Luxury cars offer a premium driving experience that seniors are sure to enjoy. Luxury models combine comfort, and refined performance with proven advanced safety features, making them perfect for senior drivers. Many seniors do look for luxury cars for themselves due to aesthetic looks and comfort level. One of the notable luxury brands you would find in the market is Mercedes-Benz.
In this article, I will be talking about the three best Mercedes cars for seniors. I have shortlisted three cars from a senior’s standpoint; Mercedes Benz GLC-Class, Mercedes Benz E-Class, and Mercedes Benz S Class.
1. Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
The first car on my list is a compact luxury SUV and one of the most successful models of Mercedes-Benz i.e. Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. It is simple and enjoyable to drive, with confident turning characteristics, a generally pleasing ride, and a diverse engine lineup. A typical turbocharged engine delivers quick acceleration and excellent fuel efficiency.
Interior:
The inside of the GLC 300 has premium materials, exceptional build quality, and spacious passenger accommodations. Mercedes also standardizes the GLC with premium features like dual-zone temperature control and power-adjustable front seats with heated cushions. The spacing in the front is adequate for senior drivers. The headroom is 39.6 inches and the legroom is 40.8 inches. Being an SUV, it gives you perfect visibility while driving. A drawback is a slightly moderate cargo spacing. But still, you can fit almost 8 suitcases behind the rear seats.
Engine Specs. and Performance:
GLC 300 is powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, with a power output of 255 HP. An amazing fact is that it comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission system. The standard setup is rear-wheel drive, but an all-wheel drive (4MATIC) is optional. Despite this powerful engine, GLC 300’s ride is quiet and smooth.
Speaking of fuel economy, the Mercedes GLC 300 is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. If you are using the all-wheel-drive variant, you would get 1 mpg less in both cases.
Also read: 3 Best Lexus for Seniors (with Pictures)
Safety Features:
NHTSA has given Mercedes GLC 300 an overall safety rating of 5.0. Being a Mercedes Car, GLC 300 is packed with a lot of safety and driver assistance features. It contains multiple airbags, in the front, rear, and sideways. The standard safety features include automated braking, traction control, lane assist, blind-spot monitor, cross-traffic alert, integrated turn signals, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Infotainment System:
For a luxury car, how one can forget to mention the infotainment system. Almost everything is controlled by the steering, with voice and touch commands. Benz GLC comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, that is compatible with the company’s latest MBUX voice-activated software. Additionally, the system can be controlled via touch-sensitive steering wheel controls or a largely intuitive touchpad on the center console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included; the most luxurious audio system and wireless charging are available as paid options.
Pricing and Maintenance Costs:
The starting price of a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class is about $44,900. As per Car Edge, a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class will cost approximately $14,421 in maintenance and repairs during the first ten years of ownership.
2. Mercedes-Benz E Class
The second car on my list is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is one of the finest luxury midsize automobiles. It’s everything a premium luxury car should be, with a first-rate interior, a smooth ride, and loads of technology.
Interior:
The E class’s cabin is superbly crafted with brushed Aluminium, exquisite wood, and has one of the most comfortable seats I have ever tested. Every model comes equipped with configurable ambient interior lighting, heated front seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and memory settings for the drivers and front passenger seat. The optional features include massaging front seats, a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, and ventilated front seats.
Speaking of the spacing in the front row, the headroom is 37.9 inches and the legroom is 41.3 inches. That’s comfortable enough for the driver. Although the second row isn’t as big as the first, the seating nevertheless ensures a smooth and cozy ride.
Engine Specs. and Performance:
E Class series has two sedan models E 350 and E 450, with each having a distinct engine. E3 50 is equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a power output of 255 HP. It is paired with either rear or all-wheel drive. Whereas, E 450 is equipped with a 6-cylinder turbocharged engine with a power output of 362 HP.
Speaking of the fuel economy, E3 50 gives you an average of 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with rear-wheel drive. The more powerful E 450 variant is equally as efficient; it gives 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
Also read: 3 Best Volvos for Seniors (with Pictures)
Infotainment Features:
The E-class comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is based on MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). MBUX is a user-friendly system and can be controlled by a touchpad on the center console or by voice-activated instructions or using the controls on the steering. Some available infotainment features include a wireless charging option, dual USB charge ports in the rear, a 13- or 23-speaker Burmester stereo system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Safety Features:
All E-Class models are equipped with some safety and driver assistance features. The unique driver assistance includes Mercedes Pre-Safe Sound (generates sound to shield your ears from the impact noise), Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe Sound (equipped vehicles can connect to share information about traffic or road hazards), and Mercedes Pre-safe feature (If sensors detect an impending rear-end collision, it tightens seat belts and rolls up the windows). Some other safety features include automated emergency braking, driver drowsiness monitoring, rearview camera, blind-spot monitor, forward collision warning, etc.
Pricing and Maintenance:
The E 350 variant of E-Class cost around $56,000 and the E 450 costs about $63,800.
3. Mercedes-Benz S Class
The third car on my list is a super luxury sedan, Mercedes-Benz S Class; Thanks to its combination of interior luxury, seating capacity and comfort, precise driving characteristics, and cutting-edge technology and safety systems.
Interior:
The interior of the S-Class is stunning, with high-quality materials, modern infotainment and safety technologies, and some of the most comfortable seats. There’s also loads of space in the cabin. The front headroom is 42.1 inches for the basic S-Class, and the front legroom is 41.7 inches. It is one of the spacious cars in the Mercedes lineup.
Engine Specs. and Performance:
The base variant of the S Class, S 500 is equipped with a 3 Liter, turbocharged engine with a power output of 429 HP. It gives a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The upper variant S 580 is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a power output of 496 HP. Mercedes S Class has a 9-speed automatic transmission system paired with all-wheel drive (4matic).
Also read: Mercedes vs. BMW- Which is Cheaper to Maintain?
Infotainment System:
S Class Cars are equipped with a 12.8 inch OLED, fitted in a portrait style. And the exciting thing is that it does not have a touchpad or rotary controller. Instead, you can control it using voice commands. An improved MBUX software has been installed with the latest features like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning. Like other modern cars, you get the support of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S-class sedan comes standard with a Burmester 3D sound system, although a more powerful Burmester 4D stereo is also available.
Safety Features:
When it comes to the safety of drivers and passengers, Mercedes-Benz always stays on the top. Some of the major driver assistance features you would find in an S Class car include Lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam lights, and even a semi-autonomous mode. In addition, it also has some innovative features such as airbags in rear seats and active suspensions, that can lift up the car, during a collision, to minimize the damage.
Pricing and Maintenance Costs:
The S 500 variant of the Mercedes S-class costs around $112,000. While S 580 costs around $118,750. During the first ten years, S-Class cars’ maintenance and repair would cost around $12,306.
Summary
Since I have already explained each car individually. Now, let’s see a summarized and comparative view of all three cars.
| Mercedes Benz GLC-Class | Mercedes Benz E-Class | Mercedes Benz S-Class | |
| Car Type | Compact SUV | Midsize Sedan | Luxury Sedan |
| Cost | $44,900 | $56,000-$63,800 | $112,00-118,000 |
| Leg-room (front row) | 40.8 inches | 41.3 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Head-room (front row) | 39.6 inches | 37.9 inches | 42.1 inches |
| Fuel Mileage (City/highway) | 22/29 mpg | 22/31 mpg | 21/30 mpg |
| Avg. Maintenance Cost (first 10 years) | $14,421 | $11,224 | $12,306 |
S-Class is the most spacious sedan you can get and I probably would recommend it. But the downside is its high cost. Based on your choices and budget, you can choose either the SUV or the sedan.
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