It's easy to forget that the 'U' in SUV stands for 'utility', but practical features and versatile designs have become essential for our diverse, ever-changing lifestyles.
Whether you spend your days zipping around the city, cruising along open highways or chauffeuring loved ones, there’s a Mercedes-Benz SUV equipped to meet your wants and needs.
Below is a guide to help you identify the best SUV for you based on size, technology, performance and more.
Urban explorers
When it comes to city driving, the modern SUV needs to offer more than just a spacious interior – it should also be stylish, versatile and agile enough to weave through narrow urban streets.
Consider the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV, or its all-electric counterpart, the Mercedes-Benz EQA SUV. Both are perfect distillations of the contemporary SUV; alongside their ample power and robust performance capabilities, they offer nimble, tight handling and compact, sporty designs. Plus, their easy navigation and responsiveness in stop-start traffic makes them ideal for city driving.
The GLA SUV’s dual-clutch automatic transmission delivers seamless acceleration and efficient driving at low speeds, while the optionally available lowered comfort suspension ensures impressive road handling. Better still, DYNAMIC SELECT – which is standard in both the GLA and EQA SUVs – offers the choice between Comfort, Sport or ECO mode, adjusting the settings for the engine, transmission, suspension and steering so you can drive exactly the way you want.
Inside both the GLA and EQA SUVs, innovative design meets effortless functionality. These vehicles are completely attuned to the senses, from stylish ambient lighting that can be altered to reflect your mood, to the Burmester® surround sound system (which comes as standard in the EQA 350, and optional in the EQA 250+ and GLA SUV) delivering a crystal-clear soundtrack for the drive home. Even the shortest car journeys are made more comfortable and enjoyable.
The EQA SUV also comes with the MBUX Augmented Reality for Navigation feature (which helps the driver navigate through even the most complex routes and traffic situations), while the optional MBUX Interior Assistant feature detects and interprets hand and arm movements so that you can instantly activate select functions without having to take your eyes off the road.
Outdoor enthusiasts
SUVs are the obvious vehicle of choice for anyone who likes to get away from the rat race, but for true outdoor enthusiasts, the Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV offers unique appeal.
The sporty, mid-size SUV blends refinement with all-round usability. With 620 litres of boot space, and a total load compartment capacity of 1640 litres, you can easily load it up with all your hiking or camping gear before hitting the open road.
Its turbocharged two-litre, four-cylinder engine – which was developed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions without compromising on performance – delivers a smooth, quiet drive. It calls on a 48-volt hybrid system to boost the powertrain for uphill stretches, while the nine-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive offers total stability in all conditions, including back country roads.
The Transparent Bonnet feature (which provides a virtual view under the front of the vehicle, including the front wheels) and optionally available DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, make it easier to navigate the GLC SUV safely through difficult traffic, road or weather conditions, too.
Beneath the car’s sporty exterior lies a luxuriously appointed, feature-rich cabin. From the multifunction steering wheel with touch-sensitive control buttons, to the heated driver and front passenger seats with memory settings, this vehicle reinforces what every outdoor enthusiast knows: when it comes to long journeys, comfort counts.
Adventurous families
If most of your car journeys involve the daily school run, with the occasional family road trip on the weekend, the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV or all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV could be the best SUV for you.
Slick exterior designs, ample storage options, state-of-the-art interiors… no journey is a chore with either of these vehicles. You’ll love the spaciousness and comfort they provide.
Families who are always on the go will appreciate the GLE SUV’s wireless charging system and smartphone integration feature, which provides access to all your favourite apps. Multiple USB-C ports in the rear will keep the kids connected no matter how far outside town you venture. For those longer trips, comfort is assured via electrically adjustable rear seats (which are optional as part of the 7 Seat Plus Package) and plenty of head and leg room.
Thanks to the optionally available third row of seats, the GLE SUV can adapt as your family grows. Alternatively, you can fold the rear seats down and expand the generous 630 litres of boot space to 2055 litres.
In the EQE SUV, a suite of innovative features await. The MBUX Hyperscreen (which is optional in the EQE 300 and 350 SUV, and standard in the EQE 53), merges three brilliant displays into a single high-resolution user interface extending across the entire width of the dashboard. It puts all of the car’s functions right at your fingertips. Better still, the central display can suggest the most important functions and keep them directly in your field of vision for ease of use.
The EQE SUV’s ultra-quiet motor means there’s practically no in-cabin noise, which is perfect for creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere. And when you head out of town, you don’t have to worry about where you’ll stop and charge; like all our EVs, the EQE SUV is equipped with Mercedes me Charge. This handy feature finds the nearest suitable charging point and conveniently displays the location via MBUX or the Mercedes me App.