2021 Mercedes Benz E-Class is here, including AMG E53

The Mercedes Benz E-Class has always been the handsome middle-child of the German premium carmaker. The sedan has racked up a considerable amount of volume and became a forerunner for the success of the brand. For 2021, the Mercedes Benz E-Class has been lightly revamped, and with this update, the sedan and wagon versions get a frumpy new look, new tech, and a plug-in hybrid version.
The design of the new E-Class has been tweaked to chime with the design of the smaller A-Class and CLA sedans, neither of which were Mercedes’ best efforts. The quasi-AMG models get vertical slats that are more defined than before, aside from the unique bumpers and exhaust. The rear gets new lights which are more generic than the outgoing model. Three new body colours – Graphite Grey, Mojave Silver, and Cirrus Silver – are also available. The wagon has a crossover-style variant as well, with black plastic trim.

Inside, it’s more or less the same. The 2021 E-Class gets an updated “MBUX” infotainment system that sports a 12.3-inch touchscreen along with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Safety tech on the E-Class also gets updated. These include a new steering wheel with hands-off detection and active steering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot assist, and a 360-degree camera with an expanded side view monitor.

In the base E350 and E350 4MATIC, power comes from a turbocharged inline-four engine which produces 255 hp and 370 Nm.

The larger E450 drops its V6 for a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine with EQ Boost. The power stands at 362 hp and the torque output touches 500 Nm.

The top dog of the lineup now is the AMG E53, at least until the real AMG E63 comes around. The 53 finds its poison from the same engine as the E450 but makes 429 hp and 520 Nm.

For the first time in its lifecycle, the Mercedes Benz E-Class receives a plug-in hybrid option. The E350e combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 90-kWh electric motor for a combined output of 315 hp and 700 Nm.

Prices of the 2021 Mercedes Benz E-Class sedan and wagon are not announced yet, but given the minimal update, expect them to be roughly in line with the current models.