BMW vs. Mercedes: Battle of the Brands in 2017

Which German Luxury Brand Is Best for You in 2017?

They are the two juggernauts of luxury: BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Both automakers are steeped in history and come at luxury from a different approach. BMW has been self-described as the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” while Mercedes has long been synonymous with the ultimate in comfort.

In truth, these two brands have been moving from their time-honored roles in the luxury market, inching toward one another. For example, BMW has adopted electronic steering to become more comfortable, while Mercedes-Benz has started to more actively pursue performance. This is evidenced by the growth in the number of Mercedes-AMG cars, including the red-hot AMG GT coupe and convertible.

But which brand is best for you? We break down the safety, reliability, and performance of the entire lineup, and we compare cars head-to-head. Read on to learn where each brand excels, and which luxury car might be right for you.

Reliability

Winner: Mercedes-Benz (Details Below)

J.D. Power and Associates releases a brand dependability study every year. Their rankings are based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles each manufacturer has. Mercedes-Benz snuck into the top 5 of the 2017 study with 131 problems per 100 vehicles. BMW came in two spots below Mercedes, with 139 problems per 100 vehicles. 

• Read the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Full Review
• See 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Photos
• See Luxury Midsize Cars Rankings

Safety

Winner: BMW (Details Below)

Both brands have many recently updated or redesigned models, thus those vehicles do not yet have a rating for safety.

The Mercedes-Benz models that do have scores include the C-Class (9.3 out of 10), the GLE (9.7), and the E-Class (a perfect 10). BMW has two perfect 10s: the 2 Series and the X1. The unique i3 is right on their tail, with a safety score of 9.9, followed by the X3, with a score of 9.7.

• Read the 2017 BMW 2-Series Full Review
• See 2017 BMW 2-Series Photos
• See Luxury Small Cars Rankings

Performance

Winner: BMW (Details Below)

As we said before, BMW has been edging toward comfort in recent years, and Mercedes-Benz has been making a renewed push toward performance. But through the scores, it’s clear that BMW is still the performance brand.

The BMW X4 and 3 Series both earn a performance score of 8.8. The 2 Series and X6 both earn 8.9 performance scores, and the 4 Series and X5 both earn performance scores of 9.0. The 5 Series is the top-scoring BMW from a performance perspective, with 9.1 points.

For Mercedes-Benz, the S-Class sedan has the highest performance score (9.2), followed by the SL and CLS at 8.9. The S-Class might have the best score of all of them, but BMW has an overwhelming armada of high-scoring performance machines.

• Read the 2017 BMW X4 Full Review
• See 2017 BMW X4 Photos
• See Luxury Compact SUVs Rankings

Interiors

Winner: Mercedes-Benz (Details Below)

When it comes to interiors, the perception is that Mercedes-Benz has the edge in spades. Take one look at the S-Class or E-Class, and you see a master class in cabin comfort and style – earning 9.2 and 8.9, respectively.

But where the top cars are far and away Mercedes-Benz vehicles, so are the worst. The subcompact CLA earns a lackluster 6.7 in U.S. News & World Report rankings.

BMW's lineup tends to hover between 7.5 and 8.4, and while the same can largely be said for Mercedes, the SL, GLS, GLE, GLC, and C-Class all have scores of 8.5 or better. 

• Read the 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Full Review
• See 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Photos
• See Luxury Large Cars Rankings

Price

Winner: Tie (Details Below)

When it comes to price, the CLA beats the 2 Series ($32,400 and $33,150, respectively). In the venerable small sedan segment, the BMW 3 Series beats out the C-Class ($33,450 vs. $39,500, respectively).

For midsize cars, the BMW 5 Series ($51,200) beats out the Mercedes-Benz E-Class ($52,150) on price. The luxury subcompact SUV GLA ($32,850) starts at a lower price than the BMW X1 ($33,750). As compact luxury SUVs go, the GLC ($39,150) is slightly more affordable than the BMW X3 ($40,050).

When you start to get above these vehicles in terms of price and size, you get into some serious luxury territory. Price may not matter as much as the other comparative attributes on this list.

