Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz’s Golf rival that prioritises style over comfort.

For many Mercedes-Benz traditionalists, the idea of a front-wheel-drive platform hatchback with a three-pointed star is still troubling.

Daring design looks excellent, especially an AMG Line body kit. But the rear three-quarter blind spots are real. And the A-Class can feel a bit too claustrophobic for rear seat passengers. Luggage capacity is smaller than a Golf.

Cabin materials aren’t amazing, considering the price you pay. But the MBUX digital interface is decent.

The A200 hatchback offers very little performance for its huge purchase price. Its 1.3 turbopetrol engine feels unrefined for something with a three-pointed star badge.

A250 is a well-balanced hot hatchback, but it’s nowhere near a Golf GTI’s in the driver experience.

All A-Class hatchbacks ride too firmly for South African road conditions, which can make them fatiguing on rougher roads. And very vulnerable to pothole strike tyre damage.

The A45 AMG version is a true hyper-hatchback, with supercar-rivalling performance and grip. But it feels like overkill, with so much of its performance inaccessible on rough, potholed, local roads. The A35 AMG offers a more reasonable balance of performance.

It’s a pity that Mercedes doesn’t market an A200d hatch locally, especially since BMW offers the 1 Series with an excellent turbodiesel engine.

A-Class with a boot. Which looks much better than a BMW 2 Series.

The market for compact German luxury sedans is tiny. If you want a Mercedes-Benz with the lockable, safer storage of a metal boot rather than a glass tailgate, the A-Class will appeal.

Ergonomics aren’t brilliant and could use some more physical controls to improve the overall cabin UX.

Doesn’t have the rear three-quarter blind spot issue of rear passenger claustrophobia of an A-Class hatch. But does have the firm ride quality, which you’ll become very aware of on poorly surfaced rural tar roads.

Engines are broadly similar to A-Class hatchback, except for the A200d. Mercedes does offer the A-Class sedan with a turbodiesel engine, and this is the best one to own. It combines elegant compact sedan styling with a 320Nm turbodiesel, capable of good overtaking acceleration and sub-5l/100km highway fuel consumption.

Less boot space than a 2 Series, but a more comfortable rear-seat experience for passengers, which may be more valuable.

The Mercedes-Benz compact executive sedan that’s bigger than a clamshell boot CLA.

Once a staple of Mercedes-Benz’s local business, the C-Class has ceded much of its sales to the GLC. C-Class is built in East London, which means there’s always a reasonably good supply of service and repair components in-country.

Still a good luxury-car platform, with rear-wheel-drive architecture and excellent long-distance driving ability. Smaller boot than 3 Series, though.

Lots of money for small engines and the C220d’s turbodiesel makes a lot more real-world sense than the C200’s 1.5 turbopetrol.

C63 badge was once renowned for V8-powered AMG excellence. Its replacement, the 4-cylinder C63 hybrid, has been a sales disaster and is completely outclassed by BMW’s M3.

For old-school Mercedes-Benz drivers, this is where the brand really starts. Not C-Class.

The large luxury German sedan market is tiny compared to the early 2000s. But if you still believe in the superior driving experience that a lower centre of gravity delivers, E-Class is very accomplished.

Elegant design and excellent cabin. E-Class is a tremendous long-distance driving machine that can cover 1000km in a single sitting, without fatiguing the driver or passengers.

E220d is the one to have, though it is a lot of money for a four-cylinder car. With 440Nm of torque for seamless overtaking and real-world fuel consumption below 6l/100km, the E220d is a brilliant German luxury sedan for South Africans who don’t buy into the SUV hype.

The optional feature you absolutely must have is the rear-wheel steering system. It enhances E-Class at all speeds, making parking more manageable and improving high-speed steering stability. Especially if you need to make an emergency avoidance manoeuvre to avoid a collision.

A true global icon and nearly worthy of being a brand on its own.

Geländewagen has evolved from a military vehicle to peak status-SUV.

