Mercedes-Benz Model History

Germany · founded 1926

The inventor of the automobile and the benchmark for luxury, safety, and engineering since the 1926 Daimler-Benz merger.

1958 Mercedes-Benz 220S W180 generation sedan

Photo: “File:1958 Mercedes-Benz 220S photo-2.JPG” by Alf van Beem / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0

Models

S-Class

The flagship sedan and benchmark luxury car — showcase for the brand's newest technology since 1972.

Full-size luxury car · 1972–present
55 model years
300SL

The 1950s 'Gullwing' — the fuel-injected, gull-winged sports car, among the most coveted cars ever built.

Sports car · 1954–1963
190E (W201)

The compact 'Baby Benz' that founded Mercedes' entry-level line — including the Cosworth-engined 2.3-16.

Compact executive car · 1982–1993
C-Class

Mercedes' compact executive sedan since 1993 — the volume entry into the brand, home of the C63 AMG.

Compact executive car · 1993–present
E-Class

Mercedes' mid-size executive car — core of the range, with the deepest body-style lineup and E63 AMG.

Executive car · 1993–present
A-Class

Mercedes' smallest car — a tall hatchback at first, later a conventional front-drive hatch and sedan.

Subcompact executive car · 1997–present
B-Class

A practical compact people-mover on the A-Class platform — sold in many markets, briefly as a US EV.

Compact MPV · 2005–present
CLS

The car that invented the 'four-door coupe' — a sleek, fastback take on the E-Class.

Executive car · 2004–2023
CLA

A compact 'four-door coupe' on the A-Class platform — the affordable entry into the brand's style line.

Subcompact executive car · 2014–present
SL

Mercedes' long-running luxury roadster line — 'Sport Leicht' — from the 1950s 300SL to today's AMG SL.

Grand tourer · 1954–present
SLK / SLC

A compact folding-hardtop roadster — the affordable SL, renamed SLC in 2016.

Roadster · 1996–2020
AMG GT

AMG's front-engine V8 sports car — successor to the SLS AMG, with a long-hood, fastback shape.

Sports car · 2015–present
SLS AMG

AMG's first ground-up car — a modern gullwing supercar paying homage to the 1950s 300SL.

Sports car · 2011–2014
G-Class

The boxy, ladder-frame 'G-Wagen' off-roader — a 1979 military-rooted 4x4 turned ultra-luxury icon.

Full-size luxury SUV · 1979–present
GLE (M-Class)

Mercedes' mid-size SUV — launched in 1998 as the US-built M-Class (ML), renamed GLE in 2015.

Mid-size luxury SUV · 1998–present
GLS (GL-Class)

Mercedes' largest SUV — a three-row, full-size flagship, launched as the GL-Class.

Full-size luxury SUV · 2007–present
GLC (GLK)

Mercedes' compact SUV — the boxy GLK first, renamed GLC in 2015 and now a best-seller.

Compact luxury SUV · 2009–present
GLA

Mercedes' entry-level crossover on the front-drive compact platform — the SUV companion to the A-Class.

Subcompact luxury SUV · 2015–present
GLB

A boxy compact crossover with available three-row seating, on the front-drive compact platform.

Subcompact luxury SUV · 2020–present
R-Class

A long, three-row luxury 'grand sports tourer' — a wagon/MPV/SUV hybrid that found a niche market.

Mid-size luxury MPV · 2006–2012

Other makes

Mercedes-Benz Model History

Models

S-Class

300SL

190E (W201)

C-Class

E-Class

A-Class

B-Class

CLS

CLA

SL

SLK / SLC

AMG GT

SLS AMG

G-Class

GLE (M-Class)

GLS (GL-Class)

GLC (GLK)

GLA

GLB

R-Class