Is a Mercedes E-Class worth it? 

It’s hard to say definitively. The 2022 Mercedes E-Class currently starts at $54,950. You can hunt around for a highly ranked 2021 E-Class, which is nearly the same as the 2022 model but costs a few hundred dollars less at each trim level. 

But, just take a look at these top five E-Class features, and tell me that you’re not at least a little interested. I have chosen to rank them in order of practicality—from “yea that makes sense” to “that’s ridiculous, but I need it.” 

5. Mercedes-Benz’s Air Body Control suspension system

Does the Mercedes E-Class have an air suspension? You bet it does. It even has a fancy name, like most of Mercedes’ technology. It’s called AIR BODY CONTROL (all caps, if you’re doing it right) and it costs about $1,900 to add on to the base price of the model. 

Air Body Control works to reduce road noise and vibration and cut down on the harshness of less-than-ideal pavement or dirt roads. Not that many people are likely to take an E-Class off-roading, but if you find yourself faced with a rough path, the air suspension will keep you comfy. 

It even includes a button that can lift the height of the car (only at slow speeds) to ensure smooth sailing over particularly bad terrain—or, a really steep driveway. This suspension is one of the things that helped the 2021 Mercedes E-Class win Car of the Year in 2020.

4. Rear cross-traffic alert and driver-assistance system 

Interestingly enough, the rear cross-traffic alert and braking system available on the new Mercedes E-Class is not included in the Driver Assistance Package. Rather, it’s part of Mercedes’ $2,400 Premium package available on the 2022 E-Class sedan.

Other features in the Premium package that didn’t make it to the top five include a 360-degree camera system and an automatic parking system (we love safety), a hands-free trunk system for elegant convenience (what luxury driver opens their own trunk?), a 13-speaker Burmester sound system and a six-month Platinum trial of SiriusXM satellite radio

These safety features were instrumental in the fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz winning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

3. The Acoustic Comfort package

How dare the outside world create noise distractions? For a mere $1,100, you can opt for the Acoustic Comfort package. Acoustic Comfort translates to laminated safety glass for the windshield and windows that uses an innovative infrared-reflecting film to dampen intrusions. 

This Mercedes E-Class package also adds thicker insulation for the vehicle, thicker carpeting in the rear, and a few other noise-insulating design features for good measure. If you want a luxury car that’s also your oasis, the E-Class really does deliver.

2. Heated front armrests

This one is my favorite. It is a little ridiculous but it does offer functionality, so heated front armrests slot in at #2 for the top five E-Class features.

This feature is part of the $1,050 Warmth & Comfort package. This toasty tech will heat the center armrest and both driver and passenger-side door armrests. Not warm enough? This E-Class package option also features a heated steering wheel. Heated seats come standard on the Mercedes E-Class, but this package brings rapid heating functionality.

The idea of this gives me tingly goosebumps—another reason to opt for heated armrests.

1. Ambient lighting with 64 colors

Do you miss your mood ring? I do. With Mercedes’ 64-color ambient lighting system, standard on every E-Class model, you can relive your mood-ring glory days.

The lighting system can be set to any one of 64 different colors that highlight the cabin using recessed LED light strips along the dashboard and throughout the cabin. You can also choose a dual-color option if you can’t decide on just one. Or, lean far into the psychedelic wonder and set your E-Class’ ambient lighting system to color-changing mode.

MotorTrend tested the 2021 Mercedes E-Class model to gather their top favorite features. You’ll be able to find all these options in a new 2022 E-Class sedan, as well.

Check out the video below for a demonstration of the ambient lighting system available on the E-Class line. Note that the interior shown is the AMG model.