What Is the Best Mercedes Benz SUV?
With a long list of standard features and fresh options, the Mercedes Benz GLC-class wins the most popular SUV—but don’t turn your nose up at their other SUVs.
Written by Andrea Barrett
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- The best Mercedes Benz SUV overall: GLC class
- The best Mercedes Benz SUV to buy used: 2020 GLC class
- The best Mercedes Benz SUV for families: AMG GLS63
- The best Mercedes Benz SUV for off-roading: G550
- The best Mercedes Benz SUV for fuel economy: GLA250
- The best way to shop for Mercedes Benz insurance
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Nailing speed, style, safety, and comfort,
Mercedes-Benz
mid-size GLC-Class
SUV offers just the right amount of luxury and practicality to make it their best SUV.SUVs are practical—there’s no way around it. Getting behind the wheel of a
GLC300
might make you a driver of one of their top SUVs, but that doesn’t mean the German luxury automakers' other SUVs don’t level up. With ample cargo and passenger space, plenty of tech features, and excellent safety ratings, the Mercedes SUV lineup strikes the perfect balance between functional and luxurious. Whether you’re in the market for more passenger space for your family, a solid off-road adventure SUV, or cutting back on fuel costs, Mercedes has an SUV for you. Here to break down their SUV lineup is
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The best Mercedes Benz SUV overall: GLC class
Starting price: $44,900
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 80
The GLC-class Mercedes is powerful, affordable, and fully equipped to take on any challenge, so it’s no wonder why it’s their best SUV.
With 51,805 units solid in 2021, the
GLC-class
isn’t just the best overall SUV—it’s also their top-selling SUV. For anyone looking for a reliable SUV with all the bells and whistles at an affordable price, it’s hard to beat the GLC. Although Mercedes is known for producing luxury cars, the GLC makes for a pretty awesome daily driver: it has a well-appointed cabin, plenty of tech features, a decent fuel economy, and is surprisingly quick. And with a list of available options, you can customize your GLC to suit your driving preferences.
The GLC uses the footprint of the smaller GLA and cranks up the power and towing capacity, so if you’re planning to take your GLC on a light off-road adventure, you’ve got the green light. And compared to Mercedes’ other SUVs, the GLC has a base starting MSRP of $44,900—cheaper than most luxury SUVs—and a solid list of standard features backs it up.
The best Mercedes Benz SUV to buy used: 2020 GLC class
Price range:$45,368 - $89,219
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 80
The 2022 model year for the GLC offers a good bang for your buck if you’re looking for a solid mid-size luxury SUV with all the features—but if you’re looking to avoid paying the premium for a new car, the 2020 GLC is the way to go.
The 2020 GLC was ranked second under US News’ Luxury Compact SUVs and even better regarding fuel economy. Kelly Blue Book gave the 2020 model year a 4.6 out of 5 for quality and engineering, and it comes loaded with a lengthy list of high-tech features, a comfortable and classy interior design, and an optional plug-in hybrid version with a 30-mile all-electric range. The 2020 GLC comes with many standard features, but most driver assists are optional and can hike up the price quickly.
The IIHS gave the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC the highest rating of Good in all six crash test categories. Models equipped with the Exterior Lighting package and optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system were awarded the Top Safety Pick designation.
Plus, with great driving experience and great resale value from J.D. Power, you can’t go wrong with the 2020 Mercedes GLC.
The best Mercedes Benz SUV for families: AMG GLS63
Starting price: $135,000
Number of seats: 7
J.D. Power rating: 75
The Mercedes GLC might make the #1 spot for the best overall SUV, but if you have more than three kids, pets, or need sufficient cargo space, the GLC isn’t going to work—but the
GLS-class
will. As Mercedes's only 7-seater SUV, you know this has to make the top for the best family SUV. For the Mercedes GLS class, bigger is better—and the price agrees.While the $135,000 starting MSRP may be a big deterrent for some families, what the AMG GLS63 offers is worth the dough. With a whopping 603-hp twin-turbo V8 under the hood, the AMG GLS63 takes power and luxury to an entirely new level.
