The 2016 model year was a significant one for Mercedes-Benz. The brand-new GLC replaced the aging GLK, the AMG GT moved from concept buzz to real-world availability, and the S-Class finally got a plug-in hybrid option that wasn’t just a marketing footnote. If you’re shopping the used market or just curious what was rolling out of Stuttgart that year, here’s the full rundown — every model, what made it worth considering, and what you’d pay for one today.
Table of Contents
- What Was New in 2016
- The Sedan Lineup
- C-Class
- E-Class
- S-Class
- CLA-Class
- CLS-Class
- The SUV and Crossover Lineup
- GLA-Class
- GLC-Class
- GLE-Class
- GLS-Class
- G-Class
- The Sports and Coupe Lineup
- SLC-Class (formerly SLK)
- SL-Class
- AMG GT
- Maybach S-Class
- Quick Comparison Table
- Used Market Takeaways
What Was New in 2016
Four changes stand out from the 2016 model year:
GLC replaces GLK. The GLK was competent but felt like a box with a Mercedes badge. The GLC was a proper upgrade — new platform, independent rear suspension, a cabin that matched the C-Class it’s based on, and a 241-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that didn’t feel strained on the highway.
AMG GT enters production. After debuting as a concept replacement for the SLS AMG, the AMG GT arrived as a proper front-mid-engine grand tourer with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. No more gullwing doors — just a long hood, a transaxle in the rear, and enough visual drama to stop traffic.
S550e plug-in hybrid. The S-Class got a plug-in version with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 paired to an electric motor — around 19 miles of electric range and 436 combined horsepower. It wasn’t a range-anxiety solution, but it made sense as a city car that occasionally took highway trips.
9-speed automatic expansion. Mercedes rolled out the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic across more models in 2016, replacing the older 7G-TRONIC in several classes. Smoother shifts, better fuel economy, and — for those coming from the 7-speed — a real improvement in highway cruising feel.
The Sedan Lineup
C-Class
The C-Class was Mercedes’ entry point into the range, and for 2016 it was a genuinely well-rounded car rather than an apology for not buying an E-Class. The third-generation model (W205) arrived for 2015 with proper aluminum-intensive construction and a cabin that borrowed heavily from the flagship S-Class, so the 2016 version had already settled into its stride.
Trims: C300, C300 4MATIC, C450 AMG Sport, C63 AMG, C63 AMG S
Engine options: 2.0L turbo-four (241 hp) in the C300; 3.0L biturbo V6 (362 hp) in the C450 AMG; 4.0L biturbo V8 (469 hp / 503 hp) in the C63 variants
Standout feature: The C63 AMG — particularly the C63 S — was a genuine muscle car in a three-box body. That V8 sound was entirely out of proportion for the segment.
Used pricing today: C300 in clean condition, $14,000–$22,000; C63 AMG S well-maintained examples, $35,000–$50,000
E-Class
The 2016 E-Class (W212 generation) was the last year for that body style before the fully-redesigned W213 arrived for 2017. That makes 2016 a transition year — in some ways, you can buy an end-of-run discount; in others, you’re getting older tech before a big update.
Trims: E250 BlueTEC (diesel), E350, E400, E550, E63 AMG, E63 AMG S
Engine options: 2.1L diesel four (195 hp), 3.5L V6 (302 hp), 3.0L biturbo V6 (329 hp), 4.6L biturbo V8 (402 hp), 5.5L biturbo V8 (550–577 hp in AMG variants)
Standout feature: The E250 BlueTEC diesel offered real-world fuel economy in the mid-30s mpg on the highway — unusual for a European luxury sedan of that size.
Used pricing today: E350 around $14,000–$20,000; E63 AMG S significantly more at $40,000–$60,000 depending on condition
S-Class
The S-Class (W222 generation) was mid-cycle for 2016 and still set the technical benchmark for luxury sedans globally. This was the car that other manufacturers were reverse-engineering — Magic Body Control suspension, Intelligent Drive driver assistance, and a cabin that felt ahead of most brands by three to five years. It stood among the most technically ambitious 2010s luxury cars produced by any manufacturer that decade.
