Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class generations at a glance

The road to the E-Class name

Mercedes-Benz now traces the E-Class back to its mid-size post-war saloons. The W120 "Ponton" 180 of 1953 was the first modern mid-size Mercedes, followed by the W110 "Fintail", the W114/W115 "Stroke-8" of 1968 and the W123 of 1976, of which more than 2.6 million were built. Until 1993 a trailing "E" on a badge meant fuel injection (Einspritzung). With the W124 facelift of 1993 the letter moved to the front and came to stand for the class itself: the 300 E became the E 300.

W124 (1984–1997): the foundation

The W124 was presented in November 1984 and went into series production in January 1985. It used the multi-link rear axle first seen on the 190 and a plastic undertray. A single wiper on an eccentric arm reached the top corners of the screen, and the 200 and 200 D achieved a drag coefficient of 0.28. The estate followed in 1985, the coupé in 1987 and the cabriolet in 1992, and 4MATIC all-wheel drive was offered from 1987.

By our calculation, saloons made up 81% of all W124s. Engines ran from a 2.0-litre diesel with 53 kW (72 PS) to two V8s. The 500 E with 240 kW was assembled with Porsche at Zuffenhausen, and 10,479 were built from 1991 to 1993. The AMG E 60 topped the range with 280 kW (381 PS).

W210 (1995–2003): oval headlamps and a rust problem

The W210 replaced the W124 saloon in 1995 and introduced the four oval headlamps that defined the E-Class for two generations. It was 1.6 in (about 40 mm) longer and 2.3 in (about 58 mm) wider than before, with a drag coefficient of 0.27, and was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1996. The estate arrived in 1996 and 4MATIC, developed with Steyr-Daimler-Puch and built in Graz, in 1997. In June 1998 the E 200 CDI and E 220 CDI brought common-rail diesel injection to the E-Class.

A facelift in August 1999 changed more than 1,800 parts. The weak point was corrosion: water-based paint introduced in 1993 and contaminated dip baths left door edges, spring towers and subframes vulnerable on all years. Mercedes paid goodwill repairs, generally up to the eighth year. Production ended at 1,374,409 saloons and 279,238 estates. The E 55 AMG with 260 kW (354 PS) was the fastest version.

W211 (2002–2009): electronics and the 2006 reset

The W211 saloon went on sale in 2002. Its Sensotronic Brake Control, a brake-by-wire system, was standard on early cars but drew complaints and was removed in the June 2006 facelift. That update also made PRE-SAFE standard and enlarged the E 500 engine from 5.0 to 5.5 litres.

Diesels started with the E 200 CDI at 90 kW (122 PS); the BlueTEC diesel arrived as the E 320 BlueTEC in the US in 2007 and the E 300 BlueTEC in Europe in 2008. The E 63 AMG of 2006 produced 378 kW (514 PS) from a 6.2-litre V8. By December 2008, Mercedes-Benz had made 1.5 million: 1.27 million saloons and 230,000 estates. By our calculation, saloons made up about 85% of the total, slightly more than in the W124's run.

W212 (2009–2016): one car, four bodies

The W212 saloon went on sale in Europe in March 2009 and the estate in November 2009. The coupé and cabriolet took different codes, C207 and A207, because they used the C-Class platform and were built in Bremen, where they replaced the CLK. The range spanned the E 200 CDI with 100 kW (136 PS) to the E 63 AMG S 4MATIC with 430 kW (585 PS) and 800 Nm. It also included the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid, a diesel hybrid with 170 kW. Euro NCAP awarded five stars in 2010.

The 2013 facelift, which reportedly cost close to €1 billion, replaced the twin headlamps with a single unit and added a stereo camera for the assistance systems.

W213 (2016–2023): sixes and semi-automated driving

The W213 was unveiled at the Detroit show in January 2016. It brought back straight-six engines, introduced the OM654 four-cylinder diesel and offered the E 300 de, a diesel plug-in hybrid with 143 kW from the engine and 90 kW from the motor. The All-Terrain estate of 2016 rode 29 mm higher. Its assistance systems could steer, brake and keep distance on motorways at up to 210 km/h, with the driver's hands on the wheel. The 2020 facelift added MBUX, the M256 straight-six with EQ Boost in the E 450, and new four-cylinder petrol engines. The range peaked with the AMG E 63 S at 450 kW (612 PS), and the W213 was Motor Trend's 2021 Car of the Year.

W214 (since 2023): the current E-Class

The sixth generation debuted on 25 April 2023, and production began at Sindelfingen on 2 May 2023. It is the first non-EQ Mercedes with the MBUX Superscreen: two 12.3-inch displays and a 17.7-inch central screen. Coupés and cabriolets moved to the new CLE.

The saloon is 4,949 mm long on a 2,961 mm wheelbase with a drag coefficient of 0.23. By our calculation, the most powerful W214 has about 61% more power than the strongest W124, the E 60 AMG (450 against 280 kW). In the 2024 Euro NCAP test it scored 92% for adult occupants, 90% for children, 84% for pedestrians and 87% for safety assistance.

E-Class against its rivals

The E-Class competes mainly with the BMW 5 Series and the Audi A6. Our guides to the BMW 5 Series generations and the Audi A6 from C4 to C9 cover both. Inside Mercedes, the C-Class is the smaller saloon, the S-Class the larger one, and the Mercedes-Benz catalogue lists the rest. Any two of these cars can be set side by side with the car comparison tool.