Tesla vs. Mercedes: A Complete Brand Comparison
For many car enthusiasts, Tesla and Mercedes represent the pinnacle of auto engineering and technological luxury. Both stand at the top of their respective markets and make some of the best cars on the market today, but neither offers particularly cheap cars. If you’re looking for a new daily driver, you might have to choose between the two manufacturers, and a simple breakdown of each might help make your buying decision easier. If you’re comparing Tesla vs. Mercedes, how do the two brands stack up?
Tesla vs. Mercedes: Prestige
Tesla and Mercedes are two of the largest and most successful car manufacturers of the 21st century. Both companies are famous for their innovation and success in the international markets, but both achieved that success in very different ways.
Mercedes was built off the back of the Benz Motorwagen made and patented by Karl Benz in 1886. Benz, together with Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, Emil Jellinek, marketed the first Mercedes Automobile in 1901 under Diamler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. They targeted the royal families and affluent New-world titans of industry like Rockefeller, Astor, Morgan, and Taylor.
Over the years, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft became Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Maybach, and Diamler AMG and contributed to the auto-manufacturing with world-class gas and diesel engines, airbags, ABS, Safety Cells, and robust interior styling. Recently, Mercedes has turned their attention to automotive electronic systems, integrating sensors, AI, and software to deliver a world-class driving experience.
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While Mercedes has not made their market capitalization public, experts estimate they are worth over $64 billion and sell, on average, over 2.4 million car units between their 6 major model lines.
Compared to Mercedes, Tesla has a far more exciting and meteoric rise. Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla Motor is an electric vehicle company named after the inventor and Electrical Engineer Nikola Tesla.
Tesla rose to prominence when it showed its first car, the Tesla Roadster, to a close group of 350 investors on July 19, 2006. The Tesla Roadster used the chassis of a Lotus Elise; an AC propulsions drive train and a battery pack. Through multiple funding rounds, they gathered over $100 million, and by 2008, they’d delivered 178 cars to investors and buyers.
In 2012, they released the Model S, Model X in 2015, Model 3 in 2017, Model Y in 2019, and a refresh of the Model S called the Model S Plaid in 2021. Tesla’s electric cars corner about 23% of the Electric vehicle market. Their Model 3 is the first electric vehicle to sell over 1 million units, and in 2021 alone, they managed to sell over 2.3 million units. Tesla is currently valued at over $1 trillion as of writing. They owe much of its success to their eccentric billionaire co-founder Elon Musk and their ground-breaking software and systems. Tesla’s EV cars are some of the fastest on the road and offer autopilot and self-driving features for new drivers.
Tesla vs. Mercedes: Performance and Technology
Throughout their histories, Mercedes and Tesla have largely dedicated themselves to the same goals—improving their customer’s driving experience through innovation. When comparing Tesla vs. Mercedes, who’s done it better so far?
On the performance end of things, Tesla is somewhat superior despite being in their second decade of motor manufacturing. Their permanent magnet motors are a cut above the motors of their competitors. They can instantly pick up on driver inputs and accelerate faster than most modern sports cars. Their latest luxury car, the Tesla Model S Plaid, does 0-60 mph in 1.99 seconds flat and generates 1020 horsepower.
Mercedes, on the other hand, cannot match that sort of acceleration both on their EQS luxury car and their regular top-of-the-line Model S. Only their AMG models can keep up with the speed and acceleration of the Tesla Model S Plaid.
Tesla and Mercedes are somewhat neck and neck on the technology front. Both feature immersive screens on their flagship sedans (Tesla Model S Plain and Mercedes S-class EQs) and self-driving technology. Their cars are aerodynamic, with outstanding infotainment systems that integrate advanced Google mapping, vehicle control, and driving modes.
However, Mercedes pulls ahead in comparison with their slew of electronic features like an onboard virtual assistant, personalized temperature control, and interior ambient lighting, but lose out to Tesla because of its sluggish software.
Either choice will set you back significantly but will be ultimately worth it for the premium driving experience.
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Tesla vs. Mercedes: Price
Most Tesla and Mercedes-Benz cars are particularly affordable, compared to the larger landscape of modern luxury vehicles. Comparing Tesla vs. Mercedes in the area of price, which brand offers the most bang for your buck?
The cheapest Mercedes commercial class you’ll find costs about $35,000 for their entry-level 2022 A-class sedan. Tesla’s current cheapest offering is the Model 3 for $44,000. On the higher end, their Model S Plaid starts at $114,000, while the Mercedes S-class goes on sale for $110,850. The EQS starts a bit lower at $103,360.
Tesla vs. Mercedes: Model Line up
Mercedes and Tesla use a somewhat basic classification structure, separating their cars into various model categories to help consumers and enthusiasts differentiate easily.
Tesla’s sports car division is the Roadster, the Model X is their luxury SUV, the Model Y and 3 are commercial cars, and the Model S is their luxury Sedan line. Tesla targets all the big motorist markets and provides strong, if somewhat limited, options.
In comparison, Mercedes offers far more options and appeals to the established car industry and the newly emerging EV market. Counting Benz, AMG, and Daimler AG, Mercedes offers over 12 models, excluding Hypercars like the AMG One. Mercedes has Hatchbacks, SUVs, Luxury Sedans, Trucks, Supercars, Electric vehicle versions of their popular cars, and even Vans.
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Tesla vs. Mercedes: Maintenance, Repair, and Warranty
Maintenance and Repair are very different from Tesla and Mercedes cars. Maintaining an electric car from Tesla is very different from a gas or diesel-engine car. Tesla’s don’t require routine maintenance, and according to word from the company, should be brought in “as needed.“
Between running on electricity and operating on motors, not a single-engine, there is very little that can go wrong with an EV. Although the company does recommend regular tire rotations, brake fluid checks, air conditioning services, and cabin air filter checks, it can take 1-3 years before a Tesla requires a serious repair. And when that does happen, the car automatically informs the user of the fault via the infotainment system and recommends scheduling a checkup at a local center.
Warranty on Tesla cars is fairly generous too. Tesla readily provides:
- New Vehicle Limited Warranty (4 years)
- Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty (Up to 8 years or 120,000 miles)
- Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty
- Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty, Parts, Body,
- Paint Limited Warranty for repairs
- Optional Extended service warranty.
Mercedes-Benz cars, in contrast, are notoriously difficult to maintain and repair, and their electric cars seemingly are the only exception to this rule. They offer no free maintenance package upon purchase but do compensate with a prepaid maintenance plan that cuts the cost of repair by up to 30% for routine maintenance. Without it, car owners should expect to pay somewhere between $1000 or more depending on the type of car they drive.
Their electric cars don’t need bi-yearly maintenance as their gas engine cars do. Mercedes warranties also somewhat mirror Tesla’s, providing the standard 4-year new vehicle coverage and Powertrain, but differ with Extended warranties and a special Electrical Component warranty on their EQS cars which covers 10 years or 155,000 miles. When comparing Tesla vs. Mercedes in terms of maintenance, expect a lot more upkeep on a Mercedes.
Tesla vs. Mercedes: The Bottom Line
The choice between a Mercedes and a Tesla is not an easy one, especially when you stack their electric vehicles side-by-side. Tesla delivers sporty performance and software, and Mercedes provides unparalleled comfort and new technology.
Ultimately, we think that Mercedes is better suited for car enthusiasts who either want to enjoy the best a gas engine can provide on the road or have a taste for luxury and class. Tesla cars are better for tech enthusiasts—people who are passionate about green energy and are looking for something different.
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