If you’re looking for a luxurious car to buy, there’s a high probability that Tesla and Mercedes are on your list. But which brand of a car should you select?
Both Tesla and Mercedes produce high-quality and luxurious vehicles that people have fallen in love with. However, these two brands vary a lot since Tesla only makes electric cars. If you’re looking for the best luxurious electric car brand, go with Tesla. But if you want class and reliability in a classic luxury vehicle, pick Mercedes-Benz.
To make things easier for buyers, we selected two base models and two high-end models from both brands. These include the Tesla Model 3 vs. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Tesla Model S P100D vs. Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S. Below is a head-to-head comparison of these exceptional luxury models.
Tesla Model 3 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Design
Tesla Model 3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class both lack the sophisticated look of their high-end models. However, this doesn’t mean that these cars are not appealing. In terms of exterior design, the Mercedes C-Class has a small edge over Tesla.
When it comes to the interior, it depends more on your taste and preferences as both models are luxuriously made. The C-Class is slightly more typically luxurious than the Tesla Model 3 because this Tesla model comes with a minimalist design.
Performance
These two cars perform well, even though they are a world apart. The Tesla Model 3 is powered by electricity, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is powered by gas. The C-Class has a 9-speed automatic transmission, while the Tesla Model 3 has a single-speed automatic transmission.
The C-Class comes with a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 engine or a 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6 engine. The Tesla Model 3 has a 50-kWh battery that has a range of approximately 220 miles (350 km). There is also a 75-kWh battery version that can make it about 310 miles (500 km).
When it comes to efficiency, the Tesla Model 3 is more efficient than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The C-Class has a fuel efficiency of 23 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. On the other hand, Tesla Model 3 has an efficiency of 148 MPGe in the city and 132 MPGe on the highway.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, the Mercedes C-Class has more comfortable seats, but Tesla is more spacious. The Tesla Model 3 has more headroom, legroom, and shoulder room than the C-Class. Additionally, Tesla’s trunk volume is 15 cubic feet, while that of Mercedes is 12.6 cubic feet.
The interior of the Mercedes C-Class is more technologically advanced than that of Tesla, thanks to unique features like the 64-color ambient lighting system and excellent finishes. However, the C-Class has low-quality leather seats, which can feel “plasticky.”
Safety
The good thing about most luxury cars is that they are very safe. That’s the same case with both the Tesla Model 3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Both of these cars have a crash test safety rating of at least four stars, which is exceptional.
Price
From our comparison, it’s clear that Mercedes-Benz C-Class has a slight edge over the Tesla Model 3 in many categories. And that’s why it’s also slightly more expensive. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class goes for around $41,500, while the Tesla Model 3 goes for around $39,900.
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Tesla Model S P100D VS. Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S
Design
When it comes to appearance, both the Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S and Tesla Model S P100D are beautiful vehicles. The Mercedes AMG E63 S boasts of big, well-styled LD calipers and a sporty look. On the contrary, Tesla has wide body lines and a clean body.
Overall, both cars look excellent and classy with next-level interiors, but Mercedes comes with a more advanced interior than Tesla. The Benz has a sporty and elegant look that Tesla lacks.
Performance
Performance-wise, both of these cars are superfast and easy to handle. However, Tesla Model S is slightly faster. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. This is way faster than the Mercedes AMG E-class, which takes 3.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph.
The main difference is that the Tesla Model S P100D is powered by electricity, while the Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 is powered by a handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 bi-turbo engine. On top of that, it has a 9-speed transmission, while the Tesla Model S has a one-speed automatic transmission.
Comfort
Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S is more comfortable than the Tesla Model S. Thanks to high-quality features found in the Benz that include the three-spoke steering wheel, power front seats with memory, and active multi-contour front seats. However, the Tesla Model S is more spacious than the AMG E63 S.
Safety
Whether it’s Tesla Model S or Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S, both of these cars are very safe. Mercedes boasts of features like attention assist, active lane change assists, active blind spot assist, and many more. Tesla comes with six airbags, rollover sensors, stability & traction controls, and emergency power disconnect.
Price
The Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S and Tesla Model S P100D are very expensive. The E63 costs around $253,900, while the Tesla Model S costs around $118,600. If you’re not ready to spend huge amounts, then you should stick to the more reasonably priced Mercedes-Benz C-Class or Tesla Model 3.
Comparing Mercedes and Tesla
Which car is more expensive to maintain – Tesla or Mercedes?
One of the greatest advantages of owning a Tesla is that they are quite cheap to maintain. That’s not the same with Mercedes-Benz. If you have a Benz and the warranty runs out, you will feel the pain of maintenance and repairs.
Which car is more reliable – Mercedes or Tesla?
Both of these cars are reliable, but in the long run, Tesla is more reliable than Mercedes. Tesla cars are covered by an 8-year or 120,000- to 150,000-mile warranty. On the other hand, Mercedes only comes with a 48-month or 50,000-mile warranty.
Are Tesla and Mercedes “rich people’s cars”?
Even though both of these brands are luxury brands, not all of their cars are designed for wealthy people only. Yes, it’s true that most Mercedes and Tesla vehicles are pricey. However, some models are more affordable with less luxurious features.
Apart from Tesla and Mercedes-Benz, which other cars are considered prestigious?
Mercedes-Benz is regarded by many as the most prestigious luxury car brand on the market and Tesla has positioned itself as the car of the future. However, there are also other notable car brands such as BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Audi, and Lexus.
The bottom line
Overall, Tesla and Mercedes are two exceptional luxury car brands that vary in many ways. If you’re looking for the best electric luxury car, Tesla is the best. But if you want prestige, reliability, and comfort, Mercedes-Benz is still the leader. However, the final choice depends on your preference and budget.
