Gift-giving has a way of making people think bigger. Socks and sweaters are probably the go-to expected gifts to go under the tree, but if you’re thinking outside the living room, maybe to the driveway, why not really make a statement? You could play it safe, with a brand-new entry-level economy car that’s predictable and efficient, but about as exciting as … well … socks and sweaters, or you can go big and put a star on your gift that will shine as brightly as the one atop the tree.
Carrying an air of occasion that no bargain-basement car can fake, a Mercedes-Benz may be beyond many people’s budgets, and especially gift-giving budgets, but the Mercedes new-model pricing strategy that shines a spotlight on technology, luxury, and prestige, changes to a guiding light after a few years. Like an archaeologist at a legendary dig, depreciation chips away at the inflated new-Mercedes premium while leaving the solid engineering, traditional craftsmanship, and driving experience untouched. Come 2026, here is a selection of newly-affordable Mercedes-Benz used models.
2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $31,783
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450 was the entry point in a flagship range that at the time carried MSRPs in six-figure territory. It rewarded buyers with a level of luxury few rivals could match—think sumptuous leather, adaptive suspension that turned wrinkled pavement into satin, cutting-edge tech for its day, and that sense of occasion every time you slid behind the wheel. It’s no wonder it’s so widely featured in film to instantly convey a sense of societal importance.
Reliability Score: 84/100
Owner-based ratings from J.D. Power show the Mercedes-Benz S-Class scoring well for quality and long-term ownership, placing it above many peers from America, Europe, and Japan. Maintenance costs for luxury cars, and the large premium class in particular, trend higher than just about any other class, averaging above $1,000 per year. Upkeep costs are expected to top $12,500 over 10 years, and there is a 33% chance it will require a major repair in that time.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,076 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,685 (CarEdge)
- 2019 Recalls: 13
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2000
2020 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $28,985
A nice, affordable sedan, the Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic sits squarely in that sweet spot where executive sedan refinement overlaps real-world comfort. With a twin-turbo V-6 and all-wheel drive underpinning a cabin that at the time carried a $62,545 price tag (the sedan was the lowest priced E 450, which also included coupe, convertible, and wagon bodystyles). It delivers a level of luxury that few non-flagship sedans can match, with a plush-leather interior that oozes class from every pore.
Reliability Score: 83/100
Owner ratings peg the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class line as having “Great” ratings on every trait, signifying that owners generally encountered fewer problems than average. RepairPal and CarEdge paint a ownership-cost picture that’s about average for its segment, but slightly above overall, with the former projecting average annual costs nearing $1,100 and the latter estimating 10-year costs at nearly $12,000 (which is 20-percent higher than the average luxury sedan.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,079 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $11,817 (CarEdge)
- 2020 Recalls: 15
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2005
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4Matic
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $28,402
The last of the first generation that was added to the Mercedes stable in 2016, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic stands as a luxury compact that is a worthy entry in the compact SUV segment, if you’re willing to spend a bit more. New, it carried a price tag that started at about the level of mainstream rivals’ top tiers, and today offers premium refinement, a roomy cabin, tech that seemed a cut above but is now mostly accepted, and that three-pointed-star swagger.
Reliability Score: 82/100
On the reliability front, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC is mostly average, though it creeps into “Great” territory in J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability owners’ ratings. It also returns decent long-term dependability and expected ownership costs, with RepairPal pegging its annual maintenance and repair costs in the lower to mid $1,000 range, and CarEdge projecting over $15,000 in upkeep costs over its first decade of service, with a 44-percent chance of its facing a major repair in that term.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,010 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $15,203 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 2
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2016
2016 Mercedes-Benz C 63 S AMG
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $28,227
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 63 S AMG was the bruiser of the C-Class lineup, topping the performance-infused line with an MSRP of $76,715—not pocket change, by any means, but many would argue that it was well worth its asking price. For that price, you got a handcrafted AMG V-8 and all the performance hardware that contributed to the C-Class’s success in the DTM racing series—that’s a heck of a bargain for just over $28,000, today.
Reliability Score: 83/100
When you’re ridden hard, you tend to display a lot of aches and pains, and for the AMG-enhanced 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, that comes with a price reflected in insurance premiums. RepairPal estimates an annual upkeep bill bordering on $1,200, and CarEdge pegs the M-B 10-year costs at about $13,000, though AMG models tend to rack up another $1,000 or so for premium parts and specialized repairs. As with other Mercedes models, the chance of a major repair is in the 40% range.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,117 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942+ (CarEdge)
- 2016 Recalls: 14
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2014 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $24,946
As with the newer generation you just read about, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG was the sort of car that made you forget about budgetary constraints, thanks to its big and brawny V-8 that delivered a piston-quick punch that floored you more quickly than Jake Paul. Unlike the later generation, the 2014 C-Class was available as a coupe, with the top-level Edition 507 priced from $73,425 (the equivalent sedan carried a $1,300 premium). Priced today around $25,000, it’s an absolute blast for handcrafted luxury and performance.
