The range for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class starts at $54,250 for the E350 and comprises two trims - the E350 and the E450. The E350 is further available in a rear-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive configuration, while the E450 gets all-wheel drive as standard. Talking of the base trim, it packs amenities like a sunroof, MB-Tex seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and power-adjustable and heated front seats as standard, while there are packages available that help in increasing the visual appeal of the sedan. 

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The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class makes the most value when equipped in its E450 trim. The price increment over the E350 4Matic isn’t much, and for the price, you get the upgraded inline-6 motor that has more power and is said to be more fuel-efficient owing to the mild hybrid system. One notable addition from the options list is the upgraded 13-speaker Burmester sound system that packs the “luxury car” punch in the music played. 

The base engine on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 that is good for pushing out 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox that channels the output to the rear wheels only as standard. The German manufacturer does offer all-wheel drive, but that’ll cost $2,500 extra. 

The next level up is a 3.0L inline-6 that replaces the V6 from the previous generation in favor of a mild hybrid system that helps in regulating the fuel economy while also helping with the launch and overall power and performance of the car. This new mill is good for churning out an impressive 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all four wheels as standard via the same 9-speed unit as seen on the base trim. 

Despite being powered by a very similar engine design as its rivals, the E-Class blasts off the line and posts the quickest acceleration figures, with the 60 MPH mark coming in at just 5.6 seconds. This figure is massively helped by the turbocharger that is tuned to bring out peak torque at very low revs. When comparing the price tag, all three Germans stand between $54-55k, whereas the Volvo comes out as the cheapest option at $51,550.

How does it handle?

The suspension on the car might be a bit too stiff for the average person, but the step-up to the air suspension does wonders in terms of ride quality improvement. In the comfort mode, the suspension softens the matters, making the drive extremely comfortable while the speed bumps aren’t felt whatsoever. The visibility is very good with minimal blind spots, while the cabin lets in a lot of light. The gearbox is super smooth, the steering is light, and the tech inside also helps in negotiating through tight spaces. 

On the highway, the gearbox is super responsive, and overtakes aren’t an issue whatsoever, even in the base engine. The V6’s hybrid assistance just makes matters better while negating any lag during gear shifts. The suspension does an extremely good job of dealing with the bumps well. On a twisty road, the E-Class feels planted, and the Sports driving mode adds a bit of weight to the steering as well as stiffening up the suspension. The drive isn’t much sports car-like but is rather a very balanced mix of comfort and hot-hatch handling. 

Braking performance

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is one sharp car when it comes to handling and also a good contender in comfort. It drives well and can easily pick up great speeds in no time, so to avoid any mishaps, the German manufacturer has equipped the car with tremendous brakes that measure 12.7 inches at the front and 11.8 inches at the rear. The braking feels very planted and surefooted, with the car getting its grip pretty quickly in emergency situations. 

The E-Class’ brake setup does an impressive job when bringing this 3,781 lbs heavy car to a complete halt from 60 MPH at just 110 feet, but this distance is one-upped by the Bimmer by just 2 feet. The Audi A6’s braking performance isn’t as good as its rivals, but overall, all the cars do have a very potent braking prowess which is rather expected at this price point.

The turbocharged mill under the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class’ hood does have a good hand when it comes to fuel economy, which is also backed up by EPA ratings. The EPA rates this engine at 22 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, for a combined rating of 25 MPG from its 17.4-gallon fuel tank. The new inline-6 does a better job as compared to the other 6-cylinder engines on the rivals. The EPA rating for this powerplant is at 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway, for a combined 26 MPG from the same gas tank. 

The E-Class is one-upped by its rivals when it comes to the fuel economy figures but just marginally. The Bimmer has better fuel economy and a better range because of a bigger fuel tank - a range that is better than the car with the biggest tank in the comparison. The only car to stay behind the Mercedes in the department is the Volvo S90 as it offers a combined mileage of just 25 mpg.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is every bit a luxury car and checks all the boxes of what people expect from a car of this caliber. The door panels are beautifully laid out and have a soft-touch surface up top with comfortable leather on the armrests and a beautiful wooden finish near the top. Even the switches and the door handles feel premium and well-made. The dashboard carries on a similar design and comfort level, which also houses the center screen. 

The center console has a wooden surround near the controls that sit just below the infotainment screen and up the visual ante by a lot! The toggles are very well-made and add a touch of premium-ness, also showing how well the craftsmanship on the car is. The center console also houses two cubby spaces - one hides the cupholders while the other space is the armrest. The best part inside is the seats which are just too comfy for any drive you go on and provide utmost comfort and luxury throughout. There’s power-adjustability from the base trim itself, and the seats are covered in Mercedes’ MB-Tex upholstery. The rear seats are also plush, and the cabin is very spacious in both rows of seating. 

