Mercedes is renowned for its luxurious vehicles. So, finding the best M-B car requires sophisticated taste…and a generous budget.
Since its 1926 debut, Mercedes-Benz has continued to dazzle the luxury automotive world thanks to its near-limitless assortment of creature comforts, elegant design, and fabled German engineering. Mercedes sold 325,915 units in the U.S. in 2020, beating out popular names like BMW and Lexus by about 50,000 units each.
Its lineup is broken down across several body styles, including sedans, coupes, roadsters, SUVs, and crossovers. A few of the brand’s longest-standing nameplates include the S-Class, released in 1972, and the G-Class, 1979, which are not only two of its costliest offerings but also the most recognizable.
Regardless of the model, each holds true to the luxury automaker’s current motto: “The Best or Nothing,” which leaves little room for debate.
However, we won’t settle for the latter; we’re here to pick the best. Below we’ll review the entire tri-star-wielding lineup and select the best Benz of them all, considering things like reliability, customer perception, problems, and more.
Mercedes-Benz: How a Brand Became a Legend
The brand that has become Mercedes-Benz began as an often contentious collaboration between three German engineers, Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, and Wilhelm Maybach. The partnership was marred by disagreements over patents, fuel choice, engineering, and marketing.
In 1885, Maybach and Daimler mounted one of their first engines on a modified wooden bike frame and invented the motorcycle. A year later, Benz patented a three-wheeled motorized carriage, which is considered the world’s first automobile.
By 1895 they were putting engines into larger carriages that turned into buses and trucks. In 1901, the firm rolled out a two-seater car dubbed the “Mercedes” (named after Benz’s daughter) at the 1926 Berlin Motor Show. It was available with a 38 horsepower 2.0L engine or a 55 horsepower 3.0L. and bore the three-pointed star that still serves as the company logo.
In 1998 Mercedes merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler, but the marriage ultimately failed in 2007 when MB sold Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management.
Mercedes now sits at the top of the list of luxury automakers, with no intentions of slowing down. One good example of the brand’s commitment towards innovation is the upcoming 2022 EQS, a fully electric sedan sporting Mercedes’ never-before-seen Hyperscreen, a collection of three infotainment displays making up 56 inches in total, the most of any car manufacturer. Until then, the current lineup will more than suffice.
Mercedes E-Class
The “E” stands for Einspritzmotor, which is German for “fuel-injected engine.” Many assume it stands for “Executive,” which would make sense since the E-Class occupies the upper-middle class of its stable. They are a step up from the C-Class, not as expensive as the S, and not as luxurious as the Maybachs.
The E-class has been around for 120 years and is now in its tenth generation counting from 1947, finally adopting the E-Class name in 1993. Modern E-Class vehicles include sedans, wagons, coupes, and the two-door convertible Cabriolet. The CLS-Class is a coupe version of E-Class sedans.
The current 2021 E-Class (Motor Trend‘s “2021 Car of the Year”) starts at $54,250, rising to $107,500 or more if you spring for the AMG E63 S with its 503 horsepower twin-turbo hand-built V8.
A few interior comforts include an intuitive voice-activated MBUX system, a nine-speed Dynamic Select transmission, Attention Assist, Night Vision Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, and more.
As for safety and reliability, the NHTSA reports 14 recalls between the 2020 and 2021 model years, mostly related to electrical hiccups. The most widespread of these (1,292,258 units) involved an inaccurate vehicle location for emergency services.
Thankfully, Mercedes will resolve this issue free of charge by updating the system, either in-person or over-the-air (OTA).
If the nearly $55,000 entry price is more than you had in mind, a good alternative is the 2009 model, the last year for the fourth generation. You’ll have a hard time finding much negative about it, as most reputable automotive sites show praise, like KBB, where it currently holds a 4.6/five-star consumer rating across 658 reviews.
As for safety and reliability, the NHTSA gave it four-star frontal, five-star side, and five-star rollover safety ratings. Just two recalls exist, one for a glass panel that may detach, the other for a connecting rod that may cause the load-leveling rear suspension to fail.
