UPDATE: 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450
Service Life 6 mo/6,637 mi Average Fuel Econ 21.7 mpg
“The E 450 offers interior practicality, but one flaw reveals its age.”
Zach Gale
Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal wear $0
Base price $63,050 As tested $72,770
EPA City/Hwy/Comb fuel econ 23/30/26 mpg
Mercedes-Benz has a surprisingly expansive fleet of sedans, perfect for those not swayed by the popular appeal of SUVs. With not one but two entry-level four-doors, as well as a compact option below the E-Class and full-size S-Class flagship, Mercedes offers something for every luxury sedan buyer. The E is the “just right” midsize entry, striving to deliver a key mix of luxury, dynamic excellence, and practicality in a convenient size. Unless your garage looks like a tiny museum, you’ll probably spend most of your time inside an E 450. So how practical is it on a day-to-day basis? The answer depends on what you’re looking for.
Luxury-branded midsize sedans use their size differently than do mainstream models, taking advantage of stance and design to appear more premium and upscale. Part of that often comes from their rear-drive underpinnings, not something you’ll see on a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. The other side of that coin is that some luxury options—namely, the E-Class, the BMW 5 Series, and the gorgeous Jaguar XF—won’t feel big enough in the back seat to anyone accustomed to a Camry or Accord. Unless you’re also considering the more commodious Lexus ES, Genesis G80, or Volvo S90, that’s just a compromise you make in this segment.
The E-Class makes the most of its compromise between exterior proportions and interior space by carving out the front seat backs. Clearly, though, this back seat is made for two despite its three belts, with comfortable buckets on the outboard seats and a huge drivetrain hump limiting legroom for the center passenger. Many E-Class buyers will be attracted to a heritage that stretches back more than half a century, as well as its modern excellence—it was our 2021 Car of the Year.
So the E-Class is no S-Class in rear space. Still, the luxurious midsizer offers a trick with its 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. Pull the levers at the top edge of the trunk, and the front seat automatically powers forward a
