We love how the E-Class has been one of the benchmarks in the mid-size luxury sedan segment besides the 5 Series and the A6. It is still in its fifth generation and in that regard, Mercedes has given a facelift with updated looks and a lot of advanced electronics. The 2022 model year pretty much has all the features with fewer additions making the E-Class a complete no-brainer in terms of recommendations. So should you consider the E-Class or just go with other options from BMW and Audi? Let’s uncover the facts, shall we?

Overview

The Mercedes E-Class looks aggressive and feels refined at the same time. Mercedes makes the E-Class not only as a sedan but as a two-door coupe, a convertible, and even in the form of a wagon. While we leave the AMG trims reviewed separately, the E 350 and E450 sedans are what we will focus on in this review. For the 2022 model year, the E-Class did not get a lot of changes since the 2021 model year refresh which includes a newer mild-hybrid engine, refreshed interior and exterior changes, and loads of newer tech, including a standard 12.3-inch driver information display.

The addition of newer colors including Nautical Blue metallic, Starling Blue metallic, Manufactur Moonlight White, and Manufactur Starling Blue metallic will provide an upper hand if you want to choose your favorite color schemes for your new E-Class. Mercedes has also added adaptive automatic high beams as standard for the 2022 model year to wrap up the changelog. The E-Class starts for the MSRP of $54,950 which is not the priciest but should you spend that much money while there are options like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Genesis G80, and even the Lexus ES?

Trims and Features

The Mercedes E-Class is available in two trims: E 350 and E 450. The former is a sedan-only trim while the E 450 is available in other forms, including the convertible. A detailed trims and specs list are just below.

E 350. } }

Price: $54,950.

- 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine. (255 hp, 273 lb-ft)

- RWD. (Optional AWD)

- 18-inch wheels.

- LED DRLs, headlights, and taillights.

- A hands-free tailgate.

- Faux-leather upholstery. (MB-Tex)

- Leather steering wheel.

- Dual-zone automatic climate control.

- Power-adjustable front seats with multi-level heating functions.

- Sunroof.

- 12.3-inch touchscreen display.

- 12.3-inch driver information display.

- MBUX infotainment interface.

- Keyless entry and ignition.

- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Standard advanced driver assistance features include:

- Blindspot monitoring.

- Adaptive automatic high beams.

- Automatic emergency braking.

Mercedes is offering a lot of standalone features and packages to make every bit of the latest tech available on the market available to you. A few of them are listed below.

- Adaptive air suspension.

- Larger 19-inch wheel options.

- Navigation system with augmented reality.

- Heads-up display.

- Burmester premium audio system.

- 360-degree surround-view camera system.

- Panoramic sunroof.

- Ventilated front seats.

- Premium leather upholstery.

- Wireless charging pad.

- Massage function with front seats.

Driver Assistance package. } }

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Lane departure warning.

- Lane-keeping assist with active steering inputs.

- Rear cross-traffic alert.

E 450. } }

Price: $62,750.

- 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six petrol engine paired to a mild-hybrid system.

- 4Matic. (Standard with the sedan.)

- The trim has all the above standard features of the E 350.

- Standalone features with the driver assistance package are available just like the E 350.

Exterior: Elegant enough

From the outside, this facelifted E-Class might seem to look a bit understated in front of the other German and Asian rivals but let me tell you, the E-Class looks stylish. The refreshed front features LED headlights with DRLs and a redesigned grille that has tiny three-pointed stars all over. The lower grille now has a sleeker appeal with fake brake-cooling vents (Argh!). The front of the E-Class, though not the sharpest, looks absolutely stunning especially the cuts and creases on the bonnet. The side profile is typical sedan-like with a long 194.3-inch length and the 18-inch alloys are fitted as standard. However, you get the optional 19-inch AMG wheels for an extra bit of sportiness. Also, from the sides, you will get to see how the E-Class sedan sits closer to the ground with just 3.8-inch of ground clearance. Moving to the rear, where the taillights got a retouch with sleeker edges and are LEDs but are nothing special because it is a part of Mercedes’ latest design philosophy. Some fakery is found with the exhaust outlets which will annoy you if you aren’t a fanboy.