Finding a 2009 E-Class with 75,000-100,000 miles for around the $10,000 mark isn’t difficult, and it’s roughly what a bank would expect as a down payment on a new 2021/2022 model.
Mercedes C-Class
The C-Class was introduced in 1994 as an entry-level Mercedes, often being referred to as the “Baby” Benz. The first models were rear-wheel drive and fitted with a choice of either a 147 horsepower I4 engine or a 194 hp I6.
Just a year later you could get a souped-up AMG version that produced 268 horsepower, and by 1987, the legendary 2.5L turbo-diesel had arrived. By 2001’s introduction of the second generation, V6s and supercharged I4’s became available. The next big update happened in 2008 as special editions including the C63 Black Series and the 507 Edition joined the fleet.
The 2021 C-Class is the last year of the fourth generation, and the most current. It is every bit as much of a Benz as the rest of the brand’s offerings and was actually replaced as the baby in the lineup with the re-release of the A-Class in 2018.
Since the fourth-gens release in 2015, its rear-end design has been praised for resembling a smaller S-Class, as well as having one of the most modern interiors ever seen in a Mercedes. New MSRPs for the 2021 C-Class range from $42,400 for an entry-level model, to just shy of $70,000 for the AMG C63.
2022 will mark the beginning of the fifth generation of C-Class, as it’s been redesigned from the ground up with sleeker designs, fancier tech, and an endlessly increasing price tag. If you don’t want to wait for this new model to hit showroom floors and you feel the 2021 model is already “used,” you might as well consider the next best thing, a 2014 C-Class.
Why? Because it’s modern enough that you’ll get most of the tech features you’re used to, and as the last year of the fourth generation, its reliability ratings are far above average. There are five recalls on record, including two where the airbags would inadvertently deploy, or worse — explode.
Thankfully, it’s unlikely you find a model that hasn’t already had these recalls fixed. Regardless, we suggest running a quick Vehicle History VIN report on any pre-owned models just to be safe. If you do find a clean 2014 model, there’s a good chance you end up contributing to the 4.6 out of five-star owner satisfaction rating it currently holds in our database.
Mercedes A-Class
In 1997 Mercedes rolled out the A-Class, a sub-compact hatchback executive car. However, it wasn’t until 2018’s introduction of the fourth generation 2019 model that it was available in the U.S., and thankfully, its new design looks nothing like what it did.
The 2021 Mercedes A-Class now holds the title as the lineup’s “baby” Benze. While the A-Class is 5.4 inches shorter in length than the C-Class, the height and width are just a hair less. It’s also a lot less costly than the C-Class, starting at about $35,000 compared to $42,400. You get the same 2.0L turbo-four as well, just tuned-down to 188 horsepower rather than 265. No other engine options are offered on the 2021 A-Class.
If we had to choose between a 2019 pre-owned A-Class and a new 2021, we’d go with a 2019 model. For starters, there were only six recalls, all of which were fairly trivial and are easily taken care of free of charge. What’s more, if you keep the mileage less than 20,000, you’ll have no issues finding one for $5,000-$7,000 less than it was brand-new.
Mercedes CLA-Class
If the more traditional styling of the A-Class doesn’t suit your fancy, the coupe-like design of the Mercedes CLA is the perfect sportier alternative. The CLA arrived in 2013 for the 2014 model year as the least expensive Benze of its time, starting at just $29,000. Fast-forward to the 2021 model, and that number has increased to just shy of $38,000, priced just above the A-Class.
The Mercedes CLA is also a bit more performance-oriented than the A-Class, using the same 2.0L turbo, but with an added 33 horsepower. The A-Class reaches 0-60 in about 7.1 seconds, the CLA cuts that to just under 6.9.
Again, rather than spend nearly $40,000 on a new model, we suggest a low-milage 2019 instead. Not only did the 2019 Mercedes CLA have the lowest number of recalls, but if you don’t mind the odometer already having 24,000-30,000 miles, you can easily find one for about $15,000 less than what it was sitting on the dealer’s lot.
