Name: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2023) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Rating: 78.0

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a large executive car, available in either saloon and estate body styles. This is the latest sixth-generation model which became available in the UK in the second half of 2023.

Likely to be the last combustion-powered Mercedes-Benz range to arrive here in the UK, the E-Class has been warmly received by the British motoring media. Described by What Car?’s Neil Winn as “a superb company car”, the car has been widely praised for its plush and spacious interior, as well as the competitive electric range of plug-in hybrid versions.

“The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is roomier and more advanced than before”, says Top Gear’s Joe Holding, but if agile driving dynamics are a key priority he instead recommends a test drive of the latest BMW 5 Series instead.

Carwow adds that, while the E-Class is loaded with “cool technology” as standard, reflections off the large infotainment screen are “distracting”, and notes that plug-in hybrid versions come with a reduced boot capacity.

As of August 2024, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 78%. It scores top marks for its outstanding safety scores, and also gets good grades for its low CO2 emissions and media review scores. However, the running cost numbers are only average – we don’t yet have servicing information, but that’s also likely to be pricey compared to most brands.

E-Class highlights

Smooth and comfortable driving experience
Spacious and well-built interior
Excellent infotainment

E-Class lowlights

No air suspension or rear-wheel steering in UK
Plug-in hybrid comes with a smaller boot
Diesel engine not as refined as petrol options

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloon and estate
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £55,290 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2023
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest E-Class is a technical tour de force, and it continues to be a comfortable and upmarket cruiser that will leave you relaxed even after spending a whole day at the wheel. But it’s not without issues. It feels as if the car’s tech is taking over inside, and it’s not as spacious as you might expect, particularly in the rear.”
Author: Dean Gibson
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid E 300 e
Score: 9 / 10
“For anyone considering a premium saloon as their next company car, there’s a serious amount of tech and comfort available here, and at a really appealing BiK tax rate. And better still, decent real-world electric range means that you could conceivably use your E 300 e as an electric car several days of the week – making it a proper bridge towards a full EV, and no mistake.”
Author: John McIlroy
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class shifts from an established premium saloon to a luxury saloon, and it’s brimming with technology too.”
Read review

Autocar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Cutting-edge assistance systems and a fine interior give the E-Class and E-Class Estate a mini-me S-Class feel.”
Author: Illya Verpraet
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Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“An uninspiring engine combined with what seems to be rather thoughtlessly set-up steel-sprung suspension doesn’t have the makings of a decent short drive, let alone a long-standing relationship.”
Author: Jake Groves
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid E 300e
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class turns up the tech and efficiency into a mostly positive result. Some of the E’s controls feel like they need a little more modulation so they’re less twitchy, but the E300e’s electric-only range and the cruising refinement offered fresh out of the box mean the latest E-Class is more than worth a look for the well-to-do corporate commuter.”
Author: Jake Groves
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The latest Mercedes E-Class offers exceptional levels of comfort, a beautiful interior and one of the most advanced infotainment systems ever.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, John McIlroy
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Carwow+

Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes E-Class is comfortable to drive and full of great technology, but some of its best features are cost options.”
Author: Darren Cassey
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Evo+

Model reviewed: E300e plug-in hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Mercedes E-class proves there’s still life in the traditional, well engineered exec saloon.”
Author: Stuart Gallagher
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a sleek-looking machine that majors on dazzling technology. The suite of screens, the fancy ambient lighting and the general appearance of the interior are sure to catch the eye of even the most jaded passengers.”
Author: CJ Hubbard
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic E 220 d
Score: 8 / 10
“The desire and effort to move the Mercedes-Benz E-Class further upwards to a more luxurious standing than before has proven mostly successful. The only aspect where it falters is in its diesel engine, which sometimes lacks refinement if not performance. There’s a reason why true luxury cars don’t use four-cylinder diesels these days. Nevertheless, the latest E-Class delivers a polished and enjoyable driving experience.”
Author: Dave Humphreys
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Mercedes wanted to boast about the new electronics and driver aids in this new car but, to be honest, they weren’t the most impressive traits of the new E-class. What left us slack jawed was the creamy ride, the effortless mile eating and the sheer economy of these sophisticated cars.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 7 / 10
“A fine, relaxing executive saloon. Provided you’re able to ignore the distracting tech. And coarse four cylinder engine.”
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What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes E-Class is not cheap, but it is well-appointed and impressively refined. It’s also spacious, comfortable and easy to drive making it a compelling option in the executive car class.”
Author: Neil Winn
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: July 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 90%
Vulnerable road users: 84%
Safety assist: 87%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of August 2024, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As it’s a brand-new model range, we don’t have enough reliability data on the sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the E-Class, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	42 mpg	D	39 – 44 mpg	C – D
Diesel models	52 mpg	B	45 – 59 mpg	A – C
Plug-in hybrid models	518 mpg	A	470 – 565 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	150 g/km	B	146 – 157 g/km	B – C
Diesel models	130 g/km	A	126 – 136 g/km	A – B

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	70 miles	C	68 – 71 miles	C – C

Running costs for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class range are a mixed bag, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel economy is disappointing for petrol models but good for diesel-engined versions. The plug-in hybrid models look amazing on paper, but this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. There is no way you will ever travel for 518 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…

The battery range of the plug-in hybrid model is good compared to most rivals, even if you won’t hit 70 miles in real-world driving. It means that most households could do most of their weekly driving without using any petrol, as long as you are able to plug the E-Class in regularly.