Reliability Score: 86/100
The difference in the J.D. Power Quality & Reliability ratings between the 2016 and 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are generational, with former’s being one of the first years of the generation (when all the “new and improved” kinks are coming to light), and the latter’s being the last of its generation (when whatever niggles were present in the early years had been mostly worked out). Still, ownership costs are very similar between the two, and you should plan for $1,000–$1,200 yearly.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,077 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942+ (CarEdge)
- 2014 Recalls: 6
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Wagon
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $23,040
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been a versatile line from its inception, with coupe, convertible, sedan, and wagon body styles available for most generations. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG is noted for its wagon body style, for family-minded buyers who don’t have to give up a wagon’s space and versatility just because they want premium luxury and performance. Of note is that the only AMG C-Class models that model year were the sedan and wagon, though the line did also have a coupe and convertible.
Reliability Score: 88/100
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is generally regarded as one of the more reliable M-B models, perhaps because it serves such a large segment, especially in Europe, where it doesn’t carry as much of the middle-class prestige as it does in America. It’s also a more expensive model to maintain, and the AMG goodies also bring with them further jabs to the ownership budget. RepairPal projects annual costs in the $1,500 range, and CarEdge estimates 10-year costs in the $12,000 range, with a 32.6% chance of major repairs.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,494 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $11,817+ (CarEdge)
- 2012 Recalls: 7
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 550
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $22,488
For pretty much all its life, the Mercedes-Benz SL has been the quintessential luxury two-seater. It commanded a six-figure MSRP in 2013, reaching into the $215,000 level for the 625-hp twin turbo V-12, performance-tuned SL 65 AMG. Most buyers, however, will be satisfied with the “entry-level” 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 550’s 429-hp twin turbo V-8, and the long-distance, smooth-riding manners and soft-leather comfort that come with a grand-touring two-seat convertible.
Reliability Score: 83/100
The Mercedes-Benz SL is not a cheap car to maintain, cramming a lot of performance components into as small a footprint as it can muster. Still, its reliability record indicates that it’s mostly put together dependably, and owners seem overwhelmingly satisfied with their roadsters. RepairPal pegs its average annual costs at just over $1,000, which is not at all bad for a halo convertible that sits comfortably high in the prestige factor and has owners paying what they may for the privilege of driving it.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,034 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942+ (CarEdge)
- 2013 Recalls: 4
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2003
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 350d
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $20,145
If you’re looking for something a little different, there’s the diesel-powered 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 350d, which bore a starting MSRP of just over $70,000 to provide the entry-point to the large SUV line (which also included twin-turbo V-6 and V-8 variations). The diesel V-6 engine provides better fuel efficiency (23 mpg combined, versus the GLS 450’s 19) and superior range estimated at 581 miles (compared to the 450’s 502).
Reliability Score: 81/100
The BlueTEC system (which nullifies the harm of inherent diesel NOx emissions) did have its challenges, though the overall reliability of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS is rated at 81%. The diesel GLS only lasted one year in the U.S., so there isn’t a lot of data about its costs of repair and maintenance, but expectations put 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS costs in the $1,000–$1,500 range, with the BlueTEC system accounting for a lot of that difference and expected to drive up 10-year ownership costs considerably.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: N/A (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942+ (CarEdge)
- 2017 Recalls: 10
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 550e 4Matic
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $17,807
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 550e 4Matic was the plug-in hybrid poster child in Mercedes’ SUV lineup, carrying on the traditional excellence of the mid-size Mercedes SUV (which began life as the M-Class in 1997). In 2018, the GLE 550e topped the GLE model range, with an original MSRP of $67,695, but its current accepted price of around $18,000 makes it one of the better PHEV bargains in the used marketplace. The GLE’s cabin is roomy and upscale, with plenty of space for five to ride around in splendor.
Reliability Score: 84/100
The Mercedes-Benz GLE (and ML, before it) has been one of Mercedes’s consistently reliable models, though the three-year span of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 550e doesn’t provide a lot of data to draw up an ownership-cost feasibility chart. Its annual and 10-year cost estimates are around the $1,200 and $15,000 marks, respectively, taking into account the usual GLE costs and the added expenditures for the plug-in hybrid system in its 450e replacement.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $N/A (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $15,388 (CarEdge)
- 2018 Recalls: 9
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2016
2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC 4Matic
Starting Fair Purchase Price: $9,927
The GLK was the predecessor of the current Mercedes-Benz GLC (which basically changed the “C” for compact from the “K” for the German Kompaktklasse). In 2016, it introduced the change to diesel power to pacify economy and emissions reduction regulations, with Mercedes’s BlueTEC system. The GLK welcomed a class of young drivers to the entry-level luxury SUV segment, with a well-appointed cabin, thoughtful tech, and the supple seating that goes into a luxury SUV in a manageable city-sized vehicle.
Reliability Score: 89/100
The Mercedes-Benz GLK had a very well respected reliability rating, bordering on “Excellent,” though the BlueTEC system had its cost challenges, as noted earlier. Although owners’ surveys indicate the GLK had fewer day-to-day issues than many of its contemporaries, with estimated upkeep costs for the non-diesel 2014 Mercedes GLK pegged at $860, by RepairPal. Maintenance and repair costs for its replacement (the Mercedes-Benz GLC) hover around $15,000 over 10 years, says CarEdge.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $862+ (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $15,065+ (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 6
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2013