America Was Taken Advantage of With These Overpriced Mercedes Models
Mercedes-Benz is synonymous with precision engineering and some of the finest luxury you'll ever experience in a vehicle. But how many models are really worth their weight in gold? Let's find out.
2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS
Mercedes-Benz’s own line of fully-electric vehicles offers a wealth of advanced features, sublime comfort, and plenty of space - provided, of course, that you’re willing to mortgage your house to buy and maintain the darn thing. Even then, the EQS only retains around 40% of its value after 5 years.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQE
Standing right next to the EQS, the EQE offers more of the same as that vehicle, with sleek, futuristic styling and innovative technology, like its MBUX infotainment system. Just like that other car, however, it’s debatable as to whether the EQE actually justifies its exorbitant price tag.
2024 Mercedes-Benz G580
The G580 is the all-electric version of the classic G-Class, a model that’s been in production in some form or another since the 70s. While the addition of electric motors isn’t a bad idea in theory, in practice, the G580 was considered a total failure due to its abysmal range and performance, and made even worse by its ludicrous asking price.
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS
The CLS enjoyed a twenty-year run before its eventual discontinuation in 2023. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, however, especially since most owners agreed that what you got in terms of space, performance, and features didn’t always match the price you paid for them.
2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA‑Class
The main thing that set the CLA-Class apart from other Mercedes-Benz sedans was its styling, which featured a smooth, aerodynamic design and a coupe-like profile. Beyond that, however, it offered little else but still commanded a huge price tag.
2015 Mercedes‑AMG G65
Off-road vehicles tend to be hit or miss for brands like Mercedes, which largely rely on their prestige alone, rather than their performance. The Mercedes‑AMG G65 cost well over $200,000 when it was first released, with most of the cost covering the illustrious Mercedes badge and not much else - most drivers didn’t even make use of its off-road capabilities.
2007 Mercedes‑Benz W221 S‑Class
The fifth generation of Mercedes’ flagship nameplate brought with it loads of new features and performance options that vastly improved upon its predecessor. But while these additions were welcome, their implementation left much to be desired, considering that their complexity demanded high maintenance costs and plenty of downtime to get running.
2006 Mercedes-Benz R‑Class
The R-Class was a misfire from the get-go, a fruitless attempt at blending luxury saloon, MPV, and SUV characteristics. Fans of those categories couldn’t find a whole lot to like about the R-Class, especially when you considered its ridiculous asking price,
2015 Mercedes-Benz C300
Part of Mercedes’ long-running C-Class, the 2015 C300 initially showed much promise, but once drivers actually got their hands on it, the terrible reality set in. The C300 was unreliable and prone to numerous issues, leading to plenty of recalls. Most agreed that what they received in the end wasn’t worth the price they paid at the beginning.
1995 Mercedes-Benz W210 E‑Class
Although its sleeker, curvier design was a welcome change of pace from the previous generation, the 1995 W210 E-Class was prone to severe reliability issues, supposedly due to cost-cutting methods employed in its manufacturing, which was completely unbefitting of the badge’s prestige and luxury status.
2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC
The GLC may be a best-seller, but that hasn’t stopped many drivers from regretting their purchase after a few months of ownership. Most of that comes down to the vehicle’s huge price tag in relation to the scant offering of features that you could find in a cheaper vehicle, anyway.
2006 Mercedes‑Benz GLS
The supposed “S-Class of SUVs” suffers from a bad case of depreciation. It’s not that it’s a bad vehicle, per se, with its abundance of space and features, but more that you’ll inevitably be losing more than you gain.
2007 Mercedes‑Benz GLE
Smaller than the GLS but still just as popular, the GLE is another luxury SUV offering from Mercedes, boasting a blend of comfort, style, and off-road capabilities. Just like the GLS, however, the GLE loses over half of its value in just five years, causing many drivers to wonder whether it was worth its exorbitant price in the first place.
2013 Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class
Mercedes-Benz’s flagship model isn’t without its flaws. While it’s undoubtedly stylish, luxurious, and innovative in terms of features, actually maintaining the S-Class is a lengthy and expensive endeavor that will often leave you wishing you’d opted for a different car instead.
2022 Mercedes‑Benz EQB
The EQB is one of Mercedes’ newer electric vehicles, offering a similar experience to the EQS and EQE but at a lower price. Still, while it’s definitely more “affordable” compared to its siblings, you’ll still end up paying for more than what you actually received, while contending with plummeting depreciation rates.
2022 Mercedes‑Benz E‑Class
The E-Class may not be as popular as the S-Class, but it comes pretty close while still offering a luxurious experience - provided, of course, that you’re also willing to put up with its pricey maintenance demands and terrible resale value.
