Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (2010 – 2016) Review

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (2010 – 2016) At A Glance

4/5

+Huge and useful boot space. Well-built and solid interior. Comfortable long distance cruiser. Excellent diesels. Very refined.

-Doesn't deal with corners as well as other premium estates. Disappointing smaller petrol engines. Still has foot-operated parking brake.

Insurance Groups are between 32–48
On average it achieves 78% of the official MPG figure

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate is a large and luxurious family car that majors on limo-like refinement with van-rivalling carrying capacity. Admittedly, the E-Class is not the most fun estate to drive, but its handling shortcomings are far outweighed by its low running costs, outstanding comfort and day-to-day practicality. 

The E-Class Estate is one of the largest cars in its class, surpassing both the Audi A6 Avant and BMW 5 Series Touring for boot space. Most models will provide a maximum of 1950 litres with the rear seats down and almost 700 litres with them in place. Access is easy too, thanks to the powered tailgate and load-retaining nets. Both of which are fitted as standard. 

All models get leather trim and interior build quality feels reassuringly solid, although the dashboard layout does feel a little dated compared to the Audi and BMW. There is lots of space for four adults though, with plenty of head and leg room. However, as a five-seater, the cabin struggles, with the raised transmission tunnel limiting space for those in the middle rear seat.

There's a good choice of engines, spanning frugal diesels to potent AMG petrols. The E350 BlueTec is the pick of the bunch, with its 3.0-litre V6 covering 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds and returning an official 51.4mpg and 143g/km of CO2. The 2.1-litre E220 BlueTec is cheaper to buy and slightly more cost effective to run over the long-term - with a claimed 60.1mpg - but lacks the refinement and mid-gear acceleration of the V6. 

Driving reward is not the highpoint of E-Class Estate ownership, with most models prioritising comfort and refinement over dynamism and fun. As a result the lower-powered models feel a little sluggish and slow compared to their the Audi and BMW rivals. That said, the ride is almost always smooth and comfortable. The rear self-levelling air suspension also ensures heavy loads don't affect the handling. 

Owing to its high levels of refinement and comfort, the E-Class feels more like an elongated limo than a family load lugger. It's comfortable, practical, easy to live with and a great long distance cruiser. Some might be put off by the slightly dated interior and mundane drive, but if you prioritise comfort and practicality over cutting infotainment and handling then the E-Class Estate will be the perfect estate for you.

Real MPG average for a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (2010 – 2016)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

78%

Real MPG

17–60 mpg

MPGs submitted

380

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Should I buy a 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate?

"I am considering purchasing a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate E220 auto. It is a 2015 model with 55,000 miles, one owner, full Mercedes-Benz main dealer service history. It’s not at all cheap for a 7 year old car: £16,000. Is it likely to be a prudent purchase or a potential calamity? I have not seen or driven it but it looks very nice and for it to be sold by a Mercedes-Benz main dealer, I suspect it is nice...for a 7 year old car. Mercedes were renowned for bullet proof build years ago. Would a 2015 car be to the same standard? Am I likely to have years of trouble free motoring or years of breakdowns and financial pain? Is it simply impossible to say? "
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate is a brilliant car. Comfortable, upmarket and hugely practical, I rate it as one of the best estate cars money can buy. However, when you buy a used premium vehicle, you should never lose sight of the fact that all of its maintenance, servicing and repair costs will be reflective of its price in 2015 and not 2022. It's impossible to say if you will have many years of trouble-free motoring, but it would be wise to have money set aside for those big servicing jobs. Otherwise, if you cut corners on essential maintenance, you will essentially create costly problems further down the road. As long as you bake in the higher costs into your annual maintenance budget, there is no reason why this car shouldn't give you many years of happy motoring.
Answered by Dan Powell

Can you recommend a diesel estate car with a flat load area?

"We are looking for an estate car with a flat load area. We would like a 2014 to 2018 car. As I mostly do motorway driving, we would like a diesel. What do you recommend? "
If you want a spacious estate car the Skoda Superb is hard to beat, the Mercedes E-Class is a great option if you're looking for something a bit more premium which will hold its value better. A nice older-model 2010 E-Class (which has a great reputation for reliability) will set you back £10,000-15,000 depending on condition and specification. The same money will get you a current version of the Skoda from 2015.
Answered by Russell Campbell

Could you recommend a reliable, premium estate?

"Please can you suggest a reliable, medium or large estate, preferably automatic. I don't mind if it has a bit of luxury."
If buying used, I'd recommend the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (built from 2010-2016). It's hugely practical and was rated as one of the UK's best cars for reliability in our latest Satisfaction Index: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/honest-john-satisfaction-index-2020/top-10-most-reliable-cars/ A stylish and newer alternative would be the Volvo V90. The cabin is wonderfully refined and standard equipment levels are very high across the range: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v90-2016
Answered by Dan Powell

Can you suggest a specialist to service my Mercedes?

"I am a new owner of a 2015 Mercedes-Benz E220 Estate which is coming up for a B5 service. The cost of this service at a Mercedes dealership is a checking fee of £850, hourly rate of £200 and parts on top, all likely to cost £1500 for a service. In contrast, Halfords would be about £300 for a full service. Would you stick to Mercedes servicing or could you recommend a specialist trusted Mercedes servicing specialist in the Epsom /Surrey area? "
We'd suggest finding a Mercedes-Benz specialist who will be able to do a major service up to Mercedes standards. Try DDR in Ashtead - https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages/d/ddr-surrey-ashstead/
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (2010 – 2016) cost?