The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has stood for midsize elegance, sportiness, and luxurious driving since it first appeared in 1993. The E-Class name arrived in this first model year, but the W124 platform was used for other Mercedes-Benz cars prior to the E-class becoming the name that would forever live in automotive history.
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Since 1993, the E-Class has been a strong participant in the brand's tradition of offering several choices for a nameplate. This means several powertrains, various body styles, and impressive trim packages that take you from the basic sedan to a luxury performance car. The E-Class isn't as iconic as Mercedes-branded vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s, but it has stood the test of time, with incredible quality, features, and presence on every road.
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General vehicle and performance data were sourced from Mercedes-Benz. This list is sorted by model year from earliest to latest.
10 1989 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300E Sedan ✕ Remove Ads
The 1989 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300E sedan came at a time before the car was known as the E-Class. This was easily one of the best model years. The engineers got to create the incredible design and the W124 platform gave this car the build that was meant to last. This early sedan laid the foundation for future E-Class models to follow.
Powertrain Specifications
Engine
3.0-liter 6-cylinder
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
177 hp
Torque
188 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
16/20 mpg
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Mercedes-Benz is well-known for its reliability and strength of components, testing every item to its breaking point. They often strengthened items and then ran the tests again. This happened many times for the E-Class and the W124 platform. This build is one of the most reliable that German automakers have ever made.
9 1989 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300CE Coupe
Not all luxury car owners want to drive a sedan, which made the 1989 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300CE Coupe a great option. This car used the same powertrain as the sedan but was tuned with more power for a more exciting experience on the road. With this car, owners had the sportiness desired and plenty of room to stretch out.
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Engine
3.0-liter 6-cylinder
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
317 hp
Torque
195 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
15/20 mpg
When it first arrived, the 300CE coupe was referred to as one of the best cars in the world. This car stunned the automotive world with impressive styling, performance, comfort, and build quality. Today, many collectors ensure they have this car in the mix, because some feel it was one of the last truly great Mercedes cars.
8 1990 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300E Sedan ✕ Remove Ads
This version of the E-Class proved that Mercedes-Benz had something special going on. It was a model built before the E-Class name was official for the midsize car class. The E-Class was faster than the larger S-Class models, but it could be driven well to manage better fuel mileage on the highway. Additionally, this impressive car could outperform the Porsche 944 and IROC Camaro, making it a great choice for many drivers.
Powertrain Specifications
Engine
3.0-liter 6-cylinder
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
177 hp
Torque
188 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
16/20 mpg
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The 1990 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300E sedan was offered with a five-speed manual transmission as an option, giving some drivers the pleasure of rowing gears. The AWD system was also offered as an option, making it easy to enjoy the 4-Matic system that would send power to all four wheels. At the time, this system was considered an advanced system in the automotive world.
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7 1992 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300E Sedan 4Matic
Many drivers in the early 1990s were more than happy to drive the E-Class with a base powertrain. That said, this model added the benefits of the 4Matic AWD system, which sends power to all four wheels to give drivers the grip and experience they desire. The progress of this car was steady and subtle, making it easy to enjoy the drive without being inundated with new stuff.
✕ Remove Ads Powertrain Specifications
Engine
3.0-liter 6-cylinder
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
177 hp
Torque
188 lb-ft
Driveline
AWD
Fuel Efficiency
15/19 mpg
A cool but somewhat odd feature of this E-Class was the single wiper to sweep almost the entire windshield. This item used an eccentric cam that allows this motion. In the cabin, optional rear headrests were made to fold down when not needed, improving rear visibility. The exhaust had the first oxygen sensor in cars, which allowed the engine to run more efficiently.
✕ Remove Ads 6 1992 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 400E Sedan
The 400E was the little brother to the 500E, but that doesn't mean it loses anything to the more powerful model other than some horsepower. The 1992 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 400E sedan has plenty of power to be fun on any road, giving you the dynamic drive that was perfect for the time. This powertrain enabled the sedan to hit 60 mph in 6.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 147 MPH: pretty good figures for the time.