The E-Class sedan is heavy like all other luxury mid-size sedans in this segment would be at 3,781 pounds, but it's still lighter than the G80 and the A6, which come in at over 4,000 pounds. The 5 Series matches the E-Class with minor differences and the lightest would be the E 350. Other dimensions like the width and height might be similar but the wheelbase is the shortest with the E-Class by two to three inches. The ground clearance is the lowest too with just 3.8 inches, restricting the beautiful sedan to urban limits. The G80 and the 5 Series have the highest 5.5 inches which are good for a sedan.

2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Exterior Dimensions

Interior: A true German craftsmanship

What we love about all the Mercedes cars is that they are tech-heavy, but for the E-Class besides there's plenty of luxury too. There are wood, leather, and even aluminum trim bits similar to the flagship S-Class, but for a price. The base E 350 sedan doesn’t get genuine-leather upholstery as standard and gets MB-Tex which is Mercedes’ fancy way of calling faux leather. But the seats are one of the most comfortable ones we have sat on and do come with power-adjustability, multi-level heating options, and an optional massage function. Anyway, the dashboard, which is the car’s most interesting area, has leatherette stitching, which also carries over to the door panels. The touch and feel revive the opulence.

The 2021 model year brought two big 12.3-inch screens whacked onto the dash. The driver information display is arguably the best you can get on the market right now. The visuals are crisp with different themes which can be selected with the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. The leather-wrapped steering wheel has a good grip and has power-adjustable tilt and telescopic functionality. The center console is pretty clean, has wood trim, will have a wireless charging pad if you opt for it, and a trackpad with the necessary infotainment system buttons for easier accessibility. A few of the interior features of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class include:

- Dual-zone automatic climate control.

- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with power-adjustability.

- Leatherette upholstery.

- Power-adjustable front seats with multi-level heating options.

- Sunroof.

- Leatherette and wooden interior trims.

- 12.3-inch driver information display.

- Premium-leather upholstery with massage functions. (Optional)

- Ventilated front seats. (Optional)

As for comfort, seating for five is offered with enough headroom and legroom. The front and rear row has slightly above 37 inches of headroom while the legroom is set at 41.7 inches at the front and 36.2 inches at the rear. The A6 and the G80 have good headroom in both rows while the latter with the ES leads in the rear row legroom. Among the competition, the E-Class and the G80 have the least cargo capacity of 13.1 cubic feet. The A6 and the ES are not the best either while the 5 Series takes the crown.

2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior Dimensions

Gone is the age of the COMAND system with the new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) taking its place. Coupled with the 12.3-inch touchscreen display, the fluidity and optimizations are just on-point. The system has voice activation that can be summoned by calling “Hey Mercedes” and an entity like Siri will communicate shortly. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard and you also get satellite radio, dual-subwoofer sound system, navigation system, USB, and Bluetooth connection. Some of the optional infotainment system features which you might consider would be:

- Augmented reality based navigation system.

- WiFi connectivity.

- Wireless charging pad.

- 13-speaker Burmester premium sound.

- Heads-up display.

Performance and Handling: From mild to impressive, you choose.

From the get-go, the base E 350 won’t disappoint you with its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine. Its rather low 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet might give you a hard time while overtaking cars in high speed but for a mid-size executive sedan, no one is going to throw everything at the E-Class and see how it performs, at least for the base trim. The E 450, on the other hand, is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine which is paired with the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. When combined, they put out 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet. So, if you want brisk performance without opting for the V-8 trims, the E 450 is the trim for you. Both the E 350 and E 450 come with a nine-speed automatic transmission but the former drives through the rear wheels while the latter gets the 4Matic. If you have the budget for E 350 and still want to get an all-wheel-drive then that can be arranged too with additional costs.