The E-Class has comfortable seating with a posh interior, all placed inside a roomy cabin which has impressive headroom and a lot of shoulder room both in the front row as well as in the rear row. The boot capacity is a bit compromised owing to the roomy interior, but the car can easily hold weekend-getaway worth luggage easily. The interior’s highlighting features include:

• MB-Tex leatherette upholstery
• Power-adjustable and heated front seats
• Sunroof
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Digital instrument cluster
• Optional Wireless charging pad 
• Optional Massaging front seats
• Optional Ventilated front seats
• Optional Wireless charging pad 
• Optional Panoramic sunroof

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class comes fitted with a big 12.3-inch touchscreen that is mounted centrally on the dashboard and has premium toggles and buttons beneath it. The system is now powered by MBUX which enables seamless pairing of smartphones along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The user interface is seamless, and the graphics are as smooth as they can be. 

That said, the system comes paired to a 13-speaker Burmester system which puts out impressive audio performance with balanced mids and sophisticated highs along with strong bass all along. This system can be upgraded to a 16-speaker system which one-ups the quality and increases the output multifold for the ultimate music experience. Some of the highlighting features of this infotainment system include:

• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• MBUX infotainment interface
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• AM/FM/SiriusXM
• Satellite radio
• Navigation
• Augmented video for easier navigation prompts
• Optional MBUX Interior Assistant
• Optional 16-speaker Burmester stereo system

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets a redesign wherein the front has a more aggressive design, which is evident from the headlights themselves. They now have a more aggressive appeal to them with the LED setup and a more aggressive grille. There are vents in the bumper, but they lead to nowhere and are fake, for visual purposes. The big grille houses the logo and has a different design for all the E-Class trims. 

To the side, the car remains unmistakably a Mercedes with big alloy wheels and a swooping line across the doors and the door sills. This design element is rather strong and is very prominent as well. The roofline is typical, with chrome surrounds around the windows. The rear of the car remains subtle with a new tail lamp design and higher bumpers with fake exhaust tips. 

The Mercedes is one of the lighter cars in the comparison with the mass tipping in just shy of 3,800 lbs, which is distributed in such a way that it favors agile handling more than anything else. The weight doesn’t make itself feel once on the move, and the car handles well without much body roll. The proportions are typical of any sedan in this segment, with the ground clearance being the least. That said, the striking looks of the car are justified by:

• LED headlights
• 17-/18-inch wheels
• LED DRLs
• LED taillights
• Chrome accents
• Chrome window surrounds

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has left no stone unturned when it comes to having the best safety out there. The car has a shell that is light but doesn’t skimp on rigidity and strength, while the crumple zones bear the brunt of the impact. Talking of the crash-test results, both the NHTSA and the IIHS have awarded the car with the highest accolades they have on offer. The NHTSA has given the E-Class an overall 5-star rating with a roll-over risk of 9.7%. The IIHS, on the other hand, has awarded the car with Good in all the parameters. There are many passive and active safety aids available, with some of the highlighting driver aids on offer being:

• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning 
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert 
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Optional surround-view camera
• Optional adaptive headlights
• Optional adaptive cruise control

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Vs. 2021 BMW 5 Series

Both the cars face very stiff competition from each other with the Mercedes providing a roomier cabin and better craftsmanship on offer while the Bimmer having the better driving dynamics of the two. The Mercedes has a more powerful base engine with better acceleration figures, but the Bimmer has better fuel economy numbers. Between the two, the choice remains with you.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Vs. 2021 Audi A6

The Audi A6 one ups the Bimmer in terms of performance but still remains slower as compared to the Mercedes. The former grips better due to the AWD on offer and handles well on unsure surfaces, but when it comes to carving corners on a twisty road, the E-Class takes the baton. In terms of looks, the Merc looks more premium and more like a small S-Class, whereas the A6 looks like a big A4. 

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Vs. 2021 Volvo S90

The Nordic car has the most power in the comparison and also has AWD as standard, but still remains slower than the Mercedes. The E-Class has better interior and craftsmanship, while also being the better car to be chauffeured around in. The Volvo, on the other hand, has many nifty features inside and has more tech, along with more boot space and a better cabin in terms of roominess. 

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the most balanced proposition that one can go for in the luxury midsize segment in terms of posh, performance, and looks. The car is a looker and has an impressive level of craftsmanship on offer with the latest technology in terms of infotainment and in terms of driver assistance. The car is one of the safest bets out there with the crash test ratings backing up the safety claims. For entertainment, infotainment has more than enough options to keep the occupants entertained. All this, coupled with the potent powerplant under the hood, makes the E-Class one of the most-suited buys in the segment.