When you buy a Mercedes, one thing you expect is a premium quality, inside and out. And regarding your car interior, one of the most important decisions is your seat material. For some owners, you’ll want the best of the best, and for others, you might need something to stand the test of time.
Fortunately, the current Mercedes range offers a few different choices for your seat material. From durable synthetic covers to soft leather, in this article, we’ll explore them all. We’ll also cover how much the materials cost on each model and which seat material I would choose on a new Mercedes.
Let’s get started!
Mercedes Seat Material Options
There are four main grades of material available for your Mercedes seats. With one synthetic material and three types of leather, in this section, we’ll cover each material in detail. From the durability to the quality of the seat, you can see which material will be best for you.
MB-Tex
An alternative to leather, MB-Tex is a vinyl-based material. As a synthetic material, MB-Tex is incredibly durable and designed to last up to 20 years. It’s also easier to clean and maintain than standard leather, and you can clean MB-Tex with any standard vinyl cleaner.
There are some downsides to MB-Tex though. Firstly, there are far more color choices in leather than MB-Tex, so if you want your seats to stand out, this won’t be the material for you. On top of that, even though it’s a high-quality material, MB-Tex doesn’t give you that leather feel. It’s not as soft, and you miss that leather smell, which will be important for some drivers.
Leather
The next grade up from MB-Tex is standard leather. This is the most durable leather grade from Mercedes Benz, but it still requires some maintenance. Standard leather is coated for protection, but it’s going to wear quicker than MB-Tex.
What MB-Tex can’t give you is the feeling of real leather. Even at this grade, you get a softer material, and for some owners, that will matter. Mercedes has managed to create a fantastic substitute with MB-Tex, but it is still a substitute at the end of the day.
Nappa Leather
Next up is Nappa leather. This is a significant step up from the previous grade, with a much softer feel. Nappa is semi-aniline leather, which means it has less pigmentation and a more natural feel. The difference is noticeable, but Nappa leather has some disadvantages.
Overall, Nappa leather requires more maintenance, and you should clean your seats a few times each year at least. For most owners, Nappa leather might be a risky choice, and the more durable MB-Tex will be the best option. If you’re after the best seat material Mercedes can offer though, Nappa is the one for you.
Mercedes also offers an ‘exclusive’ Nappa leather option. This is only available on a handful of models, and is the most expensive seat option. The exclusive grades are simply different color combinations, with no change in the material quality from other Nappa leathers.
Do all Mercedes vehicles come with leather seats?
Every model in the current Mercedes lineup comes with an option for leather seats. On some cars, you can upgrade further to Nappa and even exclusive Nappa materials too. Almost every Mercedes vehicle comes with a vegan alternative in the form of MB-Tex.
The below sections cover which material you can choose for every Mercedes Benz model. We’ve also included the cost if you want to upgrade your seat to a more premium material. If there is no cost next to each vehicle, this material is standard and can be selected for free.
