Cadillac and Mercedes are among the first automotive brands to be established. They’re both quality brands in many regards, but when it comes to reliability, Benz rates higher.
Mercedes-Benz is more reliable than Cadillac. In the latest Consumer Reports list of reliable cars, Cadillac came in the 29th position out of 33 brands. Most of its models, such as the CTS, ATS, and Escalade had a score of 1 out of 5. In contrast, most Mercedes models had 2.5 out of 5.
Cadillac has had multiple recalls in the last decade, which may have contributed to the lower reliability score. On the contrary, Mercedes has had fewer recalls in the past decade. This doesn’t mean that all models are unreliable though.
The most reliable Cadillac model is the XT5, while the most reliable Mercedes is the E-Class.
Why is Cadillac more unreliable than Mercedes-Benz?
Cadillac is more unreliable than Mercedes due to multiple things. First of all, Cadillac is cheaply made. Secondly, it has a poor automatic transmission. And finally, it’s expensive to maintain over a long period.
Cheaply made
Cadillac may boast about its handsome and futuristic car models, but when you step inside these beauties, you might be surprised. Cadillac’s interior finish and features are nowhere close to what you see inside German luxury brands like Mercedes, Audi, or BMW.
The interior of a Cadillac looks similar to that of a Chevrolet, which happens to be its parent company. Inside the car is black shiny plastic, difficult to operate infotainment buttons, a bad infotainment system, and a low-end gear selector. All of these features may make Cadillac buyers feel cheated if they think they’re buying a luxury vehicle.
When you compare the Cadillac’s interior to that of a Benz, you will see a huge difference. Mercedes-Benz interiors are on another level. The cheap Cadillac interior breaks down faster than Benz, making it less reliable. A Mercedes interior will hold up for long as most of the parts are made since it uses exceptional materials.
Poor automatic transmission
Despite Cadillac featuring automatic transmission, it’s not on par with some of the best in the industry. This is a result of poor programming. Therefore, driving your Cadillac will not be as smooth a driving experience as in a Benz. Also, it’s easy for a poorly programmed transmission to develop different problems.
Expensive to maintain
Another reason why Cadillac is unreliable is because of its high cost of maintenance. Some of the common Cadillac issues are oil leaks, failure of front turn signal and DRL bulbs, power window regulators may fail, AC failing, and much more.
Some problems are common on certain Cadillac models. For instance, the CTS rear bezel may fall off after a few miles, while the XLR roof detaches. However, if you service your Cadillac properly, you shouldn’t have a lot to worry about.
What makes Mercedes one of the most reliable luxury cars?
Cheap to maintain
One of the biggest challenges of owning a luxury car is dealing with the expensive parts and repairs. Even though Mercedes-Benz parts aren’t cheap either, they are more affordable compared to Audi and BMW. BMW has the most expensive parts followed by Audi.
Fewer problems
Mercedes parts are slightly more expensive than Cadillac parts, but Cadillacs have more issues, making them less reliable to maintain in the long term. This is also the same case when compared to Audi or BMW. Overall, BMW is the most expensive to maintain, followed by Audi, Mercedes, and finally Cadillac.
FAQ
Which car is more reliable – Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 4 series, or Cadillac ATS?
All of these cars are very reliable, but the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the most reliable among the three models. It’s followed closely by the BMW 4 series, and finally the Cadillac ATS model. Cadillac produces some of the least reliable luxury vehicles on the market.
Is Mercedes a better car brand than Cadillac?
Yes, it is. Not only has Mercedes-Benz been in the industry for a long period, but it’s also responsible for some of the greatest engineering in the automotive world. Overall, Mercedes-Benz produces better and more powerful vehicles than Cadillac. So, even though their cars are more expensive, you get value for money.
Why are American luxury car brands (Cadillac & Lincoln) so rare in Europe?
It’s simple. Cadillac and Lincoln are not a better product than other luxurious European car brands like Mercedes, Audi and BMW. As a result, their sales are lower because the product offered does not match that of its competitors in terms of comfort, performance, reliability, and even safety.
Which car is more durable – Cadillac Escalade or Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
These two models are some of the most durable luxury car models on the market. They can easily rack up over 200,000 miles with fewer issues. Nevertheless, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still more reliable than the Cadillac Escalade.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has proven to be one of the most durable vehicles on the market, and it will stay strong even after 10 or even 20 years on the road. The close car models that compete with the S-Class in terms of durability are the Lexus LS and Lincoln Town car.
Why did Cadillac and other luxury American car brands lose the American market to Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and other foreign luxury car brands?
During the first oil shock in the late 70s and early 80s, things got bad for many American car companies and they never fully recovered. Regardless, many of the American luxury car brands such as Cadillac and Lincoln focused a lot on the adult population and forgot the upcoming generation.
On the other hand, German and other European car brands saw this gap and decided to make products that appealed to the younger generation. Additionally, most European car brands have superior engineering, better handling, more advanced safety features, and better designs.
Cadillac: Beautiful, but not reliable
Cadillac produces some of the most beautiful cars on the market. But when it comes to reliability, it’s one of the worst. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz is among the most reliable luxury car brands. The only Cadillac model that can compete with Mercedes in terms of reliability is the Cadillac XT5.
Overall, Mercedes-Benz is the better car. Cadillac may be beautifully designed and cheaper than Mercedes, but Mercedes has superior engineering and other high-end features than Cadillac. Mercedes offers comfort, style, quality, safety, and class. It’s hard for any luxury car to beat that.