What Are The Different Mercedes Classes?

Mercedes-Benz offers some of the best vehicles on the market. However, before you buy one, you need to know what you’re looking for. Mercedes provides many different types of vehicles, each of which falls into its own class. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the other classes offered by Mercedes so that you can get the right vehicle. Below, we’ll detail what each Mercedes class contains, how you can identify the type of vehicle by its class and prefix letters, and how we can help you pick out the perfect Mercedes for your needs.

What are Mercedes Classes?

Mercedes classes are simply the different types of vehicles offered by Mercedes-Benz. When shopping for a car, you’ll likely notice a group of letters after the vehicle’s name, which indicates its class. Knowing about the different classes Mercedes offers can make your search for the perfect car a lot easier. In total, there are eight Mercedes classes, along with a few other prefixes, that you should know about.

A-Class

The A-class consists of subcompact cars. In the United States, you’ll only find sedans within this class, whereas in other countries, you may find some hatchbacks as well. The A-class is one of the smallest vehicles offered by Mercedes and is considered more of an entry-level vehicle. Expect to get around 188 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque with this model.

B-Class

The B-class is larger than the A-class and is considered a hatchback vehicle. Now in its third generation, the B-class is more of an executive-level vehicle rather than an entry-level one. This change means more premium features on the interior along with better performance.

C-Class

The next size up is the C-class, which offers a compact car. In addition to being a little larger than the B-class, the C-class also focuses on providing more comfort features to drivers and passengers. This class has several options, including a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, and a two-door soft-top convertible. You also have some options for engine type, including four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and eight-cylinder models.

E-Class

The E-class, known as the Executive Class, consists of a midsize vehicle. It’s not only a step up in size compared to the C-class but also a step up in terms of price. Within the United States, you can get an E-class vehicle as either a coupe, sedan, wagon, or convertible. As with the C-class, different engine options are available, depending on how much power you want. These vehicles expect to find more comfort and sophistication features, making for a more upscale ride.

S-Class

If you want a full-size sedan from Mercedes, then look at the S-class. The S-class, also known as the Special Class, is new starting in 2021 and comes with some of the best technology features available. There are two engine options within this class, one that produces 429 horsepower and another that produces 496 horsepower. If you’re looking for a plug-in hybrid, expect Mercedes to offer versions within the S-class in the near future.

G-Class

For those of you looking for something to go off-road in, look at the G-class. However, it should be noted that this class is for actual off-road vehicles and not your typical SUV. These SUVs are big and boxy, designed to handle the toughest of road surfaces. These are some of the most capable off-road vehicles on the market, with two versions that offer 416 horsepower and 577 horsepower, respectively.

GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, and GLS-Class

These are all Mercedes’s luxury SUV options. As you move up through the alphabet, the SUVs get larger, with the GLA being the smallest SUV and the GLS is a full-size, three-row SUV. You can use this naming convention to find an SUV that fits your desired size first, then begin to explore the features offered by the size you’re interested in.

V-Class

Mercedes also makes vans, which you’ll find in the V-class. While the V in V-class doesn’t stand for van (it stands for Vito, a nickname for the assembling plant in Spain), it’s easy to remember it this way. There are several options available within this class, including rear and four-wheel drive options, different vehicle lengths, two-wheelbase options, and the choice between diesel or petrol engines.

X-Class

Finally, for a pickup truck, look at the X-class. The X stands for 4×4, which means four-wheel drive. Mercedes stopped selling this pickup truck back in 2020, after being on the market for around three years. While you may not get this truck new anymore, there are still used options available.

Understanding Mercedes Prefixes

Mercedes also uses some other prefixes when naming their vehicles. In addition, some of these prefixes come from their original German spellings, making them hard to remember for English speakers. These prefixes can combine with the class letters above to fully describe the type of car. The prefixes include:

• C – Coupe
• G – SUV / Offroader
• S – Sport
• L – Light
• CL – Lightweight Coupe
• SL – Lightweight Sport
• GL – Lightweight Offroader
• GT – Gran Turismo

Which Class is Right for You?

As you can see, there are a lot of options provided by Mercedes. The first thing you should think about is what type of vehicle you are looking for. For example, if you’re someone who regularly needs to transport a lot of things, you may prefer a bigger SUV. On the other hand, if you need something for driving around town, you may be able to get by with a small coupe or sedan. Once you know what type of vehicle you want, you can then explore the corresponding class from Mercedes.

Get Your Next Mercedes at Mercedes-Benz of Tyler

Trying to remember all of the different Mercedes classes can be a little tricky. For more help understanding all of the differences, turn to Mercedes-Benz of Tyler. We can provide more in-depth explanations on the different classes offered by Mercedes and ensure that you find the right class for your needs. To get started, please contact us today to schedule an appointment at our dealership, where you can then go for a test drive. You can also check out our current new and pre-owned inventory to see what we have in stock. With our help, you can easily find the right Mercedes-Benz vehicle for an affordable price.