Given unlimited budget but just one parking space, there are few among us who wouldn’t put the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class high on our shopping lists.
The just-right E-Class is a fine car in any configuration, from mild E350 sedan to practical E450 wagon to sexy convertibles to ferocious AMGs. You can’t go wrong here, which is why we award the lineup 7.8 out of 10 points. The 2020 E-Class is one of the highest-rated non-electric cars on our scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
This year, the base E350 has a little more power from its turbo-4 and a new name. (It was E300 last year). E450 denotes a twin-turbo V-6 that delivers more than enough power for most shoppers. The AMG range is split into two very different powertrains: the no-compromise mild-hybrid E53 and the track-slaying E63.
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In short, there’s a car for every budget, and each one is better than the last. Ride quality across the board sets a high standard (and a higher one with the optional air suspension), while handling is more entertaining than you may expect.
Coupes and convertibles are gorgeous to behold, but they’re predictably light on practicality. That’s where the wagons come in with their SUV-rivaling cargo space. Sedans hit a happy medium for most buyers, though their trunks are disconcertingly small. Rear-wheel drive is standard on E350s and E450 coupes, while a grippy all-wheel-drive system is available.
The E-Class’ beautiful interior can be dressed up in numerous synthetic and real leather hues, and its dash, doors, and center console can be decked out in several trim options. There’s not a bad interior in the bunch, but we encourage you to spend some time picking a favorite.
The standard 12.3-inch touchscreen is bright, though its tablet-like interface can prove distracting. A better bet is to use the standard Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Every E-Class comes fitted with automatic emergency braking, while a reasonably priced option package adds adaptive cruise control and various other functions that help center the car in its lane, drive with limited intervention in traffic, and even change lanes automatically at the tap of a turn signal.
Good crash-test scores and better-than-expected fuel economy bolster this lineup’s appeal.