Should you buy one?

The latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a sleek-looking machine that majors on dazzling technology. The suite of screens, the fancy ambient lighting and the general appearance of the interior are sure to catch the eye of even the most jaded passengers.

But this razzamatazz can’t distract enough from what is, in some areas, a disappointing driving experience. The E200 variant we’ve sampled in AMG Premium Line Plus form felt slow, coarse and uncomfortable, and very difficult to recommend. The E300e – in the same specification – addresses most of these issues, but it costs over £9,000 more, and we’d still take a long hard look at the newest opposition before putting down the deposit.

For reference, that opposition includes the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6, the Lexus ES and the Jaguar XF. While you can’t yet take a built-in selfie with any of these, we can’t help thinking that most of them would get you to the end of a lengthy journey in a much less irritable mood unless you’re willing to spend £3,500 on optional air suspension. And for a car as storied as the E-Class in a tradition of luxury, comfort and refinement, that seems a shame.

What we like

Tick the box for air suspension and the E-Class does a good impression of a slightly smaller S-Class with its comfortable and controlled ride. Paired with the efficient E300e or muscular E450d powertrain, it’s a thoroughly good executive saloon with plenty of interior space, performance and liveable fuel costs.

What we don’t like

The weedy E200 petrol engine and 15mm lowered suspension that’s standard on pretty much every model. Interior quality could also be better, and while some will love the flash of the interior, it is a bit ostentatious. We should also point out that while BMW, Volvo and Land Rover can make a plug-in hybrid with no boot space penalty, Mercedes cannot.

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