Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Figures updated
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the W206 (2021–) C-Class and the W214 (2023–) E-Class on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 593,110 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for the lower price and lower fuel costs, or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class for the bigger boot and the better MOT record.
- The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the cheapest to buy new: from £46,995, £10,175 less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
- The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the biggest boot: 540 litres, 85 more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
- The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT about 11% more often.
- The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £230 a year less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the wheels on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class: it fails on them 2.9 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassW206 (2021–), 4-door saloon | Mercedes-Benz E-ClassW214 (2023–), 4-door saloon |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £46,995 to £62,515September 2026 price list (best) | £57,170 to £88,520June 2026 price list |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 4-door saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 455 litres | 540 litres (best) |
| Length | 4,773mm | 4,949mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,820mm | 1,904mm |
| Height | 1,443mm | 1,468mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 218–258 PS | 197–313 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 5.9–7.3 sec (best) | 6.4–7.6 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2022) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 25.5–62.8 mpg | 23.3–60.1 mpg |
| CO2 | 10–253 g/km | 11–276 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,531 (38.2 mpg) (best) | £1,761 (33.2 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) (best) | £1,412 (47.9 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,221 (diesel) | £1,412 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 120Well above average | 133Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 25.5% | 22.5% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.1% | 13.3% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.8% (best) | 14.7% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.1% | 25.1% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Ball joint (4.5% of tests) | Tread depth (2.7% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Wheels (2.9×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 362,136 | 230,974 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,900 | 10,600 |
| On sale | 2021 on | 2023 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class more reliable?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Like for like on age and mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT about 11% more often (reliability scores 133 and 120, where 100 is average). 22.5% of Mercedes-Benz E-Classes and 25.5% of Mercedes-Benz C-Classes failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is 176mm longer (4,949mm against 4,773mm). The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the bigger boot: 540 litres against 455.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class: new prices start at £46,995, £10,175 less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (from £57,170). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Comparing petrol versions, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class costs about £230 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,531 against £1,761), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Euro NCAP gave the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 5 stars (2022) and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 5 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for the lower price and lower fuel costs, or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class for the bigger boot and the better MOT record. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.