This Is What You Need To Know About Mercedes’ 4MATIC AWD System

Anywhere you look in today’s auto market, you’re bound to find an SUV, pickup truck, or sedan that comes equipped with, or is available with, all-wheel drive. Most brands have their own version of it; some are better than others, and some are seriously useful whether you are just wet-weather driving or taking things off-road. To name a few, we have the likes of Audi’s Quattro system, BMW’s xDrive, Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD, and Honda’s Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4). All are highly rated systems that offer some sure-footed driving.

Divisions

Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans

Founded

1926

Founder

Karl Benz

Headquarters

Stuttgart, Germany

Current CEO

Ola Källenius

Then there is Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. Initially released in the latter half of the 1980s as the basis for the E-Class sedans and wagons, it has grown into a very respected and desirable system to have on one of your Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

We are looking in-depth at Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and will look into why drivers love it so much, why it is a handy feature to have, and what 2025 and 2026 Mercedes-Benz SUVs, coupes, and sedans come equipped with 4MATIC.

4MATIC All-Wheel Drive: Mercedes-Benz’s Answer To Quattro

Lyndon Conrad Bell – photo

In 1980, Audi unveiled what is probably one of the more famous all-wheel-drive systems: Quattro AWD. This clever system was the driving force behind perhaps the greatest Group B rally car ever created, the Audi Ur-Quattro. This beast of a coupe went on to win four World Rally Championship (WRC) titles between 1982 and 1984. Audi had created a luxury coupe that could perform, and the market was changed forever.

Audi

In 1987, Mercedes-Benz entered the fray as a response to Audi’s revolutionary addition. They came up with the 4MATIC system, a highly complex computer-controlled setup for the W124-Series E-Class sedans and wagons. Mercedes had been utilizing AWD of sorts as far back as 1907, in the Dernburg-Wagen, but it wasn’t until 80 years later that they rolled out for mass-production models. Throughout the decades, the system has been designed to be smarter, more reliable, and provide a lot more traction, and today, it should be considered a byword for all-wheel drive like Quattro is.

How Does 4MATIC Work?

There isn’t just one answer to this; 4MATIC has grown since it was first used in the ’80s to a very sophisticated system today. The first 4MATIC system was effectively a part-time/fallback four-wheel-drive system that uses hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutches in a center transfer case alongside center and rear differentials to engage four-wheel drive when it gets slippery. In its simplest mode, 100 percent torque is sent to the rear axle, but when slip is detected, via wheel-speed sensors and ABS inputs, the system can lock up and engage all four wheels, with roughly a 35:65 or 50:50 front-to-rear split.

In the mid-90s, the second-gen 4MATIC system was utilized, and with its use came full-time AWD. A single-stage transfer case provides a continuous front-to-rear torque split of about 35:65 under normal conditions. The system replaced mechanical lockups with electronic control via the electronic traction system: 4ETS. This system works with the ABS to detect when single wheels start to lose traction and applies small amounts of braking to distribute torque to the wheels. Effectively simulating a limited-slip diff.

Lyndon Conrad Bell – photo

When the fourth generation of 4MATIC was rolled out, it came with a far more refined setup. The center diff was downsized and often integrated into the transmission housing, and a ‘pre-lock’ clutch was added, permanently preloaded to always be ready to transfer torque. Under normal driving, the power split is roughly 45:55 front:rear, but when slip is detected, the preloaded clutch increases locking torque, sending more oomph to the axle and shoring up grip. This system just means that you get rear-wheel drive feels normally, and über grip without noticing when you need it.

Today, Mercedes-Benz‘s 4MATIC system is far more dynamic and gives both a luxury and performance-oriented feel. The system works alongside modern EPS/ABS, wheel-speed sensors, and the drivetrain management system to send torque where it is needed in real time. Some versions today, like 4MATIC+, which was introduced in 2016, can send nearly 100 percent of the torque to either the front or rear wheels, depending on how you are driving and what you are driving over. This means that the Mercedes you are driving has the stability of all-wheel drive when it is needed, and the fun, RWD feel for sportier driving.

What Is The Purpose Of 4MATIC AWD?

Mercedes-Benz

The simple answer to what 4MATIC is really for is: to shore up handling and provide more grip. It exists to make Mercedes models that boast it feel planted and predictable in situations where a normal two-wheel-drive setup would struggle. At its core today, the 4MATIC system constantly monitors traction using wheel-speed sensors, yaw data, and the specific model’s stability-control inputs. Instead of waiting for wheels to spin wildly, the modern system proactively balances torque between the front and rear axles, so whatever model you are in can keep grip whilst you are pinning the gas in wet weather or over loose gravel.

