehicle Excise Duty, you’ll also have to part with the expensive car surcharge due to all models costing more than £40,000 when new. That means a total of £600 a year, although PHEV models get a £10 discount.

The E200 d will cost you £540 for the first 12 months’ road tax and £475 for the following years. Most expensive of the lot is the AMG E63 that attracts a first yearly payment of £2175.

There are a choice of trim levels in the Mercedes E-Class, broadly set around two themes – AMG Line and Exclusive. AMG Line trims are inspired in looks by the powerful AMG model, while Exclusive is less sporty, more classy in look and feel.

AMG Line is the standard spec, with sporty styling, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and Artico synthetic upholstery inside. AMG Premium builds on that by including 19-inch wheels and a panoramic sliding sunroof, with electric memory seats inside and a Burmester sound system. Keyless entry and engine-start is also included.

AMG Premium Plus adds more kit, including 20-inch wheels, upgraded headlights and more comfortable seats with a massage function, as well as a heated steering wheel, heated armrest and a head-up display. The Superscreen package is standard, too.

The Exclusive line starts with Exclusive Premium, which is a less sporty version of AMG Line Premium, with a chrome barred grille and similar equipment levels. Chrome details replace the black accents of the AMG Line model, with a different design of 19-inch alloys. Exclusive Premium has big 21-inch wheels.

There’s also the Urban Edition, which is available only as an E300e or an E300de. It sits on 20-inch alloy wheels with a black and silver finish, AMG Line bodywork with upgraded headlights, keyless entry, tinted windows and heated seats,