The base engine has enough power for your home-to-office commutes even if you can take it for highway drives without the urge of overtaking much. So in our testing, the 2.0-liter engine in the RWD guise took 6.1 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill. And, if you prefer better power delivery and easy highway takedowns then the 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine with the 48-volt mild-hybrid system would do enough with a claimed 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a standing quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds by Car And Driver. Handling-wise, both the E 350 and E450 perform the way they should. German luxury sedans are not about speed and handling precision but absolute comfort which the E-Class ace in. Still, if you are curious, the sedan glides through ugly pavements, and with the optional air suspension, things get even better. The steering has enough feel but not for enthusiasts as taking it to corners might disappoint them. The braking is decent for everyday chores but going hard might upset them pretty quickly.

2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Performance Stats

Fuel Economy

The base 2.0-liter four-pot produces less power and with the RWD it delivers about 22 miles in the city, a decent 31 miles per gallon on the highways, and 25 miles per gallon for both the city and highways combined. Opting for AWD will reportedly kill a highway mile as per the EPA. The base engine can deliver up to 540 miles per full tank while the capacity is 17.4 gallons. The mild-hybrid powertrain on the other side brings up the city mileage by a mile extra while decreasing a mile on the highway figures. Do note that the engine has a lot of power and does come with 4Matic as standard. Mercedes has added a slightly larger 21.1-gallon gas tank which can deliver up to a whopping 633 miles on the highways. If you made your mind already, go for the E 450 and enjoy its power while not sacrificing the economy.

2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel Economy

How safe is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Like most of the thriving German cars, the E-Class is one of the safest mid-size executive sedans available on the market. After vigorous crash testing done by the federal agencies, it scored a full five-star (NHTSA) rating and has also been awarded the Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) for 2021. Crash ratings are good, and to be honest, at that price segment, every car should get the numbers they deserve. But the safety features fitted as standard are pretty much the basics and this system of providing additional driver assistance features packages is quite prevalent with the German offerings. If you compare them with, let’s say, the Genesis G80 which offers almost every high-tech driver assistance feature as standard like the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. A few of the important safety features available with the E-Class are as follows:

- Adaptive headlights.

- Automatic emergency braking.

- Blindspot monitoring.

- Adaptive cruise control. (Optional)

- Blindspot monitoring.

- Lane-departure warning. (Optional)

- Rear cross-traffic alert. (Optional)

- Active steering assist. (Optional)

Is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class the perfect mid-size sedan for you?

If you have the money, we would recommend the E-Class right away. The bold design language along with a road presence and a supremely built interior having modern-day tech. However, feel free to choose between the trims but the optional driver assistance package is highly recommended. Now, if you want to experience a better luxury with a lot of standard features, impeccably designed interior, exterior, and most importantly, a way cheaper price tag, then you definitely look for the Genesis G80 and even the Lexus ES.

Is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

What is the price of the new E-Class?

What is the available cargo capacity of the E-Class?

How much power does the E-Class make?

Which is the most powerful E-Class?

FAQ

Q: Is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

As per the NHTSA, there is just one recall recorded for the new E-Class, and that too for a seat-belt retractor malfunction. The outgoing 2021 model year had nine recalls and all were due to electronics malfunctions.

Q: What is the price of the new E-Class?

The base price of the E 350 is $54,950 (without delivery charges).

Q: What is the available cargo capacity of the E-Class?

It is just 13.1 cubic feet behind the non-foldable rear seats, meaning two full-size suitcases would easily fit.

Q: How much power does the E-Class make?

The E-Class is available with three engine options but the base 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four puts out 255 hp and 273 lb-ft, driving the rear wheels. The turbocharged straight-six 3.0-liter engine fitted with the E 450 is a mild-hybrid assisted by a 48-volt system. They put out 362 hp and 369 lb-ft combined.

Q: Which is the most powerful E-Class?

The E 63 S has to be the one with its beastly twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine. It puts down about 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. Results? 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds!