The Mercedes-Benz E-Class does 22.2 mpg combined (19.4 city, 27.1 highway), which works out to about $1,730 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid does 27.7 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 17.5 — a difference of $808 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz E-Class engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class ranges from 27.7 down to 17.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $808 a year across 12 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 24.7 / 33 | 2024–2026 | $1,386 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 24 / 29.3 | 2013–2015 | $1,494 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22.3 / 30.7 | 2017–2023 | $1,512 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 22.1 / 30.1 | 1995–2020 | $1,536 | |
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 22.2 / 29.4 | 2019–2023 | $1,536 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 19.1 / 28 | 2010–2016 | $1,714 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 18.9 / 27 | 1994–2006 | $1,745 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 17.7 / 25.7 | 2012–2017 | $1,829 | |
| 4L 8-cyl | 15.8 / 23 | 2018–2023 | $2,065 | |
| 4.3L 8-cyl | 16.3 / 23 | 1999–2002 | $2,076 | |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 / 22.3 | 1994–1997 | $2,133 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15 / 22.3 | 2003–2006 | $2,194 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class burns a gallon every 22.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 541 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.144 |
| Fuel per year | $1,730 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,650 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$200 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,563 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class gives up 7.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.1 out there against 19.4 in town, a 40% drop worth $562 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 19.4 mpg | $1,979 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.1 mpg | $1,417 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.7 mpg (40%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the E-Class changed over the years
The E-Class peaked in 2026 at 28 mpg (25 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 18.5 — 9.5 mpg apart, or $705 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 28. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2025 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2024 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2023 | 20.7 / 28.7 | 3 | $1,620 | |
| 2022 | 23 / 30.5 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2021 | 20.3 / 28 | 3 | $1,670 | |
| 2020 | 20 / 27.8 | 4 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 19.5 / 27.3 | 4 | $1,684 | |
| 2018 | 19 / 26.3 | 3 | $1,745 | |
| 2017 | 20 / 28 | 3 | $1,670 | |
| 2016 | 19 / 26 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2015 | 20.7 / 27.3 | 3 | $1,670 | |
| 2014 | 20.7 / 28 | 3 | $1,620 | |
| 2013 | 20 / 28.7 | 3 | $1,648 | |
| 2012 | 18.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2011 | 16 / 24 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2010 | 17 / 25 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2009 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2008 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2007 | 18.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2006 | 19 / 28 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2005 | 19 / 28 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 23 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2003 | 16 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1999 | 20 / 28 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1998 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1997 | 19.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 72 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class — 13 engines across 1994–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,563. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class get?
22.2 mpg combined on average — 19.4 in the city and 27.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1994–2026.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost in fuel per year?
About $1,730 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,650 over five years, or 0.144 dollars a mile.
Which E-Class engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 27.7 mpg, against 17.5 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $808 a year.
Is the E-Class good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world E-Class figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is $3,563 against the $1,730 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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