2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic (Wagon) MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims
Every gas trim of this model takes premium.
Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic (Wagon) good on gas?
At up to 16 MPG combined, the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic (Wagon) is worse than average for a Midsize Station Wagons — that class averages about 21.1 MPG across 609 EPA-tested versions, so it's on the thirsty side for its size.
Real-world MPG vs the EPA number
The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.
This 2004 model was originally EPA-tested under the pre-2008 2-cycle method, which didn't account for highway speeds over 60 mph, air-conditioner use, or cold starts. When EPA overhauled the test for model year 2008, city ratings fell by about 12% and highway by about 8% on average industry-wide — and EPA retroactively adjusted every 1984-2007 rating to the stricter standard so old and new cars could be compared fairly. The MPG above is already on that modern scale — the window sticker on this car when it was new likely showed a higher, pre-2008-method number.
At today's AAA national average price — $4.68/gal for premium gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $4,388/year (roughly $366/month, about $29.25 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 938 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →
2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic (Wagon) trims & fuel economy
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr (today's price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, AWD | PREMIUM | 16 | $4,388 |
2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic (Wagon) specs
What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.
| Engine options | 5.0L 8-cyl |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Drive type | AWD |
| EPA body class | Midsize Station Wagons |
| Fuel | Premium |
| Gas guzzler tax | Yes — at least one trim carried the federal guzzler tax |
Other years of the Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic (Wagon)
Similar cars (Midsize Station Wagons)
Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides
1 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.