
Mercedes-Benz does not have any cars equipped with three-cylinder engines. The smallest displacement models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup all use four-cylinder engines. The domestically produced Mercedes-Benz A-Class is equipped with three types of engines: a low-power version of the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, a high-power version of the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Below are the relevant details: 1. The low-power version of the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine has 136 horsepower and a maximum torque of 200 Nm. The maximum power output of this engine is achieved at 5500 rpm, and the maximum torque is available between 1460 and 4000 rpm. This engine features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block. 2. The high-power version of the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine has 163 horsepower and a maximum torque of 250 Nm. The maximum power output of this engine is achieved at 5500 rpm, and the maximum torque is available between 1620 and 4000 rpm. This engine also features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block. 3. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine has 190 horsepower and a maximum torque of 300 Nm. The maximum power output of this engine is achieved at 6100 rpm, and the maximum torque is available between 1600 and 4000 rpm. This engine also features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block.

Speaking of Mercedes-Benz's three-cylinder engines, I really need to have a good chat with you about this. As a car enthusiast who frequents 4S dealerships year-round, Mercedes has actually been quite resistant to three-cylinder engines in recent years. They believe three-cylinder engines have excessive vibration and noticeable noise, which doesn't align with the character of a luxury brand. Take their smallest A-Class model for example - even with a displacement as small as 1.3 liters, they insist on using a four-cylinder configuration. Even the compact smart car used to have three-cylinder engines, but since Mercedes sold smart to Geely, there are absolutely no three-cylinder models left in the Mercedes lineup. If you're worried about encountering a three-cylinder engine when buying a Mercedes, that concern is completely unnecessary. Currently, all main Mercedes models start with four-cylinder engines, with the C-Class and E-Class even featuring mild hybrid systems, delivering exceptionally smooth and quiet driving experiences.

I've been driving this Mercedes for over five years, and I specifically asked the technician about whether Mercedes uses three-cylinder engines during maintenance. He said there isn't a single Mercedes model currently using a three-cylinder engine, not even in prototype vehicles. This is different from BMW, which has used three-cylinder engines in the 1 Series. Mercedes places particular emphasis on smoothness in engine design. For example, the new GLA uses the M282 four-cylinder engine with a 1.3L displacement but incorporates cylinder deactivation technology. As for claims that the old A160 used a three-cylinder, that's actually a misunderstanding—the Mercedes A-Class has maintained a four-cylinder structure from 1997 to the present. The only remotely related case is a three-cylinder engine manufactured for Renault, but it was never installed in any Mercedes vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz currently does not use three-cylinder engines across its entire lineup. Three-cylinder engines are difficult to control in terms of vibration, and as a luxury brand, Mercedes-Benz prioritizes NVH performance, hence opting for four-cylinder engines as the starting point. The entry-level A-Class is equipped with a 1.3T four-cylinder engine, the B-Class with a 1.8T four-cylinder, and the CLA follows the same configuration. Compared to the BMW 1 Series' three-cylinder engines, Mercedes-Benz's strategy of sticking to four-cylinder engines across the range has won the favor of many consumers. Although Mercedes-Benz is technically capable of producing three-cylinder engines, its brand positioning dictates that it won't use them. In the era of electrification, the brand skips three-cylinder engines altogether, with the new C-Class featuring a four-cylinder mild hybrid system across the entire lineup.

From a market positioning perspective, Mercedes-Benz wouldn't risk using a three-cylinder engine. Luxury car owners care most about driving refinement, and three-cylinder engines are prone to vibration issues. Mercedes-Benz persists with four-cylinder engines even in entry-level models like the A-Class and GLA, with the M282 engine being a prime example. In contrast, models like the BMW 1 Series and MINI have used three-cylinder engines, but user feedback has been mediocre. Mercedes-Benz's newly announced 2024 model plan shows the engine strategy directly shifting to four-cylinder mild hybrids and pure electric, skipping the three-cylinder phase. This product decision is wise, maintaining luxury appeal while embracing electrification trends.


