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Saloon
This car drives with regal smoothness, smothering bumps and shutting out noise almost completely. Good as it is to drive, though, BMW’s 5-series is definitely better.
The huge and very comfy cabin is adorned with wood, even on the entry Classic. It isn’t as barge-like as previous E-Class's, so while passenger space remains good, rear headroom is perhaps a touch tight. That said, the boot is still a cavern.
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The huge range of engines and trims makes buying any E-Class a maze. And, if that’s not enough, the number of options available when the car was new means you’ll rarely find two used cars alike.
The smaller engines and lower-spec models are the most common and also represent the strongest value. Most have auto gearboxes and they’re so smooth we’d shy away from manual shifts. In any case, the foot-operated parking brake makes hill starts a wrestle if you also have a clutch to deal with.
Running Costs
Owning an E-Class is never going to be cheap, but you can reduce bills by finding a good independent garage for servicing and repairs. Check, though, that they follow Mercedes schedules and use proper branded parts rather than cheaper copies to keep your warranty intact.
The car decides its own servicing schedules based on how it's driven, and tells you when work is due. However, a major service is needed every three years, so the smart move is to go for a car that’s just had this done.
Engines and transmissions are durable, so there's no real need to budget for repairs on them. But, the E-Class’s complex electrical systems have caused grief for too many first owners, and threaten nasty bills later on.
Insurance is expensive, too, running from group 15 for the low-end models up to 20 for the E55 AMG. But, on the other hand, fuel economy is reasonable: 30mpg for the E200, up to 40mpg for the diesels and mid-20s mpg for the E280 and E350. The only really scary ones are the E500 or E55, which barely reach 20mpg.
Estate
Behind those swish, upmarket looks is a practical, working estate. The loadbay is huge - far bigger than that of an Audi A6 Avant or BMW 5 Series Touring. You're unlikely to need more than its 690 litres in everyday use, but when you do, the rear seats fold flat to free up a gargantuan 1950 litres.
The quality of the roomy cabin shines through, and most drivers should find it easy to make themselves comfortable behind the wheel. All the controls are well sited and operate with a satisfying action.
Ultimately, it's handling isn't a match for the 5 Series, but it's surefooted and tidy nonetheless. In town, too, it's surprisingly practical for such a big car, with a lovely tight turning circle. However, the E-Class wagon really excels on motorways, where it chomps through the miles in complete, refined hush.
It's almost completely silent, except for the E320 CDI engine, which is noisier than you'd like if you rev it hard.
Running Costs
It is expensive to buy - but second-hand prices are high because it's an excellent car and there's plenty of demand for it.
That will work in your favour when you resell, because the E-Class estate holds its value very well, and you shouldn't underestimate the importance of its sluggish depreciation. When you sell it on, it will repay the initial premium it commanded - and probably more besides - compared with less prized estates.
The fuel bill on diesels (35-38mpg) and smaller petrols (30mpg) is reasonable, while insurance costs will be lower than for a BMW 5 Series, similar to an Audi A6 Avant's and higher than a Volvo V70's.
However, service costs are less competitive - the BMW will be slightly cheaper, the V70 and A6 noticeably less.
However, you can hack the labour bill by as much as half by going to a specialist independent instead of a Mercedes dealer, according to a leading warranty company.