Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2023 Lexus LS

The E-Class Sedan’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The LS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the E-Class Sedan and the LS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the E-Class Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The LS has not been tested, yet.

There are over 57 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the E-Class Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the E-Class Sedan third among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The LS isn’t in the top three in its category.

The E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 8 more horsepower (362 vs. 354) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 350) than the LS 500h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the E 450 4MATIC Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the LS 500 3.4 turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the LS:

Regardless of its engine, the E-Class Sedan’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the LS Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The E-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the LS:

The E-Class Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the LS’ standard 50 series tires. The E 350 Sedan’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the LS 500 F Sport’s 45 series front tires.

The E-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The LS doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The E-Class Sedan 4MATIC handles at .93 G’s, while the LS 500h AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The E-Class Sedan 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the LS 500h AWD (25.1 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The Mercedes E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 900 pounds less than the Lexus LS.

The E-Class Sedan is 11.8 inches shorter than the LS, making the E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The E-Class Sedan has .7 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the LS.

The E-Class Sedan’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The LS doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the E-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The LS doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The LS doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes E-Class offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The LS doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The E-Class Sedan’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The LS doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Lexus LS isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or station wagon.

Insurance will cost less for the E-Class Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the E-Class Sedan will cost $1340 to $4130 less than the LS over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes E-Class Sedan will be $17145 to $19032 less than for the Lexus LS.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The LS has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Lexus LS by over seven to one during 2022.