Leasing a Mercedes-Benz gives you the choice of a huge range of models spanning from small, compact hatchbacks to family 7-seat SUVs, and even 2-seater high-performance cars. The brand is world-renowned for creating luxurious, comfortable and stylish cars to rival BMW and Audi.
About Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz, formerly Daimler-Benz, is one of the world’s most desirable premium manufacturers. The company has been producing cars since the beginning of the 20th century, with Daimler-Benz dating back to 1926.
Today, Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s most forward-thinking, premium brands. Its range encompasses perhaps the widest line-up of body styles & genres in the industry.
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Whatever type of car you're looking to lease, Mercedes-Benz has pretty much all the bases covered. It doesn’t quite stretch down into the city car/supermini classes (unless you count products sold under the Smart banner), but from the midsized premium hatchback A-Class upwards, there should be a Mercedes for everyone’s taste.
The range of cars sold under Mercedes-Benz badges are called [‘X’] Class (with ‘X’ denoting a different letter), with the series running A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class and then S-Class. There are 2 spin-offs to consider, which are the CLA-Class and the CLS-Class, both of which are commonly referred to as just CLA and CLS.
Mercedes does not operate in any sector of the market lower than the C-segment, so it does not compete in these classes. It does sell smaller machines under its Smart branding, but these are not considered true Mercedes vehicles.
Mercedes offers the 5-door A-Class hatchback, the 4-door A-Class Saloon, the 4-door CLA-Class coupe, the 5-door CLA Shooting Brake estate and then the 5-door B-Class MPV. They all use similar drivetrains and chassis layouts, which means they are predominantly front-wheel drive, and powered by 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. A choice of 6-speed manual and 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions are available in these model lines. There are also plug-in hybrid versions of many of these vehicles available, as well as AMG models of the A-Class and CLA (but not the B-Class).
Moving up, the C-Class is Mercedes’ heartland. It comes as a 4-door Saloon, a 5-door Estate, and also as 2-door Coupe and Cabriolet models. The latest version is, from launch, powered exclusively by 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, all of which are hybrids with 48-volt assistance.
Above the C-Class is the E-Class, which not only works as a grand family machine but also a luxury or high-performance derivative. Like the C-Class, the E-Class is available in 4 body styles (Saloon, Estate, Coupe and Cabriolet), although it uses 6-cylinder engines and even a V8 as an AMG flagship.
Mercedes has 6 main SUV model lines, not counting electric spin-offs and coupe SUVs separately. The GLA is a 5-door, 5-seat crossover, while the GLB manages to pack 7 seats into its compact form, making it the only true 7-seater premium SUV at this sort of price point. Both models are front-wheel drive, although 4Matic is available on the GLA and GLB. They also both benefit from AMG versions, as well as a plug-in hybrid GLA for the eco-conscious.
The GLC comes as a regular 5-door, 5-seat SUV and then also a GLC Coupe model with a sloping rear hatch. The main range of each version is made up of 4-cylinder turbocharged engines, whilst the GLC comes with 4Matic AWD as standard. The Coupe loses a bit of boot space compared to the standard GLC, but not as much as fitting a plug-in hybrid drivetrain does.
The GLE is, after the G-Class, Mercedes’ longest-serving SUV. Easily identified by its forward-raked C-pillar, this 4th generation GLE has the option of 7 seats if you want them, although bear in mind the 3rd row is best reserved for children only. Engines start with a 4-cylinder turbodiesel and a plug-in hybrid version, but there are smooth inline-6-cylinder motors higher up the range and even a powerful V8 AMG model should you want it.
The GLS, as its badging hints at, is designed to be a larger S-Class. A 7-seat behemoth that can truly take 7 adults onboard in comfort, any GLS comes with strong, powerful inline-6 and V8 engines, and all models are 4Matic AWD versions with 9-speed automatic transmissions.
The G-Class 2nd-generation model, launched in 2018, was made to deliberately mimic its predecessor. Therefore the ‘G-Wagen’ looks nothing like any of the smooth GL SUVs which are all named in its honour.
The G-Class delivers off-road prowess and it’ll go miles into the wilderness with its special chassis and multiple locking differentials. But it’s now a far more civilised on-road machine in Mk2 format and comes only with a choice of a silky straight-6 turbodiesel in the G400d, or V8 in the AMG version.
Anything with either ‘e’, ‘de’ or ‘EQ’ in its name is part of Mercedes’ ever-expanding range of electric and plug-in hybrid cars. For plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), Mercedes uses ‘e’ for petrol-electric models and ‘de’ for diesel-electrics.
