Should you buy one?

Yes. If you’re looking for a large premium estate car, the new Mercedes E-Class is up there with the best. Mercedes has traded a marginal bit of space on this new model but in the process upped with the style with minimal compromise. 

The E-Class Estate is a brilliant all-rounder and somehow seems a much better car than the saloon version we tried last year. It’s still mightily spacious and its striking, high-tech interior and superb build quality make it an ideal alternative if you don’t want to follow the trend with an SUV. 

What we like

The E-Class Estate’s interior is fantastic, with outstanding technology and quality. It truly has the wow factor yet, in the process, Mercedes hasn’t forgotten about the need for its largest estate car to be hugely practical, which subsequently makes it a great family car. The refinement offered is exceptional and there are few better cars for eating up the miles in. A wide choice of engines including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid also means there’s a version to suit most, with sportier AMG models also on the way in the near future. 

What we don’t like

Some might find the E-Class Estate’s interior a bit over the top. Its mix of sheer screens, lighting and technology is indeed a bit excessive, especially for more traditional buyers. The good news is that a lot of this tech can be paired back or turned off if it’s not for you. The E200 petrol model also is quite coarse, while the boot on the plug-in hybrids is considerably smaller. It’s expensive these days, too. Our test car with the entry-level diesel engine in a top spec cost more than £70,000.