When you think of top luxury brands, two of the most notable ones are BMW and Mercedes-Benz. These two automakers have set the tone, with others often following trends they set. So which brand is right for you?
CreditWhich German Luxury Brand is Right for You?
Two of the most notable luxury carmakers are BMW and Mercedes-Benz. These two automakers have set the tone for decades, with others often following trends that they set. Just as crucially, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have two distinct personalities.
BMW has long branded each of its vehicles as “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” bringing exhilarating performance to the everyday driving experience. The brand offers desirable performance variants and has a long connection to racing.
Mercedes-Benz has a once-dominant Formula 1 team and is no stranger to motorsport and performance. But in its road cars, comfort takes center stage. Mercedes-Benz vehicles often have the most refined interiors compared to peers.
Both brands offer the latest in-car and safety technologies as well. So which brand is right for you? We have stacked up the two luxury giants in every vehicle segment and broad areas such as performance, reliability and safety.
CreditLuxury Sports Cars
Winner: BMW
Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz offer multiple sports cars, but go about things differently. The BMW Z4 is the only true roadster in the mix, offering fun driving, two seats and a retractable cloth top. Mercedes-Benz used to offer a similarly nimble roadster, called the SLC, but discontinued it in 2020.
Aside from the Z4, the BMW 8-Series is a high-end performance car and is offered in coupe, convertible and four-door coupe body styles. This is similar to the Mercedes-AMG GT, which is offered in the same style. Mercedes has updated the SL-Class to be a full four-door convertible, though neither the SL nor the GT offers the same tier of performance and luxury as the 8-Series, especially when selected in the high-speed M8 model.