Hybrids
All of the A-Class, the B-Class, the CLA and the GLA have ‘250e’ PHEV derivatives, which team a 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine to a 75kW (102hp) electric motor and a 15.6kWh battery pack. That means the car PHEVs can do between 42 and 45 miles on electric power alone.
Both the C-Class and the E-Class families come with the option of 300e petrol-electric or 300de diesel-electric PHEVs, although only in the Saloon and Estate body styles of each model line. Ultimately, boot space is sacrificed in all versions, but in all instances these pair 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engines with a 90kW electric motor and a Yeah 13.5kWh lithium-ion battery. Around 33-35 miles of EV range is offered and CO2 emissions are comfortably less than 40g/km.
The 300de diesel-based drivetrain is also installed into the GLC and GLC Coupe lines, while in the GLE range the diesel-electric PHEV has more power so it earns GLE 350de badging. It also has one of the greatest ranges of any PHEV on sale, with up to 66 miles possible from its 31.2kWh battery pack. The GLE 350de is a 5-seater only as the battery is in the boot.
Electric
All of the EQV (213 miles), EQC (255 miles) and EQA (264 miles) have competitive electric ranges, but the EQS is the game-changer. With its whopping 108kWh battery pack, Mercedes says it can travel up to 478 miles on a single charge. That’s a huge figure for any electric vehicle and it’s only matched for magnitude by the 56 inches the EQS’ ‘Hyperscreen’ infotainment display measures in the cabin.
The only model Mercedes itself classes as a ‘proper’ people carrier is the V-Class which is available as either a plush 7- or 8-seat MPV. It can carry a lot of luggage as well as a full complement of people with power coming from 2.0-litre turbodiesel 4-cylinder engines. All models are rear-wheel-drive apart from the EQV which is front-wheel drive.
Mercedes-Benz offers plenty of sophisticated luxury within its range. The AMG CLS models are swoopy, 4-door saloons designed to look like coupes.
The CLS has been superseded, though, by one of Mercedes-AMG’s products, the GT 4-Door. This AMG GT63S 4Matic+ comes with a monster 639hp/900Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, meaning it can do 0-62mph in just 3.2 seconds.
The 4-Door is related to the AMG GT 2-door models, which come as Coupe and Roadster variants. These don’t carry a 2-digit signifier like the 4-Door does, so there’s the AMG GT with 530hp, an AMG GT R with 585hp and then a monster AMG GT Black Series with 730hp – these are all Coupes. The Roadster has a slightly trimmed-down line-up of the 530hp GT and then a 557hp GT C, although there was an AMG GT R Roadster for a limited 750-unit run.
The other AMGs - A35, CLA 35, GLA 35 and GLB 35 all use a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol developing 306hp/400Nm through 4Matic AWD, which means 0-62mph is achieved in anything between 4.7 seconds (A35) and 5.3 seconds (GLB 35). The A35 is available as a hatch or as the Saloon, while the CLA 35 comes in both Coupe and Shooting Brake formats.
Above the ‘35’ cars are the A45S, the CLA 45S and the GLA 45S. These also use a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine but it’s a wholly different beast to the one used in the 35s. Employing more advanced 4Matic+ AWD, these AMGs will all run 0-62mph in around 4 seconds dead, the A45S hatchback going beneath that marker with a supercar-like 3.9-second run. That’s because the 45S powertrain delivers 421hp and 500Nm, and as a result the 45S is not available in the A-Class Saloon or the GLB, which both come as AMG 35 models only.
43 or 63S engine choices are available in both the GLC SUV and GLC Coupe, giving 4 AMG derivatives of Mercedes’ midsized SUV.
For the E-Class, the ‘base’ AMG is the 53 4Matic+, which uses an inline-6-cylinder petrol engine and a 22hp EQ Boost electric motor for a peak drivetrain output of 435hp. The 53 is used in all 4 E-Class body styles (Saloon, Estate, Coupe and Cabriolet), as well as in the GLE SUV and GLE Coupe.
However, in all of those ranges except for the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet cars, there’s a 63S 4Matic+ choice. This is still the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 but it now delivers a gigantic 612hp, which is enough to see the E63S 4Matic+ running 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds. The same engine is deployed in the AMG GLS 63 4Matic+, and although it doesn’t get an ‘S’ after the 63 bit of its name, it is still enough to shove such a gigantic vehicle from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds.
