The Most Affordable E-Class is Now a 45-mpg Diesel

The E63 AMG S 4MATIC Wagon consumes twice as much fuel as the diesel E250 BlueTec

You’re looking at the car that could herald a paradigm shift for diesel’s popularity in the United States. This is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec — the lowest-priced car in the E-Class lineup by $500. I hear you asking the question, “So wait a minute … there’s no upfront cost penalty if I want to buy a diesel?” That’s right. Not only will you be saving when you buy the oil-burner E-Class, but with EPA-estimated 28-city and 45-highway fuel economy, you’ll be saving money every mile you drive, despite diesel fuel costing 11-percent more than regular unleaded, and 1.5 percent more than premium unleaded.

According to the mystical calculators at FuelEconomy.gov, it costs $2.93 to drive 25 miles in the diesel E-Class. In the E400 Hybrid, it costs $3.76 … the hybrid is $5,300 dearer than the diesel, too. Move that cost up to $4.07 in the E350, which is only $500 more than the diesel. For your entertainment, I also calculated the 25-mile fuel cost for the E63 AMG S 4MATIC wagon: $5.75 per 25.

Fun fact: the AMG E-Class consumes twice as much fuel as the diesel E-Class.

Not-so-fun fact: all gasoline-drinking E-Classes require premium fuel according to FuelEconomy.gov.

See the E-Class fuel consumption comparison infographic below in the gallery.

image [Mercedes-Benz and FuelEconomy.gov]