Overview

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate continues to set the standard for premium wagons. It combines remarkable levels of space with excellent luxury and comfort to create a truly graceful way to transport kids and dogs – and right now, it’s the best estate car you can buy if you’re in the market for a larger model.

It’s based on the E-Class saloon, but adds a curvaceous rear end, meaning it has one of the largest load areas you can get in a modern car. In doing so, the E-Class offers significantly greater practicality than its main rivals – the Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring, Jaguar XF Sportbrake and Volvo V90.

While you may no longer be able to specify two rear-facing child seats to turn the E-Class Estate into a seven-seater, the five passengers you can still carry will enjoy sumptuous comfort, masses of space and an impressive-looking interior.

Inside, nearly every surface is covered in soft leather or a quality material, with loads of sound deadening to make even high-speed journeys a hushed affair. Only the odd creaky trim lets it down a little.

The majority of E-Class Estates will be diesel-powered, with four- and six-cylinder units available to give buyers the choice of everything from an efficient cruiser to a torque-filled beast.

But diesel doesn’t have to be the de facto choice, with a range of impressive petrol engines also available. They range from basic four-cylinder units right up to the AMG-tuned E 63 Estate, which uses a twin-turbocharged V8. Plus there are diesel and petrol plug-in hybrids on offer too. The latter is one of the best hybrid estates on the market.

Keep scrolling for our full Mercedes E-Class Estate review, where you’ll find out how we rate the interior, engines and practicality before offering our verdict at the end.