Sometimes. With Tick Taxi, the Mercedes E-Class costs £10 more than a saloon on every route to Bristol Airport we publish: £69 instead of £59 from Bath, £119 instead of £109 from Cardiff or Cheltenham, and £169 instead of £159 from Swansea. It carries the same four passengers and the same luggage, so the £10 buys the car and the cabin, not more space. It's worth it for a client, a guest or a long run; for a short trip with your own bags, the saloon is usually the better buy.
Fares checked 7 October 2026.
E-Class vs saloon: the published fares
| Route | Saloon, from | Mercedes E-Class, from | Difference | Typical journey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath to Bristol Airport | £59 | £69 | £10 (17% more) | 40 min |
| Cardiff to Bristol Airport | £109 | £119 | £10 (9% more) | 1h 5m |
| Cheltenham to Bristol Airport | £109 | £119 | £10 (9% more) | 1h 5m |
| Swansea to Bristol Airport | £159 | £169 | £10 (6% more) | 1h 50m |
| Bristol to Heathrow | £179 | £189 | £10 (6% more) | 2h 15m |
Fixed fares for the whole car, not per person, as published on each route page on 7 October 2026. For a pickup inside Bristol, the online quote form shows the exact fixed fare for both classes before you pay.
The gap is the same £10 on every one of these routes, so it matters less the longer you travel: 17% on the 40-minute run from Bath, about 6% from Swansea or to Heathrow. Split between four passengers, it's £2.50 each.
What the extra £10 gets you, and what it doesn't
| Saloon | Mercedes E-Class | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Mercedes E-Class, VW Passat or similar | Mercedes E-Class executive saloon |
| Passengers | Up to 4 | Up to 4 |
| Luggage | 2 × 23kg suitcases, 1 × 10kg cabin case, 2 backpacks | 2 × 23kg suitcases, 1 × 10kg cabin case, 2 backpacks |
| Cabin | Leather interior, climate control | Premium Mercedes E-Class interior, USB charging, bottled water |
| Our fleet page says it's best for | Couples, solo travellers, short-haul flights | Executives, VIPs, short-haul flights |
So the E-Class buys the named car and a better-equipped cabin, not space. A saloon booking can arrive as a Mercedes E-Class, but it may be a VW Passat or similar. As our fleet page puts it, we guarantee the vehicle class and a like-for-like vehicle within that class, and the exact car may vary with driver availability. If the car matters to you, book the E-Class rather than hoping a saloon booking turns up as one.
Everything else is identical in both classes: the fare is fixed when you book, we track your flight, you get 45 minutes of free waiting from your actual landing on airport pickups, the £8.50 Drop Off & Pick Up charge is in the fare, the driver loads your bags, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup. The fixed-price page lists what every fare includes.
When the E-Class is worth it
- Collecting a client, a senior colleague or a guest. When the car is part of the welcome, booking the Mercedes rather than "or similar" is worth £10. Add meet and greet (£15) and the driver waits inside arrivals with a name board.
- Long runs. From Swansea or to Heathrow, the £10 is about 6% of the fare for close to two hours or more in the car, and the better-equipped cabin (USB charging, bottled water) counts for more over that distance.
- When you want a specific car, not "or similar". The saloon class can be one of several models; the E-Class is the way to ask for the Mercedes.
When the saloon is the better buy
- Short runs. From Bath, 40 minutes, the E-Class is 17% more for the same seats and the same boot.
- When the problem is luggage. The E-Class doesn't take more than the saloon. For more cases, the Estate takes 3 large cases and 3 carry-ons, and the MPV has room for two child seats; child seats are £5 each in any class. Our fleet page sets out every vehicle.
- When what you want is an easier arrival, not a nicer car. Meet and greet (£15) works with either class: the driver meets you in the arrivals hall instead of the Drop Off & Pick Up car park. With it, our terms give you 1 hour of free waiting from your actual landing instead of 45 minutes.
Foire aux questions
Which private car services in Bristol are worth the extra money?
How much more is an E-Class than a saloon to Bristol Airport?
Does the E-Class take more luggage than a saloon?
Will a saloon booking be a Mercedes?
Are waiting time and cancellation different for the E-Class?
Is an executive car worth it for a business client?
Get your exact fixed price for either class online and save 20%, or call 0117 966 6666. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.