Best used Mercedes

We crowned the Mercedes E-Class Estate our What Car? Used Car of the Year back in 2018 and we still think very highly of the model. Its interior is extremely plush and spacious, not to mention its boot is larger than most rivals' – the Audi A6 Avant and BMW 5 Series Touring, for example. 

The E-Class rides comfortably, even better on its optional-from-new air suspension, and its handling is tidy. However, where the E-Class really scores is its high-speed refinement. At 70mph, wind noise is well suppressed and its engine – our favourite being the 192bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel in the E220d – ticks away quietly.

Scoring 92.7%, both the saloon and estate versions of the E-Class have a better track record for reliability than the Audi A6; although they’re not quite on a par with the BMW 5 Series. 24.5% of E-Class owners who participated in our reliability survey experienced issues with their car last year, the most common of which were related to non-engine electrical systems and suspension. Eighty-six per cent of issues were covered under warranty, but 7% cost over £1,500 to rectify. Moreover, 43% of faulty examples were out of action for more than a week.

Used prices are very compelling. They start at around £12,000 for an early car. For around £16,000, you can pick up a respectable 2017 example of this class-leading estate car. 

"I ran an E-Class Estate as a long-term car and my word, it was impressive. It swallowed everything a family could throw at it and was far superior to drive than any SUV." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2017 Mercedes E-Class Estate E220d SE, 56,558 miles, £17,475

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Swish to look at, the suave Mercedes CLA is now a great used buy, too.

This is the second generation version, which replaced the popular first-gen 2013-2019 Mercedes CLA. It's based on the latest A-Class hatchback model, itself a highly competent performer, so it's refined and steers and handles nicely.

Its interior really offers up the wow factor, especially if you find one that's had the dual 10.3in screens optioned from new. Everything in there feels of a high quality, too, and there's a surprisingly good amount of space considering its fastback silhouette. 

Moreover, the CLA gained a very positive score of 96.2% in our latest reliability study, with just 10% of owners reporting a fault over the last 24 months. Of those that did go wrong, the most common issues concerned the battery; however, bodywork, non-engine electricals and the infotainment system also proved problematic for some.  All faults reported to us were covered under warranty, but 80% of owners had to wait up to a week for their car to be fixed.

Prices are very keen now on the used market, starting at around £14,000, making the CLA a handsome purchase. 

"A sort of left-field choice, this one, but a good car to drive and I think it looks great. There's room inside for grown-ups and as a stylish alternative to the A-Class it's top-notch." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Mercedes CLA 180 AMG Line, 57,000 miles, £16,495

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Infusing a family car with all the prestige of the three-pointed star sounds like a recipe for success – and, in terms of sales, it was one. Critically, mind you, previous Mercedes A-Class models often left something to be desired. The current A-Class, well, that's a different story. 

There’s a good choice of engines, particularly for petrol fans, since there are three to choose from, all of which impress. From 2020 onwards, a petrol and electric plug-in hybrid A250e became available with a combined output of 212bhp and an electric-only range of 44 miles. 

The interior is stunning, with lashings of shiny piano black plastic, leather and metal-effect finishes in all the important places. Used prices now start from just £11,000 for an early car. 

While we don’t have enough information on the diesel version, the hybrid A-Class was the most reliable Mercedes in our last reliability survey, scoring an impressive 98.7%. In contrast, the petrol variant was not quite so trouble-free, gaining a score of 91.6% rating.

Twenty-one percent of petrol A-Class owners encountered a problem in the past two years, with non-engine electrical components and the bodywork being the most common causes for complaints. Of the 11% of faulty A-Class hybrids, most trouble was to do with the interior trim. All hybrid faults were covered under warranty and all issues were resolved in a day or less. Petrol car owners didn't fare as well; while 84% of cars were fixed for free, 42% were in the workshop for more than a week.

"It's the refinement of the A-Class I've always admired. It doesn't seem to matter which engine is under the bonnet, it's a really smooth motorway cruiser." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Mercedes A-Class A250e 1.3 AMG Line , 50,588 miles, £16,995

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Classy, comfortable and well-equipped, the Mercedes GLA is one of the better prestige family SUVs, even if some rivals are cheaper and more practical.

The GLA 200 petrol is enough if you tend to drive mostly town, but the 220d diesel is a better all-rounder if you carry a car full of occupants or cover long distances. The 250e is best suited to company car drivers.

It rides well, with a forgiving and nicely controlled ride, and the interior is the star of the show: it looks wonderfully stylish and opulent, even if closer inspection reveals there are one or two cheaper parts. 

"These are so popular in my part of London you can't go anywhere without tripping over one. I'm not surprised. It's refined and rather upmarket." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Mercedes GLA 200 AMG Line, 40,000 miles, £16,990

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Less is more with the Mercedes AMG A45. Despite its engine having a mere four cylinders, it produces more power than engines a lot of larger units. In fact, as of its arrival, the A45 possessed the single most powerful four-cylinder engine in production. 

The specific figure is 415bhp and, sat aside other hot hatches, only the Audi RS3 comes close to matching it. Pair that amount of muscle with a capable four-wheel-drive system and a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox and the result is 0-62mph in 3.9sec, making it quicker than the Porsche 911 Carrera. 

Not only is it a bolt of lightning in a straight line, but it's ravenous in the bends, too. The steering isn't hyper-quick, but it gives you a good, confidence-inspiring sense of connection with the front wheels – more so than you get in the RS3. Body lean is minimal, helping it corner with great ferocity. 

