Sitting squarely in the midsize luxury sedan segment, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class competes with the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6, and the Lexus ES. The E-Class is currently in its sixth generation, with the last redesign occurring for the 2024 model year. Trims for 2026 include the E 350 Sedan, the E 350 4Matic Sedan, the E 450 4Matic Sedan, the AMG E 53 Hybrid Sedan, and the AMG E 53 Hybrid Wagon.
2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class received its last major redesign in 2024 when its infotainment system was upgraded and the exterior design was overhauled. The latest version is largely a carryover model, but new for 2026 is a wagon version of the AMG E 53 Hybrid. Like its sedan counterpart, it will be a plug-in hybrid, and while the EPA rating for electric range is still to-be-announced, Mercedes has said that the wagon will be able to operate under electric power alone at speeds up to 87 mph.
Design
The exterior of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is defined by the short front overhang and the long hood, giving the vehicle a “cab-backward” design. If you are looking to add something extra to the exterior, the E-class offers a Night Package with blacked-out exterior accents. There are also lighting options such as an illuminated grille and an animated logo puddle lamp, along with a number of wheel designs available on each trim, with standard wheels being 18 inches, although 19-, 20-, and 21-inch wheels are also available.
Powertrain
The base powertrain for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the 295-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is available on the E 350. The E 450 levels up to a 369hp 3.0-liter turbo with hybrid assist, and the E 53 Hybrids get an AMG-enhanced 553hp, 3.0-liter inline six, paired with a 120kW permanently synchronous electric motor. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but 4Matic and hybrid models have all-wheel drive. The E 350 RWD model gets city/highway/combined fuel economy of 25/33/28 mpg, while the 4Matic gets 24/33/27 mpg. The E 450 4matic gets 22/31/25 mpg, and the hybrids get a combined gas/electric fuel economy of 59 MPGe. All versions of the E-Class require premium fuel.
Interior
The interior of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz is very futuristic, with large gauge cluster and infotainment screens. When paired with the available ambient lighting in the Pinnacle Trim package, you feel like you’re sitting behind the wheel (yoke?) of a spaceship ready for lift off. The midsize E-Class will seat five passengers in reasonable comfort, and the trunk offers 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space. A panoramic sunroof is standard on all E-Class trims for 2026.
Technology
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is chockfull of standard technology, including a digital instrument cluster, a 14.4-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a navigation system with augmented reality, a wireless phone charger, and the ability to use your phone as the key. Available features include a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, adaptive headlights, head-up display, a premium Burmester audio system, massaging seats, a heated front armrest, a 12.3-inch front passenger screen, and a dash-cam that can take in-car selfies.
Safety
Standard driver-assist features on the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class include automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automated parking assist, 360-degree camera views, and parking sensors. There is also a large number of available safety features, including adaptive cruise control, evasive steer assist, lane keep assist, blind-spot intervention, intersection collision mitigation, and front cross-traffic alert. The E-Class was a 2024 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, but the 2026 version hadn’t been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at the time of writing.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is expected to go on sale in late 2025. Though pricing for 2026 models hadn’t been announced at the time of this writing, the base price for the 2025 E 350 is $63,600, and the AMG E53 Hybrid Sedan is priced at $89,150. We expect the AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon to be priced in the low $90,000-range.
