2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Toyota Prius maintained its iconic jellybean-like shape, a design choice driven by aerodynamics to achieve optimal drag coefficient. Over the years, Toyota refined the styling within these constraints, adding visual elements to give it a more sedan-like appearance while retaining its hatchback functionality. The Prius's futuristic design, especially its centrally located instrumentation and gauges, continued to set it apart, even as other manufacturers adopted similar cues.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W213 generation introduced in 2017, showcased a shift from the boxier angles of its predecessor to a more fluid and curvaceous design, aligning with the "sensual purity" theme. The 2021 model featured edgier front-end styling with squinted headlights and an inverted trapezoid grille, while the rear adopted horizontal taillights reminiscent of the W212. Despite these updates, the E-Class remained a handsome and elegant vehicle, available in sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible forms.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant, the latter using a second electric motor for the rear wheels. The Prius provided smooth acceleration, especially at lower speeds, with a seamless transition between electric and conventional power. It offered three drive modes—EV, Eco, and Power—each catering to different driving needs. The unique shifter design and Engine Braking mode added to its distinctive driving experience. Despite its primary focus on efficiency, the Prius delivered engaging handling and a smooth ride.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class saw a significant change with the introduction of electrified inline-six powertrains for the E450 model, replacing the conventional V6 engines. The E450 hybrid used a 48-volt electrical system to provide extra power and torque, allowing the engine to shut off more frequently to save fuel and reduce emissions. The 3.0-liter inline-six engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with additional overboost from the battery. The AMG E53 model added a second turbo, boosting output to 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The AMG E63 S, with its 4.0-liter V8 engine, delivered a staggering 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. The E-Class offered a range of driving experiences, from the comfortable and efficient E350 to the high-performance AMG models.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its compact platform, offering spacious and comfortable front seats with ample headroom and legroom. The rear seats also provided good space, though taller passengers needed to be cautious when entering and exiting. The Prius boasted 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and between 24.6 and 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, depending on the model. This made it one of the most versatile options among hybrid and electric vehicles, with its hatchback design facilitating easy loading of large items.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, making everyday tasks easier. The cabin was spacious for four adults, with ample headroom and legroom, supportive cushions, and knee cutouts on the seatbacks. The sedan offered 13 cubic feet of trunk space, while the coupe and convertible had 10 cubic feet or less with the roof down. The wagon variant provided 35 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 64 cubic feet with the seats folded. The E-Class All-Terrain model added ground clearance and body cladding for a more rugged look.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, featuring a sensible menu layout and compatibility with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable, tablet-like layout, though it lacked Android Auto support. The Prius also offered a WiFi hotspot, three USB ports, satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display (HUD), and a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel, a hallmark of Prius design, provided critical readouts and hybrid drivetrain status.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced the MBUX infotainment system, featuring a touch-sensitive main screen with better-organized menus and submenus. The system included natural voice processing, online searches, and gesture controls. The E-Class offered a range of high-tech features, including massaging seats, seat kinetics, and a live feed from the front camera with overlay arrows for navigation. The instrument cluster allowed for customizable displays, ranging from traditional analog gauges to futuristic bar graphs. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not wireless, but the E-Class included 4G WiFi and various connected services.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front-and-rear parking sensors, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" accolade from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to "average" scores in certain tests.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was one of the safest cars on the market, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for the sedan. The E-Class featured innovative safety technologies, such as Pre-Safe Sound, side bolster inflation during a side collision, and crosswind stabilization. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with 14 additional driver-assist features available as options.