The current ‘W214’ Mercedes-Benz E-Class follows in the wheel tracks of a long line of comfortable, largely well-built and dependable E-Class models. Available in saloon or estate body styles, and with petrol or diesel engines, it’s everything many people want from a large executive car.

What’s intriguing about this latest generation is that Mercedes-Benz seems to have really paid attention to its customers, doing a few things that its rivals haven’t been brave or well-resourced enough to attempt. This particularly applies when it comes to engines. Not only is there a choice of petrol or diesel units, there are also both petrol and diesel plug-in hybrids. Each of these can manage around 60 miles on battery power alone.

Prices are steep, something that will be immediately apparent if you’ve bought an E-Class before: the numbers have grown larger over time, as is to be expected. However, the E-Class is comfortable, quiet and jam-packed with all the technology you could possibly need. It’s a stronger rival to the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 than it has ever been.