The E-Class scored a maximum five stars for occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash tests and cars built from 2006 onwards have extra safety features including Pre-Safe. First seen in the Mercedes S-Class in 2002 this works with the stability control to adjust the seating position of the front passenger (to maximise the benefit of the airbag) as well as closing any open windows or the sunroof and activating the seatbelt pretensioners.

There are also anti-whiplash head restraints, adaptive brakes which prime themselves to act quicker in an emergency as well as provide a self-drying system (both features available in the 2003 version of the car), and a hill-hold function to prevent the car rolling backwards during hill starts.

The E-Class saloon has a decent sized boot with 510-litres – that’s more than the Jaguar XF but it loses out slightly when compared to the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series. The wide boot opening means it’s easy to load however and there’s minimal intrusion from the load lip, plus it comes with a luggage net and load anchors as standard to help restrain any heavy loads in the boot.

There’s also decent storage up front with good sized door bins and a large central cubby.