MB-Tex
- EQB 250
- EQB 300
- EQB 350
- EQE 350
- EQE AMG
- GLA 250
- GLA AMG 35
- GLA AMG 45
- GLB 250
- GLB AMG 35
- GLC AMG 43
- GLC 300 Coupe
- GLC AMG 43 Coupe
- GLE 350
- GLE 450
- GLE 580
- GLE AMG 53
- GLE AMG 53 Coupe
- GLS 450
- C Class 300
- C-Class AMG 43
- E-Class 350
- E-Class 450
- CLA 250 Coupe
- CLA AMG 35 Coupe
- CLA AMG 45 Coupe
- C Class 300 Coupe
- C Class AMG 43 Coupe
- E Class AMG 53 Coupe
- AMG GT 43
- AMG GT 53
- C Class 300 Cabriolet
- C Class AMG 43 Cabriolet
- E Class AMG 53 Cabriolet
Leather
- EQB 250 – $1,450
- EQB 300 – $1,450
- EQB 350 – $1,450
- EQE 350 – $1,620
- EQE 500
- EQS 450 Sedan
- EQS 580 Sedan
- EQS 450 SUV
- EQS 580 SUV
- GLA 250 – $1,450
- GLA AMG 35 – $1,450
- GLA AMG 45 – $1,450
- GLB 250 – $1,450
- GLB AMG 35 – $1,450
- GLC AMG 43 – $1,620
- GLC 300 Coupe – $1,620
- GLC AMG 43 Coupe – $1,620
- GLE 350 – $1,620
- GLE 450 – $1,620
- GLE 580
- GLS 450 – $1,620
- GLS 580
- C Class 300 – $1,620
- C Class AMG 43 – $1,620
- E Class 350 – $1,620
- E Class 450 – $1,620
- S Class 500
- CLA 250 Coupe – $1,450
- CLA AMG 35 Coupe – $1,450
- CLA AMG 45 Coupe – $1,450
- C Class 300 Coupe – $1,620
- C Class AMG 43 Coupe – $1,620
- E Class 450 Coupe
- CLS 450 Coupe
- C Class 300 Cabriolet – $1,620
- C Class AMG 43 Cabriolet – $1,620
- E Class 450 Cabriolet
Nappa Leather
- EQE 350 – $2,990
- EQE 500 – $1,370
- EQE AMG – $2,990
- EQS 450 Sedan – $1,370
- EQS 580 Sedan – $1,370
- EQS AMG Sedan
- EQS 450 SUV – $1,370
- EQS 580 SUV – $1,370
- GLE 350 – $2,990
- GLE 450 – $2,990
- GLE 580 – $1,370
- GLE AMG 53 – $2,990
- GLE AMG 53 Coupe – $2,990
- E Class 350 – $2,990
- E Class 450 – $2,990
- E Class AMG 53
- S Class 500 – $2,290
- C Class AMG 63 S Coupe
- E Class 450 Coupe – $1,370
- E Class 450 Coupe
- CLS 450 Coupe – $1,370
- AMG GT 43 – $2,850
- AMG GT 53 – $2,850
- C Class AMG 63 S Cabriolet
- E Class 450 Cabriolet – $1,370
- E Class AMG 53 Cabriolet
- SL 55 Roadster
- SL 63 Roadster
Exclusive Nappa Leather
- GLE AMG 53 – $4,550 to $4,800
- GLE AMG 63 S – $0 to $250
- GLE AMG 53 Coupe – $4,550 to $4,800
- GLE AMG 63 S Coupe – $0 to $250
- GLS 450 – $2,990
- GLS 580 – $1,370
- GLS AMG 63 – $0 to $200
- S Class 500 – $5,400
- AMG GT 43 – $2,850 to $3,250
- AMG GT 45 – $2,850 to $3,250
FAQs
What is the best leather available on a Mercedes Benz?
Nappa leather is the best material currently available on Mercedes Benz models.
What is the cheapest leather available on Mercedes Benz models?
Their standard leather is the cheapest variant for Mercedes cars. This is a free option on lots of Mercedes models.
Is Nappa leather expensive on a Mercedes?
To add Nappa leather to a Mercedes, it will cost between $1,000 and $3,000
What is the most durable seat for a Mercedes?
MB-Tex is the most durable seat available on a Mercedes Benz.
Which seat material is best for your Mercedes Benz?
If you need durability, then MB-Tex is the seat for you. Incredibly durable and easy to clean, you’ll have no issues keeping your Mercedes interior in good condition with this. It’s not the most premium material, but what you sacrifice in quality, you’ll make up for in the lifetime of your seats. This would be my choice if I were expecting a full car of kids and/or pets and needed to keep my seats protected.
If you’re after quality, Nappa leather is the way to go. It’s disappointing that Mercedes don’t have other premium leathers, like BMW, but Nappa is soft enough to impress most occupants. It does require plenty of maintenance, but if you look after your seats, you shouldn’t have an issue.
If I were selecting seat materials for a new Mercedes, I’d be tempted to go for the Nappa finish. Sure, it takes more care, and you might be worried about damage, but the quality is worth it.
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