If you're looking for a posh, upmarket car, BMW and Mercedes are probably the two most obvious choices.
These brands practically invented the premium segment. Their entry-level models gave regular drivers like us the chance to own something that felt a bit special – a cut above the boggo commuter boxes that fill the UK's roads.
So which deserves your cash? We'll pit BMW and Mercedes head-to-head to help you pick your favourite.
BMW vs Mercedes compared
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Design
The feature that links all BMW models is the firm's signature 'kidney' front grilles. These have formed the brand's front-end look since its first models and, over time, they've grown substantially. Beside the grilles, BMWs are usually fitted with dual-element headlights, with LED signature details to emphasise the twin light sources – these were colloquially known as 'angel eyes' in the early 2000s.
There are pros and cons to an entire model range sharing styling features. Yes, it means all BMW models are instantly recognisable from the outside, but you could also accuse the company of overusing the same interior design across too many of its models. That means you'll find broadly the same screens, dials and dashboard features on an entry-level 3 Series as you will on a top-end 5 Series costing substantially more.
Recent Mercedes models have quite rounded styling, in contrast to its older cars which used more straight lines. The upright chrome front grille that used to be a brand signature has also given way to a more modern look with the Mercedes badge in the middle of a single silver bar. Like its rival, you'll usually find intricate headlight units on Mercedes models, complete with LED signatures to give them a clear outline.
Mercedes adopted a new interior styling theme in the mid-2010s. These designs certainly looked nice in photos, but there were spots in the cabin where build quality fell short. Press or lean on the wrong piece of trim and you might hear a little creak and feel a little give under your finger. This was a bit disappointing in car bearing a Mercedes badge, although these issues have been almost entirely ironed out in more recent models.
Engines and driving
BMW and Mercedes still offer a wide choice of engine types, including regular petrol and diesel models, plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars. Neither brand currently offers a self-charging, full-hybrid model like you might find from Toyota or Honda, although both have introduced mild-hybrid technology to their standard fuel-powered engines.
None of the engines offered by either manufacturer could be described as slow. Premium buyers expect a little get-up-and-go when they press the accelerator, so even the most affordable BMW 118i or Mercedes A180 have enough power to confidently tackle a fast motorway overtake. Of course, both have an equally wide selection of high-performance cars, with BMW's M division and Mercedes' AMG unit both responsible for some of the fastest road cars you can currently buy.
BMW has sometimes branded its cars the 'Ultimate Driving Machines', and almost all its models are decently fun to drive, if not always overtly sporty. Mercedes, on the other hand, tends to set its cars up a little softer, so they might not feel as alert on a twisty road, but might flow over bumps with a little more grace. It's important to highlight, however, that these differences aren't night-and-day and depend greatly on which models you're comparing – neither brand makes cars that are bad to drive.
Price
These are premium German cars so, on a model-for-model basis, they're usually priced towards the top end of the spectrum. That also extends to factors like fuel costs, road tax and car insurance, which will be higher than most mass-market competitors, along with maintenance that will usually cost more, too.
Compared to each other, we usually find that Mercedes cars are a little more expensive than BMWs when comparing like-for-like models. The difference isn't vast but it is there – for example, an entry-level BMW 5 Series costs around £51,000, while an entry-level Mercedes E-Class starts around £55,000. This price difference sometimes lessens or vanishes completely once these vehicles hit the used market, however, so it's worth checking how much you could save by going for a one or two-year-old example.
Reliability
Recent reliability surveys have tended to favour BMW models, with Mercedes generally returning mid-table scores. As always, your car's lifespan has much more to do with how well you maintain it rather than which brand built it, so make sure you keep up with scheduled maintenance.
As for warranty coverage, there's nothing to split the two. They both offer the industry-standard three-year period with no mileage limit. Whether you buy your BMW or Mercedes as a new or used car, you can add an extended warranty for extra peace of mind once the factory coverage expires.
Which is best?
Neither brand here is clearly the 'best', but each is better suited to different kinds of drivers. BMWs are probably a little better suited to keener drivers who are going to appreciate the fine handling the brand's cars have become known for. Mercedes cars, in comparison, may be a little better suited to drivers looking for a calm and comfortable model to soothe the stress of commuting.
Read our BMW reviews or our Mercedes reviews to learn what specific models are like to live with. See how much you could save on a brand-new car by shopping used BMW and used Mercedes cars at Motorpoint.