All of the above leaves the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models. To many, the S-Class is the epitome of Mercedes; its name means Sonderklasse, which is German for ‘special class’. The current, 7th-generation ‘W223’ S-Class appeared in 2020 and uses an array of strong 6-cylinder petrol, diesel and petrol-electric PHEV drivetrains in the Mercedes-Benz line, while the Maybach models deploys potent V8 and V12 petrol motors. There are 2 body lengths for the S-Class, and also an interior replete with every electronic gadget and gizmo you could think of.
The EQE midsized electric saloon will join the EQB electric compact SUV in the EQ range before too long. Also on the way is a replacement SL, Mercedes’ traditional flagship roadster, which will this time around be a 2+2-seater with a fabric roof, rather than a folding metal hard-top.
An AMG version of the new C-Class is said to have a 4-cylinder petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain, but there’s also a mighty 800hp PHEV set-up on the way for the AMG GT 4-Door.
Mercedes-AMG will also soon start deliveries of its One hypercar – this advanced hybrid will have a rated power output of up to 1054hp. Also slated for 2025 is the fully electric G-Class.
The basic schedule on a Mercedes is split into 2 service grades, called A and B. The interval is every 12 months or 10,000 miles, and it begins with an A service then typically alternates, although it does depend very much on the age of your car and the miles you drive each year. Anyway, a Mercedes A service is less intensive and therefore cheaper than a comprehensive Mercedes B service.
The company also offers Service Plans, where you can choose from 2, 3 or 4 years’ worth of servicing for either 1 upfront cost or to spread out the payments across the months with no interest incurred.
Mercedes has one of the more generous standard manufacturer warranties in the UK, as it is a regulation 3-year term but it’s unlimited mileage – some of its competitors cap them to 60,000 miles. This period of cover can also be extended by 12 or 24 months, for a one-off fee, or you can opt to stretch the warranty beyond the original 3 years on a month-by-month basis. This ‘rolling warranty’ incurs a low monthly fee and you can cancel it whenever you like.
Mercedes-Benz Jargon Busting
(X)G-Tronic/(X)G-DCT
4Matic
Cabriolet/Roadster
d/de/e
Distronic
EQ
EQ Boost
MBUX
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-Maybach
Shooting Brake
Widescreen Cockpit
Mercedes’ names for its automated gearboxes, with the [X] standing for the number of gears, e.g., 5G-Tronic, 7G-DCT, 9G-Tronic. Nowadays, almost all non-AMG Mercs use a 9G-Tronic ‘box, which is a ‘true’ 9-speed automatic, but the 7G-DCT and 8G-DCT transmissions are dual-clutch units.
Mercedes’ name for its all-wheel-drive system. 4Matic+ is a more advanced version of the system with greater capabilities for torque split.
Any 4-seater open-topped Mercedes is a Cabriolet (C-Class, E-Class), while any 2-seater soft-top is called a Roadster (AMG GT).
Mercedes does not use any letter suffix to denote its petrol-powered models (e.g., A200) but it does use a lower-case ‘d’ for the diesels (e.g., C220d), a ‘de’ for diesel-electric plug-in hybrids (e.g., GLE 350de) and a small ‘e’ for petrol-electric plug-in hybrids (e.g., S580e).
Mercedes’ name for adaptive cruise control.
Mercedes’ all-electric sub-branding. Any vehicle which has a model name reading ‘EQ(x)’ is a zero-emissions machine.
A mild-hybrid system on some models of internal-combustion-powered Mercedes cars, which can provide electrical assistance to the engine to improve performance and fuel economy equally.
Stands for Mercedes-Benz User Experience, which is the company’s name for its latest infotainment system.
In 2014, a rationalisation of the company’s badging created a new sub-brand, called Mercedes-AMG. Thus, you now have vehicles like the Mercedes-AMG A45S and so on, rather than the old system of Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, for example.
Around the same time Mercedes-AMG was created, Mercedes-Maybach arrived. This is an ultra-upmarket arm of Mercedes, which focuses on pure luxury vehicles to combat Rolls-Royce and Bentley, among others.
Mercedes calls almost all of its estates just that – Estate – but for the CLA-Class, the wagon is known as the Shooting Brake. This is to reflect the fact it has a swoopier roofline than a C-Class Estate or an E-Class Estate.
A couple of 10.25-inch, high-def digital screens which are mounted side-by-side behind a single piece of glass in the dash, displaying all infotainment.
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