Trims: S550, S550e (plug-in hybrid), S600, S63 AMG, S65 AMG, S550 Maybach (see Maybach section)
Engine options: 4.6L biturbo V8 (449 hp) in S550; 3.0L biturbo V6 + electric motor (436 hp combined) in S550e; 6.0L biturbo V12 (523 hp) in S600; 5.5L biturbo V8 (577 hp) in S63 AMG; 6.0L biturbo V12 (621 hp) in S65 AMG
Standout feature: The Magic Body Control suspension uses a stereo camera to read the road surface ahead and pre-adjusts each shock absorber before the wheel hits the bump. It sounds like marketing copy until you ride in one on a cobblestone road.
Used pricing today: S550 at $35,000–$55,000; S600 and AMG variants $60,000–$100,000+
CLA-Class
The CLA (C117 platform) was Mercedes’ front-wheel-drive entry play — a compact four-door coupe targeting young buyers who wanted the three-pointed star without the E-Class price tag. It worked commercially. Critics were harder on it: the turbocharged four-banger was noisy under hard acceleration, and front-wheel drive felt out of character. The CLA45 AMG fixed the dynamics argument by switching to all-wheel drive and making 375 hp from a 2.0-liter engine, which was a world record for production four-cylinders at the time.
Trims: CLA250, CLA250 4MATIC, CLA45 AMG
Engine options: 2.0L turbo-four (208 hp) in CLA250; 2.0L turbo-four (375 hp) in CLA45 AMG
Standout feature: The CLA45 AMG’s 375-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder — still one of the most power-dense production engines ever built — was the car’s real pitch, not its styling.
Used pricing today: CLA250 at $12,000–$18,000; CLA45 AMG at $25,000–$38,000
CLS-Class
The CLS (W218 generation) was the four-door coupe that arguably started the entire segment. For 2016 it was near the end of its run — the W257 successor arrived for 2019 — but the W218 remained a handsome, properly fast car, particularly in AMG form.
Trims: CLS400, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, CLS63 AMG S
Engine options: 3.0L biturbo V6 (329 hp) in CLS400; 4.6L biturbo V8 (402 hp) in CLS550; 5.5L biturbo V8 (550–577 hp) in AMG variants
Standout feature: The CLS63 AMG S had a claimed 0–60 time of 3.9 seconds — four-door coupe, full leather, massaging seats.
Used pricing today: CLS400 at $18,000–$28,000; CLS550 at $22,000–$35,000; CLS63 AMG models starting around $38,000
The SUV and Crossover Lineup
GLA-Class
The GLA was Mercedes’ compact crossover answer to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. Based on the same FWD platform as the CLA, it sat higher off the ground but wasn’t designed for serious off-road work. What it offered was a well-appointed small crossover with a recognizable face and enough practicality for daily use.
Trims: GLA250, GLA250 4MATIC, GLA45 AMG
Engine options: 2.0L turbo-four (208 hp) in GLA250; 2.0L turbo-four (375 hp) in GLA45 AMG
Standout feature: The GLA45 AMG shared its engine with the CLA45 AMG — same 375-hp four, same all-wheel drive, but with extra ground clearance and a slightly more aggressive stance.
Used pricing today: GLA250 at $13,000–$20,000; GLA45 AMG at $24,000–$36,000
GLC-Class
The GLC was all-new for 2016, replacing the GLK. It was bigger, smarter, and dramatically better inside — the GLK’s plasticky cabin gave way to something that felt like a proper luxury vehicle. The GLC rode on the same MRA platform as the C-Class, which gave it genuine road manners rather than the truck-based float of older Mercedes SUVs.
Trims: GLC300, GLC300 4MATIC
Engine options: 2.0L turbo-four (241 hp) with standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive
Standout feature: First-year GLC with the new platform — if you want the debut of this generation before Mercedes ironed out the early kinks with software updates.
Used pricing today: GLC300 4MATIC at $18,000–$27,000
GLE-Class
The GLE replaced the ML-Class for 2016 and was Mercedes’ midsize SUV — the bread-and-butter volume vehicle that funded everything else. Available in standard SUV and coupe (GLE Coupe) body styles. The GLE450 AMG and GLE63 AMG variants gave it legitimate performance credentials.