It certainly helps for safety, but where the 4MATIC system also helps is in overall performance. Versions of the system today can send practically all the torque to the rear to sharpen up handling by directing power to the wheel with the most bite and reducing understeer by constantly fine-tuning how each axle is loaded. In short, 4MATIC can now provide fun, sporty driving, and wet-weather/icy road driving.

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Drivers Of Mercedes-Benz Models With 4MATIC AWD Love It

Mercedes-AMG

Of course, having any modern vehicle with all-wheel drive (within reason) is useful to have, especially in areas of the country that get a lot of wet weather or are partial to a touch of snow or ice. But, as we have looked at, the 4MATIC AWD system is not just good for driving over ice, but, according to owners, gives them an edge when they’re cutting up the twisties. For many, it is effectively injecting some supercar DNA into a road car.

For Mercedes-Benz SUVs, AMG SUVs, Mercedes-Benz cars, and AMG models, a lot of owners have been very impressed with what 4MATIC offers. In fact, all 2025 models that either come equipped with 4MATIC AWD as standard or as an optional extra have been rated 75 out of 100 on J.D. Power, in some part, with Mercedes’ AWD system to thank. For 2025 Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG models that are available with 4MATIC AWD, the following models have received overall J.D. Power ratings:

• 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS Class. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 75/100.
• 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC Class. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 77/100.
• 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA Class. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 78/100.
• 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 79/100.
• 2025 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 79/100.
• 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 80/100.
• 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. J.D. Power Overall Rating: 81/100.

What Owners Say About It

Car Buzz

There are, of course, owners of 4MATIC-equipped models who aren’t so pleased with how it works, but we have found that a lot of owners, whether they rate their Mercedes or not overall, are fans of how the AWD system works and reacts in slippery conditions.

On both J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book, owners have raved that Mercedes’ AWD rig helps them handle the rough and loose stuff with ease, with one owner saying about their 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB, “In the winter, it handles very well in the snow. I was surprised. It is a 4MATIC, so I think that helps.“

Another owner, who owns a 2020 G-Class, left a review on Kelley Blue Book and said, “Best vehicle ever … bigger, wider, better handling, technology, look.​​​​​​​” An owner of a 2020 C-Class 4MATIC model has also commented that “Mercedes-Benz does not skimp on this car because it’s a C-Class. Interior is [on] brand, the engine is feisty. Handles like a race car yet smooth and quiet.“

We think it is very apparent that, alongside everything the luxe German marque can offer, the AWD system is one of the biggest draws to some of their models.

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2025 And 2026 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles With 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz

Luckily, if the high driver praise and what the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system could potentially offer your driving sounds appealing, there is a huge swathe of Mercedes-Benz vehicles – coupes, sedans, and SUVs – that either come with the AWD system as standard, or can be added (for a price, of course).

Best of all, it is not just the higher-end Mercedes models that can be fitted with it. That means it is possible to buy a new Mercedes model with a very useful all-wheel-drive system for what can be seen as a very reasonable price.

2025 & 2026 Mercedes-Benz Cars That Boast 4MATIC All-Wheel Drive

Chris Chin | TopSpeed

It is unlikely that you’ll be taking a luxury sedan or luxury coupe into the wilderness, so this is where 4MATIC comes in handy for on-road fun blended with luxury, sure-footed feels. In other words, you get a luxurious and smooth ride on the highway and around town, and a lot of bite and traction when you want to put your foot down through the canyons.

Not all current AMG models are available with 4MATIC or 4MATIC+. Some models, namely the AMG SL 43 Roadster and the AMG GT 43 Coupe, are designed to honor their sports car heritage and boast rear-wheel drive as standard. Purists may agree that was the correct call from AMG.

2025 & 2026 Mercedes-Benz SUVs That Boast 4MATIC All-Wheel Drive

Mercedes-Benz

Like most automakers, Mercedes has invested an enormous amount of time and money in rolling out some of the most luxurious SUVs on the market. A lot of these 2025 and 2026 luxe iterations come equipped with 4MATIC AWD on one trim or another. Where you use 4MATIC to shore up on-road fun in the Mercedes sedans and coupes that come equipped with 4MATIC, the lineup of SUVs that offer it blends mild off-road comfort and on-road guts.

As the most performance-oriented versions of the above models, the current AMG SUV models all come equipped with the 4MATIC AWD system as standard. So, in the most AMG fashion you can imagine, you get all the luxe and comfort of the base models, but with real performance SUV chops.

Sources: Mercedes-Benz, J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book.