With three rows of seating and a sleek and stylish interior that’s sportier than the Benz-branded GLS-class, no feature goes unnoticed—especially the front-seat massage feature. And it’s not just designed for the highway. The AMG GLS63 features an upgraded adaptive air suspension, a limited-slip rear differential, roll stabilization, high-performance brakes, and a performance exhaust that will take you and your family wherever the road takes you. Plus, with plenty of standard safety features and generous passenger space in the second row, there’s plenty of room for car seats and storage.
However, there is one downside: the third row isn’t very spacious, so it may be tight for older kids or adults. But if you’ve got little ones, there’s no need to worry about space.
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The best Mercedes Benz SUV for off-roading: G550
Price range: $134,300
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: N/A
Off-roading in a Mercedes G-class doesn’t seem like a natural fit—with a luxury vehicle starting at a whopping $134,300, dirt, gravel, rocks, and grit don’t seem so fitting. But the G-class is one heck of a monster when it comes to hitting the trails.
With three locking differentials and a low-range gear, the Mercedes G550 can tackle just about any terrain your heart desires. And with a generous 9.5 inches of minimum ground clearance and a 7,000-pound maximum towing capacity, it can haul a decently large load when you’re not shuttling socialites. And with a Professional Line Exterior package set to hit the market, your G-wagon can be equipped with additional features that make the G550 even more off-road-ready: fat 18-inch off-road tires, mud flaps, stone guards in front of the headlights, blacked-out exterior trim, a tow hitch, and more.
The G-class offers pure luxury inside with a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster, heated front and rear leather seats, a power-adjustable steering column, and three-zone automatic climate control.
Although the G550 is the cheapest G-class in the Mercedes lineup, it’s impeccably crafted and oozes class and sophistication—but it can handle the off-road ruggedness like an absolute beast. And with an impressive cargo space—38.1 cubic feet behind the second row—you can pack all your off-road adventure equipment plus some.
MORE: The G Wagon 6x6 Is Made to Dominate the Road
The best Mercedes Benz SUV for fuel economy: GLA250
Starting price: $37,450
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 78
It may be small and fuel-efficient, but don’t underestimate the power of the
GLA250
when it comes to performance and practicality. Mercedes doesn't have a hybrid SUV yet, but the GLA-class is as close to fuel-efficient as it gets for a luxury subcompact SUV. The base petrol-only FWD GLA250 is powered by a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission and gets a combined 28 mpg, but adding all-wheel drive on the GLA250 4Matic reduces that slightly to 27 mpg combined. Although it may not be nearly as efficient as something like the RAV4, it sure beats some of Mercedes's other SUVs:
- 2022 Mercedes GLC300: 20 mpg combined / 18 mpg city / 24 mpg highway
- 2022 Mercedes GLS450: 18 mpg combined / 17 mpg city / 19 mpg highway
- 2021 Mercedes G550: 24 mpg combined / 22 mpg city / 27 mpg highway
Although it may not come in a hybrid model, the amount you’ll save driving the GLA-class over other Mercedes SUVs will make you forget it’s not—plus, it’s their most affordable SUV, too.
The best way to shop for Mercedes Benz insurance
Whether you’re looking for a rugged off-roader or a luxury soccer-mom daily vehicle to tow the kids, Mercedes has a solid lineup of luxury SUVs to fit everyone's needs. But before you hit the road in your brand new (or used) Merc, take a few seconds to find a solid insurance policy with the super app
Jerry
to protect it.Insuring a luxury SUV can be pricey, but when you use the Jerry app to compare rates from over 50 top insurers, you can feel confident you’re getting the best deal. Sign up in less than 45 seconds and browse a selection of quotes specific to your needs. Once you find the right policy, a member of Jerry’s support team will get you to get switched over—no phone calls, emails, or paperwork.
Best of all? Shopping with Jerry could save over $800 a year on car insurance!
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