2020 Toyota Camry vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its reputation for reliability and value. The styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the lower trims feel upscale. The TRD model added red trim accents and bright red seatbelts, enhancing its sporty appeal. Despite these improvements, the Camry remained a mainstream sedan with a starting price of $25,380, not quite reaching the luxury or sport sedan status.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, redesigned for the W213 generation, embraced a theme of "sensual purity" with fluid, curvier forms. The updated design included squinted headlights, an inverted trapezoid grille, and horizontal taillights. The E-Class was available in various body styles, including sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible, each maintaining a handsome and elegant appearance. The interior was a showcase of decadent materials and exuberant style, with rich woods, aluminum, and carbon fiber accents. The cabin featured advanced technology, including two 12-inch screens and a new digital display, making it a modern and luxurious space.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD, the same engine with AWD, a FWD 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 203 horsepower (206 in XSE trim) and offered a lighter front end, making the XSE trim nearly as fun to drive as the TRD. The AWD system, similar to that used in the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, enhancing traction in slippery conditions. The front-drive Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD, while the V6 models managed 26 mpg.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced electrified inline-six powertrains for the highest-volume models. The E450 became a hybrid, using a 48-volt electrical system to supplement the 3.0-liter I6 engine, producing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The AMG E53 added a second turbo, boosting output to 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The AMG E63 S featured a hand-built 4.0-liter V8 with 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, making it a high-performance machine. The E-Class offered a range of driving modes, from Comfort to Sport+, providing a versatile driving experience. Fuel economy varied, with the E450 4Matic achieving 26 mpg combined, while the AMG E63 S managed 18 mpg combined.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was designed for ease of use, with most controls falling easily to hand. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room, while the rear seat had slightly reduced legroom and overall passenger volume. The trunk space was 15.1 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger compartment, maintaining the same rear seats and trunk space as the front-drive versions.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, making everyday tasks easier. The cabin was spacious for four adults, with ample headroom and legroom. The sedan offered 13 cubic feet of trunk space, while the coupe and convertible had 10 cubic feet or less with the roof down. The wagon provided 35 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 64 cubic feet with the seats folded. The E-Class included various convenience features, such as seat controls on the doors and a touchpad for navigation, enhancing user-friendliness.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto compatibility, joining Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa. The standard infotainment system featured a 7-inch screen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. The system was functional and quick to respond, with hard buttons for major functions. Higher trims included a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display. A three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect were also available.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced the MBUX system, featuring a touchscreen interface and natural voice processing. The system included live feed overlays for navigation and various convenience features, such as massaging seats and seat kinetics. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not wireless, a wireless phone charger was optional. The E-Class offered advanced driving assists, including lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with Toyota Safety Sense, including a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, and blind-spot monitoring was optional. The Camry earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. There was one recall for leaking engine coolant, affecting up to 44,191 cars.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a four-star rating for the driver's side frontal crash test. The 2020 E-Class sedan was a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS. The E-Class included advanced safety features, such as Pre-Safe Sound and side bolsters that inflate during a side collision. Forward automatic emergency braking, driver-attention monitoring, and blind-spot monitoring were standard, with additional driver-assist features available as options.