Mercedes G-Class
The G-Class which now includes GLA’s, GLB’s GLC’s, GLE’s GLE coupes, GLS’s, and a Maybach version all have roots in the boxy military styling of the G-Wagen or “Gelandwagon” which is German for “terrain vehicle.”
Originally, the vehicle was a collaboration between MB, Steyr and Puch. The first generation was launched in 1979. Back then all the models were four-wheel-drive and could be ordered with gas or diesel-powered engines, including a five-cylinder diesel. In 1990 the brand was split into the W461 which was more of a work vehicle and the W 463 which went after a more upscale crowd.
Nowadays, the G-Class is one of the most recognizable, and esteemed vehicles on the road. The price starts at $131,750 for the entry 2021 model and goes up to $156,650+ for the G63 AMG. Just about any year in the last decade has performed remarkably well at the NHTSA, with no more than four recalls being issued for a single year (2016 and 2017), most having to do with small electrical issues like an inaccurate vehicle location system, incorrect speed limitation software, or a cruise control system that won’t disengage.
Mercedes GL-CLASS
The GL-Class arrived on the scene in 2006 as a full-size luxury SUV. The first generation was powered by a 340 hp V8 and could reach a top speed of 146 mph. The second generation started in 2013 when it changed names to GLS.
The GLE evolved from the M-Class and appeared in 2019. The GLC is the Mercedes version of a compact SUV and was launched in 2019. The GLB is a boxy SUV powered by a turbocharged I4 that appeared in 2020. The GLA is the GLB’s little brother, smaller and styled more like a crossover, it arrived in 2019.
Mercedes S-Class
The S-Class has been the top-of-the-line sedan from Stuttgart since its launch in 1954 when it was called the 220. The first rendition was a four-door sedan powered by an I4 with an optional I6.
The S designation didn’t show up until the early 1970s. The “S” stands for “Sonderklasse” which is German for “special class.” There have been seven generations of the S-Class sedans and coupes, which have basically set the bar for what a luxury car should look, feel, and act like.
The S-Class has ranged between 79-82/100 on J.D Power’s consumer ratings, which accounts for things like quality and reliability, driving experience, resale, and more. The same shows in our databases where the S-Class hasn’t dropped below a four/five-star owner satisfaction rating since 2006.
Mercedes SL–Class/SLC
SL stands for “Super-Leicht,” in German which means the same thing in English. The Mercedes SL was launched in 1954 as a two-seat roadster built for speed and elegance. There have been seven generations of SLs with engines ranging from V6s, to V8s, to V12s.
Prices for a current model start in the low $90’s. If you want a less expensive MB Roadster, consider the SLC that’s been in production since 1996 and is in its fourth generation. A new one of those goes for just under $50K.
Mercedes AMG & Maybach
AMG is a branch of Mercedes-Benz that specializes in making cars go really fast. It was started by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Mecher two former Mercedes engineers near Stuttgart in 1967.
In 1993, the firm cut a deal with Mercedes to sell AMGs through the Mercedes dealership network. In 1999, it was folded into the DaimlerChrysler group. It’s now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG and still makes cars go very fast. MB offers many of its more popular models in AMG versions.
Wilhelm Maybach was one of the original founders of what would become Mercedes-Benz. He left the firm in 1907 to start his own company. He built engines for zeppelins and tanks during the war years along with large luxury automobiles.
In 1960 Mercedes bought the company and in 2002 brought the brand back by attaching it to large luxury automobiles. Some of the current models including the GLS is available in a Maybach edition.
Best Mercedes
There are a lot of choices when it comes to choosing the best Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and none of them are inexpensive. Mercedes would like you to start at the bottom, say an A or a C-Class, and gradually work your way up to the S. But like every other carmaker in the world, it’s Mercedes’ SUVs, like the GLB Class, that are currently the brand’s big sellers.
Whether you choose to go for an SUV, sedan, coupe, or convertible, rest assured that you’ll be buying into one of the best car brands in the automotive industry.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz
