Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 Times
The Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 3 verified production tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Road & Track and more. A further 1 modified or prototype run is listed by year but kept out of every record and average, per our methodology.
The fastest tested production Mercedes-Benz E420 is the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sport Sedan, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.80 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 15.10 seconds at 95.6 mph, according to Motor Trend.
The slowest tested production Mercedes-Benz E420 is the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sedan, which took 7.30 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 15.70 seconds at 93.0 mph, according to Car and Driver.
Across the 3 verified production tests of the Mercedes-Benz E420, the average 0–60 mph time is 7.07 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 15.37 seconds at 93.87 mph.
Separately, 1 modified or prototype run is on record for the Mercedes-Benz E420, led by the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Brabus 6.5 Sedan at 5.10 seconds. These are not stock configurations and are excluded from the figures above.
Fastest 0–60 6.80sec 1997 Sport Sedan · stock
Average 0–60 7.07sec Across 3 production runs
Fastest Modified 5.10sec 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan · modified
Avg ¼ Mile 15.37sec @ 93.9 mph trap
Slowest 0–60 7.30sec 1995 Sedan
Across 3 verified production runs, the Mercedes-Benz E420 ranges from 6.80 to 7.30 seconds 0–60, with a 7.07-second average. 1 modified or prototype run is recorded separately and excluded from this range.
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Mercedes-Benz E420 Performance Overview
Mercedes-Benz’s E420 occupied a short 1995 to 1997 window, and across 4 verified tests it traces a clear late-1990s V8 sport-sedan arc. In U.S.-market form, the model paired the naturally aspirated M119 V8 with gasoline power only, rated here at 275 hp through both covered generations. The run begins with the final W124 cars: the 1995 Sedan reached 60 mph in 7.3 seconds in one test, while another 1995 Sedan improved that to 7.1 seconds, establishing the early benchmark for the nameplate.
The transition to W210 for 1996-1997 brought the E420’s quickest period in this dataset. A 1997 Sport Sedan cut the 0-60 time to 6.8 seconds, showing the newer chassis’ performance step, before the 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan reset the ceiling at an all-time best 5.1 seconds to 60 mph and a 13.5-second quarter-mile at 106 mph. That leaves the E420’s recorded span running from 7.3 to 5.1 seconds, with a 14.9-second average quarter-mile. As covered here, the final W210-era result remains the current-generation best and the model’s fastest verified production-period performance.
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Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 Times by Generation: W124 to W210
2 generations| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Production Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W210 | 1996–2002 | 6.80s | 6.80s — 1997 Sport Sedan | 1 | The W210 generation (1996–2002) averaged 6.80 seconds to 60 mph across 1 production tests, led by the 1997 Sport Sedan at 6.80 seconds. Output was 275 hp across 4.2L V8, 6.5L V8 configurations. A further 1 result from 1 modified vehicle is recorded but excluded from the average. |
| W124 | 1985–1995 | 7.20s | 7.10s — 1995 Sedan | 2 | The W124 generation (1985–1995) averaged 7.20 seconds to 60 mph across 2 production tests, led by the 1995 Sedan at 7.10 seconds. Output was 275 hp across 4.2L V8 configurations. |
W210 1996–2002
Avg 0–60 6.80s
Fastest 6.80s
Tests 1
1997 Sport Sedan
The W210 generation (1996–2002) averaged 6.80 seconds to 60 mph across 1 production tests, led by the 1997 Sport Sedan at 6.80 seconds. Output was 275 hp across 4.2L V8, 6.5L V8 configurations. A further 1 result from 1 modified vehicle is recorded but excluded from the average.
W124 1985–1995
Avg 0–60 7.20s
Fastest 7.10s
Tests 2
1995 Sedan
The W124 generation (1985–1995) averaged 7.20 seconds to 60 mph across 2 production tests, led by the 1995 Sedan at 7.10 seconds. Output was 275 hp across 4.2L V8 configurations.