2019 Mercedes‑Benz SL‑Class
Arguably one of Mercedes’ best-looking models, the 2019 SL-Class boasts a rich racing heritage and sporty good looks to match. However, actually owning the thing will have you paying far more than you probably expected to, without any guarantee of making much back if you ever decide to sell due to its poor resale value.
2022 Mercedes‑Benz SL‑550
The SL-550 is one of Mercedes’ most expensive trims, and also one of its worst in terms of depreciation. The car is luxurious, don’t get us wrong, but it loses over 60% of its total value in just five years.
2015 Mercedes‑Benz AMG GT
A true sports car in every sense of the word, the Mercedes‑Benz AMG GT is a two-door coupe with high-performance capabilities and a high price to match. Less exciting is its steep depreciation rates, which leave many drivers lamenting over the money they lost.
2021 Mercedes‑Benz Maybach S580
The Maybach is essentially an even more luxurious version of the S-Class, featuring a longer wheelbase and even more advanced features. It commands a high price tag, and it’s dubious as to whether it actually deserves it.
2022 Mercedes‑Benz GLA
The GLA is one of Mercedes’ most economically-friendly models, an entry-level luxury SUV with a few premium touches here and there. Of course, this is Mercedes we’re talking about, and their idea of “economically-friendly” doesn’t match other brands that can match the GLA’s features and performance at a lower cost.
2020 Mercedes‑Benz GLS 580
A higher trim of the standard GLS, the 580 features more powerful performance and features than its base model. Unfortunately, like many executive trim levels, the 580 depreciates much faster than other variants.
2020 Mercedes‑Benz GLE 53
Just like our previous entry, there’s no doubt as to the GLE 53’s luxury status, with its high-tech cabin and consummate sense of style. Also, just like our previous entry, it depreciates at an alarming rate and is incredibly expensive to maintain.
2021 Mercedes‑Benz SL 63
A luxury roadster boasting powerful engine options and exotic styling (both inside and outside), the Mercedes‑Benz SL 63 definitely looks like an expensive car, but its true price is even more alarming when you consider its high maintenance and insurance costs.
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series
The Black Series was a limited production track-focused grand tourer that may have been one of the brand’s most powerful vehicles ever. Its exclusivity is ultimately a bad thing for drivers, though, once you factor in sky-high insurance premiums and maintenance costs.
2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63
A high-performance SUV with coupe-like styling that lends it an even more luxurious aura, the GLE63 is designed for daily driving, but its high running costs are likely enough to persuade most drivers otherwise.
2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63
Even larger than the previous model, the GLS63 offers an otherwise similarly luxurious experience and premium comfort levels for up to 7 passengers. Just like the previous model, though, the GLS63 suffers from high running costs that will make you want to store it away rather than actually drive the darn thing.
2012 Mercedes-Benz W204 C63 AMG
This far into our list, it feels almost silly to say that just because these cars are expensive, it doesn't mean they're bad. The W204 C63 AMG, for example, is considered by many to be a “living legend” of sorts, but depreciation rates really dissuade people from buying it.
2023 Mercedes-AMG E63 S
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG E63 S offers a “driver-focused” experience with its supercar levels of performance and luxury car levels of, well, luxury. That said, it falls into the same traps as other expensive Mercedes models, namely steep depreciation and expensive maintenance that undermine its luxury status, and invalidate its high price.
2016 Mercedes‑Benz SLK
2016 was the final year that the SLK was called the SLK. Unfortunately, its immediate replacement rendered it obsolete, reducing a great car with a high price tag to a great car with shocking resale value.
2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC
Unfortunately, the SLK’s successor didn’t fare much better. While it still offered the same levels of sophistication drivers had come to expect, it sold poorly due to its high cost and low value.
2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
The M-Class was a terrific vehicle in its day before being replaced by the GLE, but time hasn’t been kind to it in terms of resale value, with many of its features also being costly to maintain. In hindsight, many drivers would have probably chosen a vehicle with more longevity.
2005 Mercedes‑Benz B‑Class
The B-Class was one of Mercedes’ cheaper models, and many people quickly caught onto the fact that it was essentially just a hatchback with a premium badge slapped onto it, failing to justify its price.
2025 Mercedes-Maybach S680
The 2025 Mercedes-Maybach S680 represents the pinnacle of luxury in the S-Class lineup, an opulent, elegant vehicle featuring its own champagne flutes and dual folding tables, as well as a handcrafted V12 engine. It’s the most expensive model in Mercedes’ lineup - but whether it’s actually worth the price is a matter of debate.
