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The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been the choice of the executive driver since the early 90s, and its mid-size saloon form dates back much further. It’s a car that represents luxury, without the opulence and grandiose of the S-Class. A car that has been the choice of company CEOs, executive limos and middle-class family cars, and it just got an upgrade. The 2024 Mercedes E-Class is the car's sixth generation and represents a new W214 body type in the range. Both inside and outside, the design moves the car closer than ever to the all-electric EQ models, with a slicker grill and a truly tech-focused dash. After all, with the company planning to only sell electric models by 2030, this could be the last E-Class model with a combustion engine. In truth, none of the 16 new engine variants of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are pure combustion any more. Most feature a mild hybrid arrangement, with a 17kW battery that boosts both power and economy by transferring energy back to the battery when braking. There is also the option of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which features a larger 95kW electric motor and a 24.5 kW battery, extending the pure electric driving range and massively reducing that consumption figure. I believe that the PHEV model, the Mercedes E300 e, is the most interesting choice in the lineup, and it’s the one I got the chance to drive. In short, this model has the potential to be one of the best Mercedes models on the market, though currently misses a few EQ features that would make it perfect. Buying a new Mercedes-Benz E-Class can cost less than you might imagine. The range starts from £55,290 for the E 200 AMG Line model, which is considerably cheaper than most premium electric cars these days. Of course, if you want the most powerful model, the E450d 4MATIC you will be paying upwards of £80,640 and up to £89,410 fully loaded with extras. US models differ in spec, with prices starting from $56,750. The PHEV Mercedes-Benz E300 e sits fairly mid-table in the range, starting from £68,020 for the AMG Line Advanced model. It also comes in the AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus versions. The model I tested was the E300 e AMG Line Premium Plus, which starts from £76,585 and adds the 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloys and the Superscreen. Described as following the classic three-box saloon design, the new E-Class looks every bit the classic design but with a few modern touches. At nearly 5 metres long, it’s a pretty big car, with lots of space inside, including 370 litres of boot space. The grill is deeper with small three-pointed stars embedded in it, while a gloss black insert joins it to the headlights to create the face. This feels much closer to electric models, such as the EQE and EQS saloon. Door handles are now flush with the car, only revealing themselves when the vehicle is unlocked – again, something that has been done on the EQ models. The star logo is projected from the wing mirrors onto the ground at night when the car is unlocked, and at the rear, the LED lights use the star motif in the design, making this car really stand out. There’s certainly no shortage of tech on the new E-Class and the addition of the Superscreen makes that abundantly clear. This is running the very latest version of the Mercedes MBUX – the last version before it switches to the MBOS system. This is a highly competent system that looks great and is extremely easy to use. The Mercedes MBUX voice assistant is a very easy way to access features too, and responds competently to the “Hey Mercedes” command. It can change the temperature, open the panoramic sunroof or even control the smart lights in your room, thanks to the smart integration. There’s also an option to allow it to answer questions without this pre-empt, which is also effective – though not if you’re having a conversation with someone else in the car. Read More