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Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
3 production tests + 1 modified · 2 years ▾
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420
1 production run + 1 modified Avg 0–60 6.80 sec
Avg ¼ Mile 15.10 sec
Production Tests 1+1 mod
#01
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sport Sedan
6.80sec 0–60
15.10s ¼ mi @ 95.6 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 6.80 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 15.10 sec
- Trap Speed
- 95.6 mph
- Engine
- 4.2L V8
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5A
- Horsepower
- 275 hp
- Torque
- 295 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 3,740 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 13.6 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 16 C / 23 H / 17.7 Obs
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Sedan
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Trend
- Overall Rank
- #1 of 3 production runs
MOD
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Brabus 6.5 Sedan
5.10sec 0–60
13.50s ¼ mi @ 106.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 5.10 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 13.50 sec
- Trap Speed
- 106.0 mph
- Engine
- 6.5L V8
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5A
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Sedan
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Trend
- Tuner
- Brabus
- Overall Rank
- Unranked — modified or prototype
How we verify Mercedes-Benz E420 performance data
Records and averages on this page cover verified production runs only; modified and prototype results are listed by year but never folded into them. We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same Mercedes-Benz E420 trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a verified production test run
0–60 → ¼ mile →
Fastest Recorded run Slowest
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Mercedes-Benz E420 performance FAQs
10 questions For 1997, the quickest E420 on record is the heavily modified Brabus 6.5 Sedan at 5.1 seconds from 0-60 mph. The standard stock 1997 E420 Sport Sedan runs 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and completes the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 95.6 mph.
The fastest E420 on record is the 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan, which reaches 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and runs the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds at 106 mph. That car is not stock; it is classified as heavily modified.
The fastest stock E420 on record is the 1997 Sport Sedan. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and covers the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 95.6 mph. It uses a naturally aspirated M119 V8 making 275 hp and 295 lb-ft, with rear-wheel drive.
The W210-generation E420 averages 5.95 seconds from 0-60 mph across 2 recorded tests. Its quickest run is 5.1 seconds from the 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan. The fastest stock W210 result is the 1997 Sport Sedan at 6.8 seconds.
The W124 E420 averages 7.2 seconds from 0-60 mph across 2 recorded tests. The quickest W124 result is 7.1 seconds from a 1995 Sedan. All recorded W124 E420 examples use a naturally aspirated gasoline powertrain, with output listed at 275 hp.
The fastest W124 E420 on record is the 1995 Sedan at 7.1 seconds from 0-60 mph. Across the W124 generation, the average 0-60 time is 7.2 seconds from 2 tests, placing the quickest example just a tenth ahead of the generation average.
The quickest W210 E420 on record is the 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan at 5.1 seconds to 60 mph. Because that car is heavily modified, the fastest stock W210 E420 is the 1997 Sport Sedan, which reaches 60 mph in 6.8 seconds.
The 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan is quicker. It reaches 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, while the 1997 Sport Sedan takes 6.8 seconds. That makes the Brabus 1.7 seconds faster to 60 mph. The Brabus also leads in the quarter mile, 13.5 seconds at 106 mph versus 15.1 seconds at 95.6 mph.
Across 4 recorded E420 tests, the average 0-60 time is 6.58 seconds. The average quarter-mile result is 14.9 seconds at 96.9 mph. Recorded 0-60 times range from 5.1 seconds for the fastest example to 7.3 seconds for the slowest.
Across 4 recorded tests, the Mercedes-Benz E420 averages 14.9 seconds in the quarter mile at 96.9 mph. The quickest quarter-mile result is the heavily modified 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan at 13.5 seconds and 106 mph. Among stock cars, the 1997 Sport Sedan runs 15.1 seconds at 95.6 mph.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Road & Track
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a Mercedes-Benz E420 can do, not a single marketing claim.
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Other Mercedes-Benz 0–60 times
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