Road Test: 5 Series Takes On Fresh E-Class And XF (Part 4)

Running costs 3.9/5

The cut in CO₂ emissions means the Mercedes is now only fractionally more expensive to run as a company car than the BMW. Higher-rate earners going for a manual E-Class in SE spec will pay just $344 a year more in tax than those picking the equivalent 5 Series.

Standard adaptive dampers help to give the E-Class a comfortable ride, which is helped by smaller-diameter wheels

Unfortunately, that’s about as close as the E220 gets to its rival for running costs. We returned a disappointing 38.4mpg on test, while the Mercedes loses more value to depreciation than its rival, with predicted residuals of 44 per cent. Factor in higher servicing costs, and it’s clear that owning the E-Class will put a bigger dent in your wallet.

Still, in $51,840 SE guise the car represents decent value. You get all the essential standard equipment, plus the three-pointed star badge retains strong company car park kudos. And although optional extras are expensive, the same is true for those choosing the BMW.

Reliability 4.1/5

The outgoing E-Class has been a star of our Driver Power satisfaction surveys in recent years. In 2013, it finished an impressive 10^th overall, with owners praising the car’s rock-solid reliability and brilliant build quality.

Mercedes has backed this up with a strong showing in our manufacturer standings, where the brand came fifth this year – that’s an impressive 10 places ahead of BMW and only two behind Jaguar.

As you’d expect, the E220 comes packed to the rafters with standard safety kit. As well as seven airbags, buyers get stability control, a collision prevention warning system and a driver fatigue monitor. Also available is a whole host of upgrades, such as the $3,752 Driver Assistance Pack – this bundles together adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and blind sport monitoring.

Other features worth considering are the $480 road sign recognition set-up, as well as side airbags for rear seat passengers.

Practicality 3.9/5

Like the XF, the E-Class has a 540-liter boot, although the layout is more useful here

The E-Class is spacious, with loads of rear head and legroom, but as in its rivals, middle seat occupants have a large transmission tunnel to contend with. Mounting the auto gear selector on the steering column frees up space between driver and passenger for a deep cubby and two cup-holders. There are also decent-sized door bins, a large glovebox and map pockets in the front seatbacks.

Like the XF, the E-Class has a 540-liter boot, although the layout is more useful here. Still, you’ll have to fork out an extra $664 to replace the standard fixed gear bench with a plit-fold set-up.

There are also decent-sized door bins, a large glovebox and map pockets in the front seatbacks.