Verified Performance Tests Updated May 2026 · 4 recorded runs

Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 Times

The Mercedes-Benz E420 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 4 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Road & Track and more.

The fastest tested Mercedes-Benz E420 is the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Brabus 6.5 Sedan, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 5.10 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 13.50 seconds at 106.0 mph, according to Motor Trend.

The slowest tested 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.

Out of all the Mercedes-Benz E420 tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 6.58 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 14.90 seconds at 96.90 mph.

Fastest Stock 0–60 6.80sec 1997 Sport Sedan
Fastest Overall 5.10sec 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan · modified
Avg ¼ Mile 14.90sec @ 96.9 mph trap
Slowest 0–60 7.30sec 1995 Sedan
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420

Across 4 verified runs, the Mercedes-Benz E420 ranges from 5.10 to 7.30 seconds 0–60, with a 6.58-second average.

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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 Tests Notes
W210 1996–2002 5.95s 5.10s — 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan 2 The W210 generation (1996–2002) averaged 5.95 seconds to 60 mph across 2 tests, led by the 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan at 5.10 seconds. Output was 275 hp across 4.2L V8, 6.5L V8 configurations. Includes 1 result from 1 modified vehicle.
W124 1985–1995 7.20s 7.10s — 1995 Sedan 2 The W124 generation (1985–1995) averaged 7.20 seconds to 60 mph across 2 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 5.95s
Fastest 5.10s
Tests 2
1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan
The W210 generation (1996–2002) averaged 5.95 seconds to 60 mph across 2 tests, led by the 1997 Brabus 6.5 Sedan at 5.10 seconds. Output was 275 hp across 4.2L V8, 6.5L V8 configurations. Includes 1 result from 1 modified vehicle.
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 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

4 tests · 2 years

1997 Mercedes-Benz E420

2 verified runs
Avg 0–60 5.95 sec
Avg ¼ Mile 14.30 sec
Recorded Tests 2
#01
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Brabus 6.5 Sedan
5.10sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph
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
Not production
Body Type
Sedan
Powertrain
Gasoline
Test Source
Motor Trend
Tuner
Brabus
Overall Rank
#1 of 4
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Brabus 6.5 Sedan
#02
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sport Sedan
6.80sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph
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
Production
Body Type
Sedan
Powertrain
Gasoline
Test Source
Motor Trend
Overall Rank
#2 of 4
1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sport Sedan

1995 Mercedes-Benz E420

2 verified runs
Avg 0–60 7.20 sec
Avg ¼ Mile 15.50 sec
Recorded Tests 2
#03
1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sedan
7.10sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph
15.30s ¼ mi @ 93.0 mph
0–60 mph
7.10 sec
¼ Mile ET
15.30 sec
Trap Speed
93.0 mph
Engine
4.2L V8
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission
4A
Horsepower
275 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
Curb Weight
3,850 lbs
Power-to-Weight
14.0 lbs/hp
MPG EPA
16 C / 22 H / 18 Obs
Production Vehicle
Production
Body Type
Sedan
Powertrain
Gasoline
Test Source
Road & Track
Overall Rank
#3 of 4
1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sedan
#04
1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sedan
7.30sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph
15.70s ¼ mi @ 93.0 mph
0–60 mph
7.30 sec
¼ Mile ET
15.70 sec
Trap Speed
93.0 mph
Engine
4.2L V8
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission
4A
Horsepower
275 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
Curb Weight
3,850 lbs
Power-to-Weight
14.0 lbs/hp
MPG EPA
16 C / 22 H / 19 Obs
Production Vehicle
Production
Body Type
Sedan
Powertrain
Gasoline
Test Source
Car and Driver
Overall Rank
#4 of 4
1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 Sedan

How we verify Mercedes-Benz E420 performance data

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 faster
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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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