It’s not perfect, but it is very charming. The body-on-frame construction means it needs a steady hand at highway speeds to prevent lane wandering.

But that steel-sprung chassis also means that a Geländewagen is truly capable off-road, on proper all-terrain tyres. This is one of the most confident luxury SUVs for long-distance driving on terribly corrugated Karoo dirt roads.

AMG versions are wildly popular, but all that power and low-profile tyres are entirely out of synch with the Geländewagens character and core engineering.

Much smaller than you’d think, too, which makes it a lot easier to park and place in traffic than most other ultra-expensive luxury SUVs. But rear passenger legroom is limited, and the luggage area, with seats that don’t even remotely fold flat, is laughable given the price you pay.

The G580 EQ is entirely pointless with real-world range of less than 400km. It’s heavy enough to create real GVM legality issues if you travel with a full complement of passengers and luggage. And its gimmicky G-turn feature is unusable in the real world.

With the G63, you’re not road tripping so much as experiencing every fuel stop en route.

The best version is the G450d. This is the perfect Geländewagen. The 285kW inline-six turbodiesel is powerful enough to ease past slower trucks on a long-distance journey and provides the Geländewagen with a decent driving range.

Mercedes-Benz’s all-terrain S-Class, with seven seats.

The GLS is enormous but if you need its combination of cabin space, seating, and all-terrain ability, you’ll deal with the parking and traffic manoeuvring anxiety.

Shares a platform with the S-Class, which means that ride quality and cabin comfort are extraordinary. But GLS has true off road ability, too, unlike its main rival from BMW, the X7.

You can order GLS with the Mercedes-Benz off-road package. This includes a rear diff lock, low-range transfers case and air-suspension with a 30mm lift. There’s even a pre-programmed ‘Rocking Mode’. This uses the air-suspension to ‘bounce’ the GLS out of deep sand, when it’s stuck, by alternating ground pressure and increasing wheel traction.

If you want something with Land Cruiser or Range Rover off-road ability, but better ride quality, cabin comfort and interior space. The GLS is exactly what it promised to be: an S-Class SUV. Just be mindful that it doesn’t include a full size spare wheel, when you are planning that trans-Kalahari luxury road trip.

A truly imposing and impressive oversized SUV with all the engineering features and driving experience you’d expect from Mercedes-Benz’s ultra-luxury models. Just make sure to avoid the crazy 23-inch monoblock wheels, which do the GLS’s ride quality no favours.

Compact crossover from Mercedes-Benz with a very economical turbodiesel engine option.

The GLA design looks trendy, but it suffers from the same issues as the A-Class: very cramped headroom and limited visibility for tall rear-seat passengers. Luggage capacity is also much less than BMW’s X1.

Cabin materials aren’t amazing, considering the price you pay. But the MBUX digital interface is decent.

Like the A-Class, suspension settings on the GLA are a bit too firm for South African roads, reducing ride quality.

AMG versions with firmer suspension and low-profile tyres never feel at home on South Africa’s variable road surfaces.

Best buy is the GLA 220d. It uses the familiar Mercedes-Benz 2.0 turbodiesel, but in a very mild state of tune. Engineers optimise the GLA 220d for outstanding fuel economy, not performance.

GLA 220d’s engine outputs are low for a premium 2.0 turbodiesel. It only has 110kW and 320 Nm, but the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission shifts so quickly that it makes the power- and drivetrain feel very responsive. Open-road fuel economy can drop below 5l/100km, which is excellent.

The 7-seater Mercedes-Benz that nobody knows about.

GLB combines traditional SUV design and proportions with some very clever interior packaging. The compact size makes it easy to park and drive in hectic urban traffic in the morning and afternoon. With the bonus of third-row seating for the school lift club, when required.

The GLC doesn’t offer third-row seating, so the GLB is the only real alternative to the much larger GLE 7-seater. Cabin is cleverly configured, but the trim and tactile quality aren’t premium, especially considering the GLB’s price.

