Mercedes has been offering diesel engines ever since the birth of the company. Nowadays diesel engines are not as popular as they used to be, and in some markets, Mercedes does not even offer any diesel models anymore.
In the US, Mercedes has stopped offering diesel engines except for the Sprinter van for a few years now. In Europe, there are many diesel variants of contemporary Mercedes Benz models, most of them using the BlueTec diesel technology.
Almost every Mercedes model is offered as a diesel in Europe and some other markets, and Mercedes is keen on keeping the diesel alive. Some diesel engines like the one found in the new S-class promise to offer great power and efficiency.
Mercedes diesel sedans
Mercedes has made its reputation of above-average luxury and comfort primarily with the sedans. The smallest sedan in the Mercedes lineup is the C-class, and the most popular diesel C-class is the C220d with a 2.0L diesel 4-cylinder engine with 191hp. The top of the line Mercedes C-class diesel is the C300d with 254hp.
The Mercedes E-class is the mid-size Mercedes luxury sedan that also offers a few diesel engines. The most popular one is the E220d with a 2.0L 4-cylinder with 194hp. The top of the line E-class diesel is the E400d with a punchy 6-cylinder diesel with 325hp.
The Mercedes S-class is the flagship sedan offering from Mercedes Benz, and the S-class is also offered with a diesel engine. The S400d offers 340hp and Mercedes says that this engine in the S400d is the most powerful Mercedes diesel ever made, especially if you consider the 720 Nm of torque.
Mercedes diesel SUVs
The GLA200d is the entry-level Mercedes diesel SUV that offers 150hp from a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder mated to a semi-auto 8-speed gearbox that promises a 40MPG US fuel efficiency rating. Even though this version of the GLA is not as powerful as some other gas-powered GLA models, in Europe the GLA200d is the most popular pick of the bunch.
The next in line is the Mercedes best-seller SUV, the GLC. Mercedes offers a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo GLC220d with 170hp or a 241hp 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder. Both of these engines are extremely popular because they offer decent power and fuel efficiency ratings.
The GLE SUV is the mid-size Mercedes luxury SUV capable of transporting up to 7 passengers. The GLE is also offered as a diesel in Europe, and the diesel GLE 300d 4MATIC is one of the most popular models in the lineup. The 300d offers a 2.1L 4-cylinder turbo with 200hp and impressive 30+MPG US fuel ratings.
The GLS is the Mercedes SUV flagship, the largest, most opulent Mercedes SUV which can also be bought with a diesel engine. The model in question is the GLS400d with a 3.0L 6-cylinder turbo with 330hp that is aimed at striking a perfect balance between fuel efficiency and engine refinement.
Mercedes diesel models in the USA
As mentioned previously, Mercedes has stopped offering diesel engines in the USA because diesel does not fit a Mercedes US model portfolio. There are many reasons as to why Mercedes decided to stop offering diesel models in the US, it might be due to popularity issues, fuel issues, fuel prices, or the general dislike towards diesel engines.
In the US, diesel engines are somewhat viewed as working man’s engines. Most commercial vehicles are powered by a diesel engine, and most consumer vehicles are gas-powered. Only a few cars such as large pick-up trucks are powered by diesel engines.
Mercedes has also stated that the diesel fuel ratings in the US are not as refined as the ones in Europe, and if someone uses such diesel fuels for a longer period it might hurt the engine itself. This is viewed as the primary reason why Mercedes decided to stop offering diesel engines in the US.
FAQ Section
What are the benefits of diesel cars?
There are quite a few benefits to owning a diesel engine these days, and it’s fairly clear that Mercedes and many other German manufacturers are still keen on offering and further improving the diesel lineup. Diesel engines are known to last a long time, usually longer than some of their gas-powered counterparts.
Furthermore, diesel engines are more suited to highway speeds because diesel engines usually offer higher torque figures, all of which translates into diesel engines being more efficient, thus cheaper than a gas-powered engine.
Diesel cars are also more expensive, and they cost more on the second-hand market. They are generally more fuel-efficient, but they do cost more in an event of a breakdown. Furthermore, the fate of the diesel is still uncertain, and the future will soon decide the destiny of the diesel powerplant in the coming years.
Is Mercedes going to stop offering diesel models in other markets as well?
As of right now, it seems that Mercedes is slowly discontinuing diesel engines in the Australia/Oceania market as well. Though this might just be a rumor because Mercedes has not yet confirmed anything. In Europe diesel are as strong as they ever were, and there are no signs of slowing down when it comes to sales.
All of this will depend on many of the future government regulations, and the tides are constantly shifting so there are no clear indications of what is going to happen nor when it is going to happen.
Are there any problems with diesel engines?
A diesel engine has many benefits, and many believe that a gas-powered engine is never going to offer the longevity and the torque figures of a diesel. But diesel is understandably not perfect. Some diesel-specific issues like overheating due to increased engine stress are fairly common in the summery days.
Even though Mercedes and many other car manufacturers these days spend a huge amount of money on diesel engine refinement, a diesel will always sound tractor-like, and that’s not something befitting a luxury sedan.
Some other problems like engine oil oxidation, humidity reactions, black exhaust, contaminated fuel, faulty glow plugs, hard starting, and unexpected engine power losses are fairly frequent in the diesel universe. But if you maintain your diesel as recommended, you should successfully avoid all of these.