Trims: GLE300d (diesel), GLE350, GLE350 4MATIC, GLE400, GLE450 AMG, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG S; GLE Coupe in 400, 450 AMG, 63 AMG variants
Engine options: 2.1L diesel (208 hp), 3.5L V6 (302 hp), 3.0L biturbo V6 (329–362 hp), 5.5L biturbo V8 (549–577 hp in AMG)
Standout feature: The GLE Coupe’s sloped roofline was either visually interesting or an abomination, depending on who you asked — but it sold well enough that every German brand eventually copied the formula.
Used pricing today: GLE350 4MATIC at $22,000–$33,000; GLE63 AMG S at $45,000–$65,000
GLS-Class
The GLS (formerly GL-Class) was Mercedes’ full-size seven-seat SUV — the S-Class equivalent in the SUV lineup. It was the choice for families who needed three rows and were unwilling to drive a Suburban.
Trims: GLS350d (diesel), GLS450, GLS550, GLS63 AMG
Engine options: 3.0L diesel V6 (255 hp), 3.0L biturbo V6 (362 hp), 4.6L biturbo V8 (449 hp), 5.5L biturbo V8 (577 hp)
Standout feature: The GLS550’s 4.6-liter V8 moved 5,000+ pounds with genuine enthusiasm — 0–60 in around 5.2 seconds for a vehicle that could seat seven.
Used pricing today: GLS450 at $24,000–$36,000; GLS550 at $30,000–$45,000
G-Class
The G-Class (G-Wagen) had been in continuous production since 1979. Its 2016 version looked nearly identical to the 1989 version — the same boxy shape, same external door hinges, same slab-sided doors — but packed modern technology into that vintage shell. People paid for the icon.
Trims: G550, G63 AMG, G65 AMG
Engine options: 4.0L biturbo V8 (416 hp) in G550; 5.5L biturbo V8 (563 hp) in G63 AMG; 6.0L biturbo V12 (621 hp) in G65 AMG
Standout feature: Three locking differentials, standard. Front, center, and rear — proper hardware that modern crossovers replaced with software traction control. The G still had the actual diffs.
Used pricing today: G550 at $65,000–$90,000; G63 AMG $80,000–$120,000+
The Sports and Coupe Lineup
SLC-Class
The SLC was the renamed and mildly updated SLK — a compact roadster with a retractable hardtop. “SLC” aligned its naming with the rest of the refreshed Mercedes lineup, but underneath it was an evolved SLK R172 that had been in production since 2011.
Trims: SLC180, SLC200, SLC300, SLC43 AMG
Engine options: 1.6L turbo-four, 2.0L turbo-four, 3.0L biturbo V6 (367 hp in SLC43 AMG)
Standout feature: The retractable hardtop — no soft-top compromises, full coupe refinement at speed, open-air feel when you want it.
Used pricing today: SLC300 at $16,000–$26,000; SLC43 AMG at $28,000–$40,000
SL-Class
The SL (R231 generation) was the grand tourer of the range — a full-size retractable hardtop roadster with a long hood, rear seats just barely usable by adults, and a price that said “I’ve made it.” The SL63 AMG was one of the more intoxicating convertibles you could drive in 2016.
Trims: SL400, SL550, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG
Engine options: 3.0L biturbo V6 (329 hp) in SL400; 4.6L biturbo V8 (449 hp) in SL550; 5.5L biturbo V8 (577 hp) in SL63 AMG; 6.0L biturbo V12 (621 hp) in SL65 AMG
Standout feature: The SL65 AMG’s V12 made 738 lb-ft of torque — a number that belongs in a truck, not a two-seat roadster.
Used pricing today: SL400 at $35,000–$50,000; SL63 AMG at $55,000–$80,000
AMG GT
The AMG GT was fully designed and built in-house by AMG, not adapted from an existing Mercedes platform. It used a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 mounted far back in the nose for near-perfect weight distribution, a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle in the rear, and a body that managed to look aggressive without cartoonish aero kit additions.
The GT and GT S variants differed meaningfully — not just in power (456 hp vs. 503 hp), but in setup. The GT S had active rear-axle steering, a more aggressive differential calibration, and wider bodywork. It was genuinely the car to buy if you were serious about the performance rather than the style. Among all the popular cars in 2016, few generated as much attention as the AMG GT’s production debut.
Trims: AMG GT, AMG GT S
Engine options: 4.0L biturbo V8, 456 hp (GT) / 503 hp (GT S)
Standout feature: The 4.0-liter V8’s dry-sump oil system — letting the engine sit lower in the chassis — was an engineering detail that told you this wasn’t a parts-bin sports car.
