Mercedes-Benz has a long and illustrious history in South Africa and still produce vehicles locally at their East London manufacturing plant. The German automaker also boasts a large variety of vehicle types they make available to their customers, from compact but premium hatchbacks to mountain conquering SUV models.
If you are in the market for a Mercedes-Benz vehicle but not sure as to which is the most affordable option in each segment, the list below will clear this up. Please note that the vehicles listed and the pricing indicated in this article was correct at the time of writing the article and can change at any time and without notice.
Hatchback
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback is the smallest offering from the German automaker. If affordability is at the top of your list when it comes to purchasing your next vehicle, you will want to consider the Mercedes-Benz A200 in Progressive guise. Under the bonnet is a 1.3-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 120 kW and 250 Nm of torque, ample for its size.
Price: R 660 554
Sedan
Mercedes-Benz also manufactures the A-Class in sedan form which offers the same compact design but with more boot space. The A-Class hatchback will provide for 370-litres of luggage space, while in sedan configuration, customers will benefit from a total of 420-litres. The most affordable variant of the Mercedes-Benz A200 sedan is the Progressive derivative which offers identical power figures as its hatch sibling.
Price: R 691 416
Coupé
Since the arrival of the 300 SL Gullwing, the German automaker has been well known for its coupé models. If you want to drive a model that shares that history, the most affordable option is the Mercedes-Benz C200 coupé in AMG Line guise. This model is powered by a 2.0-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol motor, capable of 150 kW and 300 Nm of torque.
Price: R 863 694
Cabriolet
If you find having a roof on your vehicle a bit claustrophobic, then why not consider a cabriolet? The most affordable option in the Mercedes-Benz range is the Mercedes-Benz C200 cabriolet in AMG Line guise. As you would imagine, it shares the same engine and drivetrain as the coupé derivative, however, now with the benefit of soaking up the summer sun while you drive.
Price: R 1 007 074
Crossover
Crossovers are the perfect option for those wanting a vehicle with a bit more capability than a normal car but don't require all that space in an SUV. Mercedes-Benz has two model ranges that classify as crossovers, however, if affordability is what you are looking for, you will have to go for the GLA-Class, more specifically the GLA200 Progressive guise. This model shares the platform, powertrain and drivetrain from the A-Class and as such produce identical power figures.
Price: R 772 796
MPV
Maybe you need something with a little more interior room than the sleek GLA-Class crossover, for this Mercedes-Benz offers the B-Class. While the GLA-Class will provide for 455-litres of luggage space, the B-Class will offer 486-litres. Like the GLA-Class, the B-Class is based on the same platform as the A-Class and shares the same powertrain and drivetrain configuration. The most affordable option in this range is the B200 in Progressive guise.
Price: R 679 968
SUV
While most of us might dream of owning the G-Class, for affordability reasons we might have to look lower down the range. The most affordable SUV from the German automaker is the Mercedes-Benz GLC220d 4Matic but is nothing to pull your nose up at. The 2.0-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder diesel motor producing 143 kW and 400 Nm of torque send its power to all four wheels via the 4Matic system and as a result, the GLC-Class is quite capable off-road.
Price: R 952 142
Van
The Mercedes-Benz Vito 111 CDI panel-van is not just the most affordable van in the fleet at the moment, it is the most affordable offering as a whole for Mercedes-Benz. In return for your investment, you get a 1.6-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder diesel motor producing 84 kW and 270 Nm of torque as well as 6 300-litres of luggage space to use for transporting goods for your business.
Price: R 573 041