• Read the 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Full Review
• See 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Photos
• See Luxury Small Cars Rankings

Small Car Rankings

Winner: BMW (Details Below)

We open the head-to-head matchups with rare tag-team match. In U.S. News & World Report luxury small car rankings, both compact and smaller vehicles are represented.

In one corner, you have the BMW 2 Series and 3 Series. In the other corner, you have the Mercedes-Benz CLA and C-Class. The C-Class and 3 Series both earn an 8.7 overall score, as both offer potent engines and a composed ride.

Move to the smaller cars, and the CLA is exposed as an inferior vehicle, with an overall score of 7.8. The 2 Series might be smaller than the 3 Series, but it maintains the same overall score of 8.7 points.

• Read the 2017 BMW 3-Series Full Review
• See 2017 BMW 3-Series Photos
• See Luxury Small Cars Rankings

Midsize Car Rankings

Winner: Mercedes-Benz (Details Below)

The E-Class is available as a sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible. At its core, the sedan provides an incredible blend of comfort and performance. It also boasts an extensive list of active safety technology.

Meanwhile, the 5 Series comes in right behind the E-Class in our rankings. It is safe, has above-average reliability, and is one of the more fun-to-drive cars in the luxury midsize car class.

• Read the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Full Review
• See 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Photos
• See Luxury Midsize Cars Rankings

Large Sedan Rankings

Winner: Mercedes-Benz (Details Below)

The BMW 7 Series is an exceptional upscale sedan, with powerful engines offering as much as 600 horsepower, spacious seats, and ample trunk space.

But it's no match for the top performer in U.S. News & World Report’s super luxury car rankings, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

• Read the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Full Review
• See 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Photos
• See Super Luxury Cars Rankings

Subcompact SUV Rankings

Winner: BMW (Details Below)

As luxury subcompact SUVs go, the BMW X1 is the top option. The Mercedes-Benz GLA comes in second in that segment.

The X1 has terrific cargo and passenger space for its size and boasts athletic handling. The GLA also has spry handling but lacks the cargo space and rear-seat room.

• Read the 2017 BMW X1 Full Review
• See 2017 BMW X1 Photos
• See Luxury Subcompact SUVs Rankings

Compact SUV Rankings

Winner: Tie (Details Below)

The BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC are tied in U.S. News & World Report luxury compact SUV rankings.

The X3 features an upgraded iDrive infotainment system, plenty of cargo room, and a high-quality interior. The GLC features an elegant, comfortable interior and a quiet, refined ride.

• Read the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Full Review
• See 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Photos
• See Luxury Compact SUVs Rankings

Midsize SUV Rankings

Winner: BMW (Details Below)

The BMW X5 ranks fourth among all luxury midsize SUVs in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, with plenty of powerful engine options, sharp handling, and exceptionally spacious front seats.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE has plenty of cargo space and great safety scores, but its poor visibility and clunky start-stop system hold it back. 

• Read the 2017 BMW X5 Full Review
• See 2017 BMW X5 Photos
• See Luxury Midsize SUVs Rankings

And the Winner Is …

BMW (Details Below)

As you might expect, these two historic brands are highly competitive in just about every metric we examined. You can see this with ties in reliability, price, and compact SUV rankings.

BMW has the edge when it comes to safety, performance, and more of the head-to-head matchups. The X1, X5, 2 Series, and 3 Series all provide the edge to give BMW the advantage among the two. Look at the entire model lineups for BMW and Mercedes-Benz and you’ll see this advantage play out. 

• Read the 2016 BMW Z4 Full Review
• See 2016 BMW Z4 Photos
• See Luxury Sports Cars Rankings

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

If you’re looking to get a great deal on one of these German luxury cars, head over to our Mercedes-Benz deals and BMW deals pages. If you’re thinking about a different vehicle, be sure to look at our best lease deals and financing deals pages. There, we’ve compiled a list of all the best incentives manufacturers are currently offering.

Once you’re ready to buy, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find dealers in your area that are offering the lowest prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.