• Massive digital dashboard impresses
• Styling and build quality similar to S-Class
• Multi-colour ambient lighting looks great at night

How is the quality and layout?

The E-Class blows the opposition out of the water when it comes to interior style, borrowing heavily from the previous generation S-Class, and in some areas, actually improving on it. The build quality is excellent – closer to that S-Class big brother rather than the C-Class below it. 

Every model now comes with two widescreen displays for instrumentation and infotainment – even base cars dispense with the physical instrument binnacle of the pre-facelift model. These are 10.25-inches in size, optionally upgradeable to a truly panoramic 12.3-inches each, with a visor above to reduce glare or reflections.

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Infotainment and tech

The driver’s display can be configured to show a huge range of driving information, and the digital dials can be everything from traditional lookalikes to futuristic displays. In general, information is well-presented and easy to digest, though navigating around the interface isn’t all that easy. That’s due to the touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, which take a lot of getting used to if you’re accustomed to traditional buttons.

The central screen is more straightforward, with a chunky interface and responsive touchpad control. But the cursor highlighting which function you have selected isn’t that obvious so it can be difficult to see where you are at a glance. The extensive menus can also prove distracting. Thankfully, the most useful shortcut keys can be located below the climate control system, although they can be a little awkward to access if you have drinks bottles in the cupholders.

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It’s a slight stretch, but you can also reach out and touch the screen if you prefer – effective for typing in addresses into the sat-nav. And it’s possible to control a huge number of functions simply by speaking to the car. Just say ‘Hey Mercedes’ out loud and you can input destinations, alter media settings or simply ask the car questions.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also supported through the central screen.

Comfort

• Very luxurious inside
• Exterior and engine sounds well suppressed
• Excellent seats

If you’re looking for the most relaxing big saloon on the market, look no further. No other car in the class can match the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class for comfort and refinement.

Whether it’s in stop-start traffic or pounding the motorway, the E-Class remains impressively hushed – the Burmester sound system is clear and punchy, but it doesn’t have to work hard to drown out any engine, tyre and wind noise in the first place.

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The front seats are extremely comfortable with plenty of adjustment, and can be had with both heating and cooling functions, too. The Energizing Comfort mode found on higher-spec models can also make subtle adjustments to your seating position to help prevent aches over longer journeys.

Those in the rear shouldn’t become too restless either, with their own climate control settings, air vents on the door and centre console, and plenty of speakers.