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Powertrain Specifications
Engine
4.2-liter V8
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
268 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
15/20 mpg
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Going inside this sedan, you find a car that has impressive leather upholstery and an automatic climate control system, dual airbags, and burl-walnut trim. You could even have a set of heated seats in this car, making it one of the most comfortable and enjoyable cars of the era.
5 1992 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300TE Station Wagon 4Matic
One of the earliest versions of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was the 1992 300TE station wagon. This car feels like a serious family hauler that carries a family of good neighbors to wherever they need to go. This was a sensible car to drive, giving any family of five a desired level of roominess, harkening back to a time when wagons were popular.
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Engine
3.0-liter 6-cylinder
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
177 hp
Torque
188 lb-ft
Driveline
AWD
Fuel Efficiency
15/18 mpg
Although future wagons from this brand would be more powerful and fun, this early model was made to be great at carrying a heavy load in the spacious rear. This E-Class wagon came with 42.3 cubic feet of cargo space to swallow up everything you want to take along.
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4 1994 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E420 Sedan ✕ Remove Ads
The E-Class E420 is a car that helped rebuild the Mercedes-Benz brand. Until the 1994 model year, this brand was nearly out of touch with what luxury car shoppers were looking for. Thankfully, the E420 helped bring things back into the fold with an excellent list of models and features and a more affordable price than the larger S-Class models.
Powertrain Specifications
Engine
4.2-liter V8
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Horsepower
275 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
16/22 mpg
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For the 1994 model year, the E420 sat in the middle of the E-Class lineup between the E320 and E500 models. This version marked the beginning of a new era for Mercedes, offering a quiet car that came filled with impressive features and upscale luxury trimmings. This midsize sedan brought the brand back into the limelight, making it much easier for drivers to choose Mercedes-Benz.
3 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon
If you were looking for a high-powered wagon to give you enough room for your family and all your gear, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon was a great option. This was especially true in the E55 AMG version, which brought amazing power and performance features to the drive. The days of old, boring, and plodding wagons were over and Mercedes-Benz showed how exciting these family haulers could be.
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Engine
5.4-liter supercharged V8
Transmission
5-speed automatic
Horsepower
469 hp
Torque
516 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
13/20 mpg
The increased demand for luxury wagons with V6 and V8 engines made this model popular and enjoyable for anyone looking for some serious oomph in their luxury ride. This is a wagon that could pull away from the pack and embarrass sports cars while carrying your family and all your gear to your next vacation destination.
✕ Remove Ads 2 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan came with a few impressive secrets; one of which was the powerful AMG models. At the top of the range was the AMG E63, which used an incredible 6.2-liter V8 to send 507 horsepower to the rear wheels. If there was anything wrong with this model year, it was the lack of a convertible option.
Powertrain Specifications
Engine
6.2-liter V8
Transmission
7-speed automatic
Horsepower
507 hp
Torque
465 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
13/20 mpg
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Although the AMG models were fun and full of power, the E350 was the most popular, using a V6 engine to deliver decent power and better fuel mileage for the driving experience. The 2009 E-Class was both stylish and comfortable, and it came with some impressive options packages that gave drivers heated seats, satellite radio, GPS, and push-button starting.
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1 1 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup had many options, but the most popular was the E350 sedan, which provided everything most drivers required. This model year also featured a convertible and two AMG variants with incredible power to deliver serious performance. This car was easily one of the best versions of the E-Class to hit the market.
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Engine
3.5-liter 6-cylinder
Transmission
7-speed automatic
Horsepower
268 hp
Torque
258 lb-ft
Driveline
RWD
Fuel Efficiency
17/24 mpg
The 2011 lineup featured a lineup of E-Class models with superb ride and handling balance, impressive engines, and an array of luxury and safety-related features. This model gave the brand a start in creating some of the most advanced safety aids that we enjoy in modern vehicles. The 2011 E-Class can be considered a modern pioneer in the luxury car market.
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