Though seemingly every automaker wants in on the alphanumeric naming scheme of late, Mercedes-Benz has been at it for longer than most of its competitors have existed. It does actually make things less confusing.

• To start, S, E, C, B and A classes — the “core model series,” in Mercedes-Benz’s words — stay the same, as do the CLS and CLA four-door coupes.
• To tie its more rugged vehicles to the venerable Gelandewagen, however, the automaker is giving each of its crossovers and SUVs a “G” prefix, with a third letter to tie it to the core model series.
  • Under the new plan, crossovers and SUVs will start with “GL” and be followed by a letter that aligns them with the core car models—think of the A-class-based GLA.
  • The GL — the flagship of Benz’s SUV lineup — becomes the GLS, as it pairs nicely with the flagship sedan S-Class.
  • The ML becomes the GLE,
  • The GLK becomes the GLC.

My love of charts should help clarify things:

When these SUVs get a coupelike spinoff, they will get a trailing “Coupe” designation. That means the upcoming M-class-based SUV coupe-thing will be called the GLE Coupe.

The new nomenclature will began to roll out with the face-lifted M-class, which has arrived alongside the GLE coupe. It might take a little while to get used to the changes, but it all does seem more logical and more transparent than before.