Mercedes E-Class Estate - Practicality & boot space
There's more boot space in a Mercedes E-Class estate than a Volvo V90
The Mercedes E-Class Estate needs to excel not only for comfort and prestige, but also in dealing with the rigours of family life. Previous versions have always proven their worth in this respect and the latest model looks set to keep up the good work.
Mercedes E-Class Estate interior space & storage
While front-seat occupants get to relax on big, comfortable seats, those in the back hardly get a raw deal. There’s loads of space and the longer roofline makes for improvements in headroom, too.
Storage is provided by the passenger glove box, generous door pockets and compartments within the front centre armrest. The rear centre armrest also has a small storage compartment, while the seatbacks are both equipped with storage nets. A coin storage tray is provided in front of the gearstick, as is a pair of cupholders under a sliding lid.
For interior versatility the E-Class Estate holds its head up high against strong competition from the Volvo V90.
Boot space
Astonishingly, the E-Class manages to trump the Volvo in terms of boot space, too – historically a Volvo strong suit. The Mercedes E-Class Estate boasts a mammoth 640 litres of load volume, extending to some 1,820 litres if you fold those comfy rear seats down flat.
The combination of the boot’s size with its wide, automatic tailgate, flat floor and absence of any load lip makes it easy to load even the longest and bulkiest items. There’s also a retractable load cover which automatically slides over the luggage area or out of the way when the tailgate is closed or opened.
The E-Class saloon is an impressively practical car in its own right, but company car users who find themselves carrying bulky cargoes will definitely find the estate’s extra 100 litres worth having.
Plug-in hybrid models get a smaller boot due to the location of the battery. These models get 480 litres of boot space, which is a disappointing 160-litre reduction. The car’s rivals don’t tend to lose so much boot space or have the huge step right in the centre of the boot. As a result, it may be tricky to carry bulky items in the E-Class, which is not a problem you’d find in the BMW 530e Touring or Volvo V90 T6 Recharge.
Towing
All E-Class diesel models have an impressive 2,100kg towing capacity, including the plug-in hybrid. However, Mercedes-approved towing equipment must be specified and, strangely, you need to have the top trim level and the estate body style for a tow bar to be fitted.