We don’t have enough reliability data to comment on the AMG A45 specifically; however, expect it to be similar to the standard A-Class. In our latest reliability survey, the petrol version of the A-Class scored 91.6%, with 21% of owners reporting issues.

Used prices of around £35,000 mean the A45 isn't a bargain just yet – it only arrived in 2019, remember – but you're getting a lot of thrilling performance for your money. 

"A lot of money but worth every penny. Phew, what a drive. It's a hot hatch and beyond, this one, and I'd gladly have one on my driveway." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 S, 32,363 miles, £33,699

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As premium SUVs go, the Mercedes GLC offers a good range of engines and a pleasant interior with plenty of space for occupants.

There are two plug-in hybrid versions, one petrol and one diesel, and both PHEVs are powered by a 24.8 kWh (usable) battery that delivers a vast official electric-only range of 75 miles. While you’re more likely to see a real-world range of around 50 miles, it’s still much farther than the PHEV versions of the Q5 and X3. If you can utilise this, you could keep your fuel bills low. 

It's well equipped, too; the interior is not only spacious but also very stylish, and used prices are now really competitive. 

"The very definition of a lot of car for the money, the GLC is the sort of SUV that'll really impress the neighbours. That PHEV range is undeniably impressive." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2023 Mercedes GLC 220d AMG Line (Premium), 33,000 miles, £22,990

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From Southampton to San Francisco, why do chauffeurs across the globe make the Mercedes S-Class their go-to luxury car? Well, it’s because the model has long been an incredibly strong pillar of the class, offering almost unmatched opulence to all those who drive or passenger in one (unless you turn to Rolls-Royce or Bentley, of course). 

Mind you, as great as it is, deprecation tends to hit the S-Class hard – as it does its direct rivals as well – and this results in some bargain buys. For instance, you'll only need around £20,000 if you have your eye on our favourite S350d L AMG Line variant. We recommend upping your budget to around £25,000, though, so you can find one with less than stratospheric mileage.

We don’t have sufficient reliability information to report on the S-Class.

"One of the older cars in the Merc lineup now but so impressive. The imperious S-Class is bettered by very few cars, in my opinion." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2016 Mercedes S-Class S350d L AMG Line, 49,000 miles, £25,000

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When it comes to SUVs, we’re spoilt for choice. There are small ones, big ones, rugged ones, fast ones, hybrids and even fully electric ones. So, where does that leave the Mercedes GLB?

Well, it’s actually one of the few seven-seaters that you can buy with a premium badge – at least one that isn't the size of an aircraft carrier. The GLB is similar to the Land Rover Discovery Sport in lots of ways, but gutsier if you opt for our favoured 220d diesel engine.

It will work well for many families, although the firm ride can be a nuisance. We recommend the AMG Line Executive trim for the level of opulence it adds to the already modern-looking interior. 

"The great thing about the GLB is it can usefully seat seven, yet it's compact outside, rather in the manner of the VW Touran. However, being an SUV, it looks much better, to my eyes." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Mercedes GLB 220d AMG Line Exec, 49,364 miles, £27,915

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Over the years, car manufacturers have gotten properly good at making big, heavy performance cars drive as if they aren't, well, big and heavy. The Mercedes-AMG E63 is one of them. Yes, it still isn't a featherweight Caterham Seven, but it handles with more precision and aggression than a near-two-tonne car has any right to.  

Its trick four-wheel-drive system certainly helps, although you can disengage it and make the E63 real-wheel drive, upon which it can drift to your every whim – on a closed course, mind you. Its 4.0-litre V8 engine makes a hell of a noise, as well as 603bhp. The E63 shoots from 0-62mph in just 3.4sec, making it as quick as a Ferrari Roma. 

While the E63’s performance credentials are clear, we can’t tell you as much about its track record for reliability. The standard E-Class saloon and estate gained a collective score of 92.7% in our latest reliability study, though.

However, while that car costs north of £150,000 (new, we should add), the E63 is available for less than £50,000. 

"You gotta love a V8 and I'm afraid I'm a sucker for them. This AMG is just fab, and can carry the family, too. What more do you want?" - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic+ Premium, 41,319 miles, £45,490

Read our used Mercedes-AMG E63 review

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You'll lose a fair chunk of practicality by choosing the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet over its estate car counterpart, but you don't buy a convertible as a family car, you buy it as something stylish to take out in the open air and sunshine that Britain enjoys a little infrequently. 

You and three other people can do so in great comfort. Its ride is almost as supple as the estate's, plus it shares much of its lavish interior with that car as well. Go for the E220d AMG Line variant and you'll need around £20,000, which (again) isn't that different to the estate. 

Nevertheless, one key difference between the cabriolet and estate is reliability. The Cabriolet scored just 83.4% in our latest survey – 9.7% less than the rest of the E-Class range. Forty-seven percent of E-Class Cabriolet owners encountered a fault with their car over the last two years, with the battery and suspension components being the most common locations for issues.

Seventy-three percent of faults were sorted under warranty, although 18% of owners spent between £200 to £300 covering repairs. While 64% of problems were sorted in less than a day, 36% took more than a week to resolve.

"Oh yes, all the smoothness of the E-Class with a drop-top to enjoy the breeze. I love this car and would buy one tomorrow if I had the money, although that reliability might put me off." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2018 Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet E220d AMG Line, 58,299 miles, £21,949

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