Mercedes-Benz E500 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Mercedes-Benz E500 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1994 to 2006. Across those years its best rated version returned 18 mpg (2005) and its thirstiest returned 16 mpg (1994). The EPA record holds 5 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #48 of 53 (10th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 2003 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #41 of 46 (11th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2004 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #51 of 55 (7th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2005 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #49 of 56 (13th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2006 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #51 of 61 (17th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Mercedes-Benz E500 placed highest in 2003 at #41 of 46, and lowest in 2004 at #51 of 55. It spent 0 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 5 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 7-spd Premium | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2005 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 7-spd Premium | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2004 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 7-spd Premium | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 2003 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | GUZZLER | 15 | 21 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1994 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 14 | 18 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 → 2003 | 16 → 17 mpg | +1 mpg | 676 gal |
| 2004 → 2005 | 17 → 18 mpg | +1 mpg | 639 gal |
What E500 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 burns 639 to 639 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,917 | $1,917 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,236 | $2,236 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,556 | $2,556 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2006 model year is $4,300 to $4,300 a year in fuel, or $10,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 18 mpg the Mercedes-Benz E500 is 7 mpg below the median, which is worth about $626 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Mercedes-Benz nameplates
Every Mercedes-Benz model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.