The Mercedes E-Class Wagon May Be the Ideal Luxury Car
Despite the SUV’s seeming supremacy, wagons are still in demand. Especially from luxury brands like Mercedes. In fact, the German automaker is planning on expanding its wagon lineup. Mercedes has often offered a variety of luxury vehicles, such as a 500-hp minivan and even an E-Class pickup. And if you’re after a car that combines luxury and practicality, it’s hard to find one better than the Mercedes E-Class Wagon.
2020 Mercedes E-Class Wagon specs and features
For 2020, Mercedes offers the E-Class Wagon in 2 trims. The first is the $66,100 E450 4Matic; the second is the $111,750 AMG E63 S.
The E450 has a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 making 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. The AMG version, meanwhile, swaps in a hand-built 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, rated at 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. Both models have 9-speed automatics and all-wheel drive, though the E63’s are tuned by AMG.
Both Mercedes E-Class Wagons offer an extensive list of standard features. The 12.3” infotainment screen comes standard with navigation, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It also has real-time traffic and weather updates built-in. For 2019, the IIHS declared the E-Class sedan a Top Safety Pick+. The wagon’s standard driver-assistance features include automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring; a partially-autonomous driving mode is optional.
The E450 comes standard with rear-facing 3rd-row seats and offers optional adjustable air suspension. The E63 S loses the former but gains a sport-tuned version of the latter as standard. It also has larger brakes, and a driving mode that makes the wagon RWD, Car and Driver reports. Both, though, can fit roughly 24 carry-on suitcases with the 2nd-row seats folded, Car and Driver reports.
What’s it like to drive?
To call Car and Driver ‘smitten’ with its long-term Mercedes E-Class Wagon isn’t too much hyperbole. Over 40,000 miles, the only real issues reviewers identified were the lack of touchscreens and slightly expensive regularly-scheduled maintenance at the Mercedes dealer.
Beyond that, the wagon was spacious, rode comfortably, and could go up to 500 highway miles on a tank. Plus, not only can you spec heated and massaging seats, you can add heated armrests. Not for nothing is it a Car and Driver 10Best repeat winner.
Other publications have been similarly taken with the Mercedes E-Class Wagon. Cars.com praised the quality of its interior materials. It also noted, even without the AMG powertrain, the E-Class was pretty quick around town. Autoweek called it “immensely satisfying vehicle to drive at any time, on a trip of any duration, in any weather.” Though admittedly, Automobile reports, the 3rd-row seats really are best suited for children.
And for those wanting a bit of extra speed, there’s the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon. Autotrader reports it’s genuinely fun to drive, with excellent steering feel, handling, and stability. It also comes standard with many of the E450’s optional features, including the heated and massaging front seats, 13-speaker Burmeister audio system, and dual digital displays. It was also 0.3 seconds faster to 60 in Car and Driver’s testing than the AMG GT R.
Mercedes E-Class Wagon: competition and buying used
In terms of luxury wagons, not many can match Mercedes’ E-Class Wagon. It beat both the Jaguar XF Sportwagon and the Volvo V90 in Car and Driver’s testing, for example. And with the Buick TourX dead, there aren’t any American competitors. Until Ford debuts the Fusion Active, at least. Plus, BMW no longer sells a wagon in the US.
Audi does offer the A4 and A6 Allroad. The former starts at $44,600; the latter at $65,900. However, they’re better rivals for the upcoming lifted Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain. In addition, although the A4 scored higher in Consumer Reports’ reliability testing, it’s smaller than the E450. The A6 is in the same size class, but it’s less reliable than the E-Class.
Audi also has a rival for the E63 S, in the form of the RS6 Avant. It costs roughly the same, though Road & Track reports the Mercedes has the handling edge. And while the optional sport suspension does aid handling, Car and Driver reports it makes the ride fairly choppy.
However, there is another alternative to the 2020 Mercedes E-Class Wagon: a used model. The 2010-2016 models are even more reliable than the newest ones. Especially, according to CR, the 2014-2016 ones.
The previous-gen also offered an even cheaper trim, the E350, with a 302-hp 3.2-liter V6. But even this trim came with AWD as standard. And you can easily find one with reasonable mileage for $30,000 or less.
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