GLB 220d is the one to have. Its turbodiesel engine is rated at 400Nm, and you need all that turbodiesel torque when the GLB is carrying seven passengers and their luggage. Throttle response is good because Mercedes-Benz uses an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission in the GLB 220d, which delivers rapid shifts.

Ride quality is firm, so don’t go bigger than the standard 18-inch wheels on South African roads.

Probably the most important model for Mercedes-Benz South Africa. And one of the best Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Exterior design is stylish without being gimmicky. Cabin has too many gloss and high-polish finishes that are desperately easy to scratch. Luggage capacity is (slightly) better than an X3.

Expensive, and the standard equipment lists are sparse. But the GLC driving experience is a true legacy Mercedes-Benz, with excellent refinement, steering response, and ride quality.

The absolute must-have option is the ‘Engineering Package’. This adds rear-axle steering, which makes the GLC as easy to park as an A-Class and enhances its high-speed steering responses. You get air suspension, too, as part of the ‘Engineering Package’, which transforms the GLC’s ride quality, even on large wheels.

 It’s worth noting that BMW’s X3 does not offer an air suspension option.

The entry-level GLC220d is very economical but can feel a touch slow when fully loaded. The best buy GLC is unquestionably the 300d. Its turbodiesel engine delivers 550Nm for outstanding open-road acceleration, and at constant throttle, the diesel consumption is fantastically low.

Like all high-performance SUVs, the AMG versions offer dramatic acceleration, but at the cost of steering feedback and ride quality.

Mercedes-Benz’s large SUV and everything you’d want from an all-terrain E-Class.

Bold design and oversized grille work prove that Mercedes-Benz designers can go beyond the brand’s conservative heritage.

Cabin is large, airy, and comfortable. This is a vehicle where 1000km in a day leaves you feeling completely unfatigued when you arrive at the destination. Mercedes-Benz has spent a lot of money sourcing the best comfort seat padding available, and it shows in the GLE.

Like all Mercedes-Benz models, the GLE's trim quality isn’t what it should be for the price you pay. And the option lists are exhaustive, which can dramatically inflate the price.

Unlike BMW’s X5, the GLE does retain true all-terrain ability. You can opt for air suspension, rear-wheel steer and a low-range transfer case. These features make GLE genuinely capable of confidently rolling across rough terrain.

With the optional off-road package and air suspension, the max ground clearance increases to 290mm, which is more than any Land Cruiser or even Ford’s Ranger Raptor.

Don’t opt for the large 21/22-inch wheels, which ruin the GLE’s inherently excellent ride comfort. Spend the money on air suspension and keep the wheel size at a standard 19-inches.

Best buy is the GLE 450d. With 750Nm, it has incredible highway-speed overtaking acceleration, which is the most usable real-world performance benchmark.

And if you are cruising in ideal conditions, diesel consumption can dip below 8l/100km, which is remarkable for such a large, luxury SUV.

For decades, the world’s best luxury car. And a reputation that the current S-Class still defends.

Elegant design with huge road presence and absolutely stacked with technology and luxury. There is truth to the fact that Chinese premium luxury car interiors have better screens and UX tech than the S-Class.

But what S-Class still does best is the luxury-car driving experience. Mercedes-Benz’s deep engineering expertise means that the S-Class crushes long distances in incredible comfort at high speeds.

Ride and handling balance is still unrivalled. Despite its size, the S-Class, even the long-wheelbase versions, feels incredibly responsive and stable to drive at high cruising speeds.

Seat comfort and passenger pampering are excellent. AMG versions are silly, with stiffer suspension and low-profile tyres ruining the exceptional S-Class ride quality.

Best buy is unquestionably the S350d. The inline-six turbodiesel S-Class has terrific range for road trips from Gauteng to the coast and all the overtaking acceleration you could ever need.

S350d rides on sensibly sized wheels and tyres. And those work with the S-Class’s inherent engineering genius to deliver what can only be described as truly serene ride quality, regardless of road surface.