2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Based on analysis of 52 E-Class reviews and test drives.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class - What the Auto Press Says
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class ranks 1 out of 13 Luxury Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 52 published reviews and test drives of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class held the top spot in our Luxury Large Car rankings for most of 2008 and 2009, but Mercedes has improved it anyway. Entirely redesigned for 2010, the new E-Class has a new sense of style inside and out. It features more athletic road manners than the car it replaces and, incredibly, a lower price. The new E-Class is a must-see for every luxury large car shopper.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class doesn’t make any sense.
It’s a better car than the 2009 E-Class. It has an eye-catching look that’s best seen in person, an opulent interior with an old-world panache that other luxury cars can’t match, a newfound sporty character and a list of safety equipment that boggles the mind. Yet it’s cheaper than the car it replaces. Mercedes improved the E-Class drastically for 2010, then cut its price. A seasoned auto critic with the New York Times writes, “I can’t recall a price cut of this magnitude -- nearly 9 percent -- on any recent car, let alone one that’s been fully redesigned.”
The new car is less-expensive than the old one, but it isn’t cheaply made. The Times continues, “Not only is there no evidence of cost-cutting, but in terms of interior luxury, the E-Class actually moves closer to the flagship S-Class sedan.”
Still, the Benz won’t be the perfect car for every luxury large car shopper. The BMW 5-Series and Audi A6 are better handlers -- but the E-Class has narrowed the gap, and is now nearly as poised as those cars.
But there may not be a large sedan with a better balance of luxury, style and performance than this one.
Safety-conscious shoppers, in particular, should explore the E-Class. It offers all of the typical safety equipment luxury buyers are accustomed to, but also has a new bag of tricks that no competitor can match, including an Attention Assist system designed to help drowsy drivers stay alert, and a system that automatically dims the highbeam headlights to avoid blinding oncoming cars. It’s enough to make the Volvo S80 duck in shame.
The E-Class is also offered in a coupe body style, but shoppers shouldn’t consider the two interchangeable. The E coupe has the same engine and transmission choices as this car, but it’s built on the C-Class chassis, which gives it very different handling dynamics and interior proportions.
The E-Class sedan is available as a V6-powered E350, which reviewers say is an adequate performer but lacks the punch of similar models from BMW and Audi, or a V8-powered E550, which should easily satisfy speedsters. A 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is optional on both. A hybrid model and a diesel-powered edition are expected to join the E-class stable for the 2011 model year, but neither has yet been made available to the press. The high-performance E63 AMG is covered in a separate review.
- "New from headlights to taillights, the 2010 E-class has even higher levels of safety, refinement, and luxury. From the fuel-efficient diesel to the race-ready E63 AMG, Mercedes-Benz makes an E-class for just about everyone-everyone that can pay for it, that is." -- Car and Driver
- "With starting prices marked down and new features added such as the standard Attention Assist that monitors and warns of impending driver fatigue, Mercedes-Benz has made a bedrock entry in the premium midsize field that is a more-solid value than its predecessor." -- Consumer Guide
- "Restyled, higher in quality and more enjoyable to drive, the redesigned 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a luxury-car triumph." -- Edmunds
- "The new E-Class is a return-path to what people always loved Mercedes for: a solid, safe, comfortable, conservative car in which you can invest utter faith." -- Motor Trend
- "In fact, combining all of the features of the S-Class with a cheaper price tag and, to our mind, better styling, the E-Class just became the pick of the Mercedes range and our favorite vehicle from that brand since we were riding around in the way back of a W123 wagon.” -- Jalopnik
E-Class Performance - 9.0 (Excellent)
E-Class sedans have always been known for their smooth, composed rides and powerful engines, but have often lacked the true sport-sedan feel of some competitors. The redesigned 2010 E-Class, however, seems more poised and quick than the car it replaces. Reviewers say it hasn’t lost its sedate character, but it is capable of sportier driving than previous E-Class cars. Read More
E-Class Exterior - 8.8 (Very Good)
The previous-generation E-Class is such a familiar site on American roads that any redesign, even a conservative one, is bound to surprise some people. Mercedes has abandoned some of the classic styling cues of that car with the 2010 edition of the E-Class -- this one even drops the iconic four round headlights. Yet reviewers often say the new design has a character that reminds them of classic Mercedes, even though its sharp lines are undeniably contemporary. More than one reviewer warns, however, that the new sedan doesn’t look the same in person as it does in photographs. Read More
E-Class Interior - 9.0 (Excellent)
Perhaps no other marque has the heritage of Mercedes-Benz, and with this design, engineers decided to remind car shoppers of the company’s history with a classic look and feel. Reviewers say the passenger cabin of the 2010 E-Class blends modern high-tech electronics with an old-world luxury feel that few other luxury cars can match. Cars like the Infiniti M and Lexus GS may be luxurious in their own way, but none can claim the heritage of the E-Class. Edmunds writes, "The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class features a cabin indicative of Mercedes' blocky, bulletproof designs of yore." Read More
E-Class Safety - NA
Neither the federal government nor the insurance industry has published crash test results for the 2010 E-Class. As the sedan is an entirely new design, results from previous years may not apply to this car. But Mercedes has built an astonishing array of safety equipment into the E-Class sedan, including several new systems no other automaker has ever built. Read More
E-Class Reliability - 7.0 (Good)
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). All Mercedes-Benz vehicles are covered by a New Vehicle Limited Warranty lasting 48 months or 50,000 miles. Roadside assistance is included for the warranty period. Read More
