Mercedes-Benz has flourished over the years because of maintaining quality and coming up with innovative cars that have set the standards for luxury cars. However, some brands have also continued to improve and give Mercedes a run for their money. But who is Mercedes’s main competitor?
Mercedes’s main competitor is Audi. A decade ago, the main Mercedes competitor was BMW. In the past few years, Audi has bridged that gap and is now the closest Mercedes rival. Another close Mercedes competitor is Porsche with its excellently designed cars.
Mercedes may have close challengers, but none of these luxury car brands can be said to be better than Mercedes. That’s why Mercedes is still the leading luxury car seller in the world. In 2020, Mercedes sold over 2.2 million cars, while Volkswagen, sold under its Audi brand came in second at 1.7 million.
Here is how Mercedes compares to its closest rivals:
Mercedes-Benz VS Audi
Model variety
Despite Audi being the closest Mercedes competitor, it lacks the wide range of car varieties that Mercedes offers. Yes, Audi has some notable sedans, coupes, wagons, and SUVs, but Mercedes-Benz offers so much more. So, if you want a large pool of cars to pick from, Mercedes is the best choice.
Performance
The main selling point of Audi is its performance and technology. So, if you want a high-performing car between Audi and Mercedes, Audi is the better option. One of the reasons Audi performs better than Mercedes is that it has an all-wheel-drive system as standard, while it’s optional on Mercedes.
Reliability
Another area where Audi excels over Mercedes is reliability. According to consumer reports and JD Power, Audi is more reliable than Mercedes-Benz. Besides, Audi registers fewer problems than Mercedes. But when it comes to the cost of maintenance, Audi still lags behind.
Safety
Audi may be more reliable and performs better than Mercedes, but Mercedes is the safer car. Thanks to its highly advanced PRE-SAFE technology that can automatically stop a car when it senses an accident. Regardless, Audi is also safe as it comes with Audi Driver Assistance Package.
Price
Both Audi and Mercedes offer expensive luxury cars, but Audi is slightly cheaper than Mercedes. Nonetheless, Audi costs more to maintain than Mercedes.
Mercedes-Benz VS BMW
Model variety
Both Mercedes and BMW have a variety of car makes and models to offer. They have sedans, coupes, SUVs, and much more. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a brand with the most car variety, then it has to be BMW.
Performance
BMW cars perform better than Mercedes-Benz. Most entry-level BMWs are high-performance cars, while most Mercedes entry-level cars are not. You may have to advance to the Mercedes-AMG line to get a high-performance model.
Reliability
Audi and Porsche may be more reliable than Mercedes, but BMW isn’t. According to JD Power, BMW is among the least reliable luxury cars. Mercedes is slightly more reliable than BMW and falls slightly below average.
Safety
One of the things that put Mercedes on top of all luxury cars is safety. Mercedes is the safest luxury car on the market. It comes with PRE-SAFE technology that is unique and helpful. On the contrary, BMW comes with an iDrive, which is excellent but not close to PRE-SAFE technology.
Price
In terms of price, Mercedes is slightly costlier than BMW. But both of these cars will cost you between $40,000 and $170,000. They also have performance cars that cost more than their standard models. Hence, you should be ready to spend if you want any of these cars.
Mercedes-Benz VS Porsche
Model variety
Both of these brands are from Germany. Nevertheless, Mercedes offers more car varieties than Porsche. So, if you want to select different car makes and models, Mercedes is your ideal choice. With that said, Porsche has a wide range of sports cars to pick from.
Performance
This is one area where many luxury cars best Mercedes. Porsche is not an exception. Porsche performs better than Mercedes and it offers one of the best driving experiences. Besides, Porsche cars are known for their speed and power, which explains why they are popular in motor racing.
Reliability
Porsche is among the most reliable luxury cars on the market. In fact, Porsche is more reliable than Audi, meaning that it’s also more reliable than Mercedes. The only problem is that Porsche can be more expensive to maintain than Mercedes-Benz when it breakdowns.
Safety
Most luxury cars are equipped with some of the best safety features on the market. Mercedes and Porsche are safe and come with some of the most advanced safety systems. Nevertheless, Mercedes is safer than Porsche.
Price
When you compare similar Porsche and Mercedes-Benz models, you will find that Mercedes is slightly expensive than Porsche. Also, the cost of maintaining a Benz is higher than that of a Porsche. But when Porsche breakdowns, you may have to spend more.
FAQ
Apart from Audi, BMW, and Porsche, which other luxury car brands compete with Mercedes?
The main three Mercedes competitors are Audi, BMW, and Porsche. However, there are some brands with highly advanced and luxurious cars. They include Jaguar, Volkswagen, Aston Martin, Volvo, Ferrari, Land Rover, Bentley, Lamborghini, Lexus, Cadillac, Rolls Royce, and Bentley.
Which car is better – Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, or BMW 7-series?
All of these car models are large high-end luxury sedans. The Mercedes S-Class is the best overall car among the three. However, the Audi A8 is the best performance car, while the BMW 7-series offers the best driving experience as it has better handling than the three.
Why is Mercedes-Benz considered to be the best luxury car brand?
Mercedes-Benz is considered the best luxury car brand because of its high-tech engineering, comfortable ride, powerful engine, top-notch safety features, and excellent performance. What’s more, Mercedes is more reliable and durable than most luxury car brands.
Conclusion
The main Mercedes competitor is Audi, followed by BMW and Porsche. Even though most of these brands have some features that outperform Mercedes, Mercedes is still the best overall luxury car brand. Thanks to many years of innovation and consistency in providing “the best or nothing.”