2020 Mercedes E-Class facelift costs from £39,130

• • Updated E-Class range shown
• • Latest-generation MBUX infotainment and new driver assistance tech included
• • AMG 63 models start from £98,370

The Mercedes E-Class range has been facelifted for 2020 and now has a starting price of £39,130. Four trim levels are available on the saloon and estate, plus the two AMG performance models. Lightly tweaked styling hides a suite of new driver aids and updated infotainment. Plug-in hybrids will continue to be a big part of the E-Class line-up, and the changes will keep it competitive with the latest Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series.

2020 Mercedes E-Class prices and specifications

The entry-level Sport model costs £39,130 in saloon form and £41,460 as an estate. Standard equipment includes two 12.3-inch interior screens, 17-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, LED headlights, heated leather seats and wireless phone charging.

AMG Line costs an extra £2,500, and includes 18-inch wheels, privacy glass, upgraded headlights and three-zone air conditioning. These two specs are only available for the E 200 and E 220d models.

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Choosing AMG Line Premium unlocks the bigger engines and brings bigger wheels, keyless entry, augmented reality sat nav and a 360-degree camera, for an additional £2,000. Top-spec AMG Line Night Edition Premium Plus has 20-inch wheels, black styling elements, a panoramic sunroof and a Burmester sound system.

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The plug-in hybrid E 300 e and E 300 de models are also available in an AMG Line Edition trim level, which effectively replaces the Sport trim of petrol and diesel models. The E 300 e saloon starts at £46,230, while the E 300 de costs £47,480 for the saloon and £2,000 more for the estate.

Styling

The front end gets a new grille, a tweaked bumper and reshaped headlights, which are now LED as standard. Saloon models get noticeable changes at the rear, where you’ll find a sharper boot lid and brake light clusters that are very similar to those fitted to the Mercedes A-Class Saloon. The estate models get slightly different rear lights but few other changes. An efficient set of alloy wheels joins an updated range of choices, while three new silver paint shades are available.

Interior and technology

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Most of the interior is as it was before but there’s a distinctive new split three-spoke steering wheel. It features touch-sensitive panels that are more responsive than buttons, which control a range of functions on the two joined screens. The screens look to be unchanged but they come with Mercedes’ very latest MBUX infotainment system and feature augmented reality navigation on top-spec cars. Even entry-level models get two 12.3-inch screens.

Mercedes has given the E-Class some of its best driver assistance technology, and the kit list now includes Active Speed Limit Assist. By reading traffic signs, sat nav guidance and using online data, it can preemptively adjust the cruise control speed before you get to corners, junctions and traffic jams. The car has a lot of semi-autonomous driving technology, and having a hand on the steering wheel is now enough to satisfy the system (previously you had to wiggle the wheel to show you were paying attention to the road).

Mercedes has also increased the car’s protection against theft or damage. The Urban Guard system works in a similar way to Tesla’s Sentry mode; it provides all-round surveillance when the car is parked, as well as warnings for collision damage, anti-theft and tow-away protection. A tracker helps locate the car if it is stolen, and you can remotely deactivate the key using your smartphone if the key is lost or taken.

Engines and performance

A selection of engines are available in the new E-Class, and all are mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The range kicks off with the E 200 petrol engine, a 194bhp 2.0-litre unit with mild-hybrid tech. It returns 38.7mpg (saloon) or 37.2mpg. Above that is an E 450 with all-wheel drive, which boasts 362bhp and 31.4mpg, which isn’t bad given the power on offer. There are also two diesels for the time being; a 188bhp E 220 d and a 335bhp E 400 d. You can expect 53.3mpg from the former (50.4mpg in estate versions) and 42.2mpg (38.7 for the estate) from the latter, which has all-wheel drive.

For the time being, plug-in hybrids come in E 300 e and E 300 de form - one petrol and one diesel. Both use 2.0-litre engines and both manage around 30-35 miles of electric range, but the diesel is aimed at long-distance drivers, as you’ll still have the diesel’s good fuel economy when the battery is depleted. Quoted economy figures are 176.6mpg and 235.4mpg for the petrol and diesel respectively, while both will appeal to company-car drivers thanks to very low Benefit-in-Kind ratings.

Mercedes-AMG E53

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Alongside the regular E-Class models, the refreshed AMG models have also been unveiled. The Mercedes-AMG E53 mild-hybrid couples a six-cylinder petrol engine with a small electric motor, as before, but now the electrical assistance produces slightly more power (21bhp) which should mean the E53 is a little more economical than before - you’ll see around 30mpg in careful driving. Together, the system produces 429bhp, and 0-62mph will take around 4.5 seconds. Mercedes’ 4MATIC+ four-wheel drive is fitted as standard. Prices start at £64,750.

Because it’s an AMG model, the E53 gets a more aggressive look than regular models, with a ‘Panamerica’ grille and inserts on the lower air intakes. Two pairs of exhaust pipes exit either side of a large diffuser, and the E53 comes with a choice of 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels.

Mercedes-AMG E63

Topping the range is a Mercedes-AMG E63 model, also available in saloon and estate body styles. UK buyers will only get the 604bhp E63 S model, which is capable of hitting 0-62mph in under 3.5 seconds. It starts at £98,370. Read more about the Mercedes-AMG E63 here.

Read our guides to the best saloon cars and best car interiors to see how the Mercedes E-Class compares to its rivals.