
One of the longtime leaders in luxury sales, the Mercedes E-Class comes in a wide variety of drivetrains and body styles, from diesel to AMG.
That makes vehicles like the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series its closest rivals, in both performance and prestige.
The 5-Series has grown big and complex over the years like the E-Class, but in all but the most posh versions its interior is stark, and its adaptive driving controls don't always converge on a happy medium.
The M5 variant can be a thrilling performer at supernatural speeds but overkill at anything resembling regular duty.
The A6 has relative lightness and user-friendly road manners in its corner, but we'd still prefer its sexy hatchback A7 counterpart.
The RS7 is the highest-output version on that platform, and it makes a good E63 competitor, while the A6 is offered with a diesel.
The Cadillac CTS is the best American rival, and it offers dynamics that arguably beat the best from Europe.
We're also still fans of Infiniti's Q70 sedan.
It's a pretty four-door, with a choice of hybrid, six-cylinder, and eight-cylinder engines, and rear- or all-wheel drive, plus it's available in long-wheelbase form.
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Quick Specs | ||||
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offers elegant comfort and luxury in several flavors, with a thrifty diesel and a high-performance V-8 for those at either end of the spectrum. |
The 2016 Audi A6 builds on an already impressive set of features, abilities, and styling to yield a safe, fun, high-tech luxury sedan. |
The 2016 BMW M5 is the king of the 5-Series mountain, which isn't a bad place to be. It just may not be king of the sports sedan mountain anymore. |
The 2016 Cadillac CTS sedan is a stunning luxury sedan that drives as well or better than its European rivals. |
The 2016 Jaguar XF may be made of aluminum, but it's no lightweight anymore in rear-seat space or nimble handling. |
MSRP From | ||||
$52,650 | $46,200 | $50,200 | $45,560 | $51,900 |
Gas Mileage | ||||
15 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy |
Engine | ||||
Twin Turbo Diesel I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded V-6 |
EPA Class | ||||
Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size | Mid-Size Cars |
Style Name | ||||
4-Door Sedan E 250 BlueTEC Sport RWD | 4-Door Sedan FrontTrak 2.0T Premium | 4-Door Sedan 528i RWD | 4-Door Sedan 2.0L Turbo RWD | 4-Door Sedan 35t Premium RWD |
Drivetrain | ||||
Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | ||||
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Passenger Doors | ||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | ||||
Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | Sedan |
Transmission | ||||
Automatic w/OD | Auto-Shift Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic | Automatic w/OD |
Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class vs. 2016 Audi A6 | 2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class vs. 2016 BMW 5-Series | 2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class vs. 2016 Cadillac CTS | 2016 Mercedes-Benz E Class vs. 2016 Jaguar XF |