Used pricing today: AMG GT at $65,000–$90,000; AMG GT S at $75,000–$110,000+
Maybach S-Class
The S600 Maybach put the ultra-luxury Maybach nameplate back into production after Mercedes killed the standalone Maybach brand in 2013. Mechanically close to the S600, the Maybach added 7.9 inches of wheelbase, deeply reclining rear seats with footrests, and a level of interior refinement that put most private jets to shame.
Engine: 6.0L biturbo V12 (523 hp)
Standout feature: The rear seat — specifically the right rear, which in chauffeur-driven configuration offered a full reclining business-class setup with a leg rest, a folding tray, and enough headroom to sit comfortably.
Used pricing today: $80,000–$130,000 depending on options and mileage
Quick Comparison Table
| Model | Body Style | Engine (base) | HP (base) | Used Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C300 | Sedan / Coupe / Wagon | 2.0L turbo-4 | 241 | $14K–$22K |
| C63 AMG S | Sedan / Coupe | 4.0L biturbo V8 | 503 | $35K–$50K |
| E350 | Sedan / Wagon / Coupe / Cab | 3.5L V6 | 302 | $14K–$20K |
| S550 | Sedan | 4.6L biturbo V8 | 449 | $35K–$55K |
| CLA250 | 4-door coupe | 2.0L turbo-4 | 208 | $12K–$18K |
| CLA45 AMG | 4-door coupe | 2.0L turbo-4 | 375 | $25K–$38K |
| CLS400 | 4-door coupe | 3.0L biturbo V6 | 329 | $18K–$28K |
| GLA250 | Compact crossover | 2.0L turbo-4 | 208 | $13K–$20K |
| GLC300 | Compact SUV | 2.0L turbo-4 | 241 | $18K–$27K |
| GLE350 | Midsize SUV | 3.5L V6 | 302 | $22K–$33K |
| GLS450 | Full-size SUV | 3.0L biturbo V6 | 362 | $24K–$36K |
| G550 | Full-size off-road SUV | 4.0L biturbo V8 | 416 | $65K–$90K |
| SLC300 | Roadster | 2.0L turbo-4 | 241 | $16K–$26K |
| SL400 | Roadster | 3.0L biturbo V6 | 329 | $35K–$50K |
| AMG GT | Sports coupe | 4.0L biturbo V8 | 456 | $65K–$90K |
| S600 Maybach | Ultra-luxury sedan | 6.0L biturbo V12 | 523 | $80K–$130K |
Used Market Takeaways
A few honest notes if you’re shopping a 2016 Mercedes on the used market:
The sweet spot for value is the C-Class and GLC300. Both are mid-cycle, mechanically sorted, and priced where a pre-purchase inspection cost is proportionally small. The GLC300 in particular benefits from being an all-new design in 2016 — no carry-over compromises.
Avoid the E-Class as a budget pick. The W212 platform was excellent in 2010 — by 2016 it was aging. The W213 that replaced it in 2017 is a more compelling buy at similar prices. The one exception is the E250 BlueTEC diesel, which offers genuinely useful real-world economy that later models didn’t replicate as neatly.
The AMG GT S holds value. Unlike some performance cars that crater once off warranty, the AMG GT has retained value reasonably well. Budget for proper annual maintenance from an independent Mercedes specialist — the service interval costs on the 4.0L V8 are real.
S-Class maintenance costs scale with trim. An S550 at $40,000 used is a different ownership proposition than an S550 at $40,000 new. The NHTSA service bulletin database for 2016 MB models is worth reviewing before purchase — the S-Class has had air suspension and electronics-related issues that are expensive out of warranty.
G-Wagen prices are irrational, and that’s unlikely to change. A used 2016 G550 costs more than many new SUVs. That’s not a value argument — it’s a cultural one. The G has a collector floor under it that most cars don’t.
The 2016 model year landed at an interesting inflection point: old enough to have aged out of warranty-era pricing, recent enough to have modern safety features and infotainment. For most buyers, the GLC, C300, or GLE350 hit the value target. For enthusiasts, the C63 AMG and AMG GT are the standouts — cars that justify their used premium on driving terms alone.
