It’s no secret that if you’re in the market for a Mercedes, it is likely to cost you a lot of money. You’re buying a premium vehicle, and they don’t come cheap, so what are your options if you are working with a modest budget?
One choice is to go down the used car route – you can get some great cars at a discount this way, but it’s a risk, and you won’t get the latest technology and features. The other option is to find a new car within your budget. Impossible? Not at all.
I’ve put this article together to answer the question ‘can I buy a new Mercedes without spending over $50,000?’ Now $50,000 is still a lot of money, but when you look at the average cost of a new Mercedes at just under $80,000, it’s great value for a premium vehicle.
The Five Best Mercedes Benz Models For Less Than $50,000
Below are my five picks for the best Mercedes vehicles you can buy for under $50,000. All of these are currently part of the Mercedes online car selection and are available to order. I’ve ranked these based on value for money, design, performance, and quality, but there is something for everyone on this list.
Want to find out what those cars are?
5. Mercedes GLC 300 4MATIC – $46,900
The first car on our list is the GLC 300, with 4MATIC, Mercedes’ all-wheel drive system. This model sits in the middle of the SUV range from Mercedes, and you can pick up the 300 version with a few options for less than $50,000.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Good exterior design | Lacks power and performance |
| Practical (for a sporty SUV) | Interior is below average for MB |
| Options are expensive |
For me, it’s one of the better-looking mid-range SUVs on the market, although the Coupe version is a lot sleeker. The GLC is reasonably practical, with 19.4 cu-ft of cargo space and plenty of room for passengers, but the interior and performance let it down.
The 300 version has 255 bhp, but in the GLC that will only get you a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds, which is hardly impressive. The interior design feels dated by Mercedes Benz standards, with lower-spec models in the range featuring more technology.
The GLC isn’t a bad SUV, but its price bracket offers plenty of competitive alternatives. I expect the GLC will get an update soon to fix the shortcomings and make this a more desirable model in the MB range.
4. Mercedes GLA 250 4MATIC – $40,650
The next car on our list is the entry-level SUV, the GLA. Mercedes class this as an SUV, but the GLA is a crossover; a hatchback-style vehicle raised up. This doesn’t make the GLA any less of a car, and with a starting price under $40,000, it’s excellent value.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Interior design and technology are best in class | Exterior design is underwhelming |
| Great value for money | 250 spec performance is lacking |
| Surprisingly spacious |
The technology in the GLA wouldn’t look out of place in a more expensive vehicle. With the latest Mercedes infotainment, it’s worth buying a GLA on that alone. You only get 221 bhp with the entry-level 250 version, but most owners won’t be looking for performance when they buy a GLA.
Practicality is reasonable for a crossover; don’t go in expecting the space found in a full-size SUV. The GLA is let down slightly by the exterior design, which is more functional than anything – compared to other MB models, it feels like the design department rushed the GLA through.
If you’re in the market for a small SUV and your focus is on technology and features over performance and ruggedness, you’re unlikely to find a better option than the GLA. And, with all-wheel-drive and plenty of your $50,000 budget left for optional extras, it’s a surprisingly good deal.
3. Mercedes GLB 250 4MATIC – $42,950
In third place is the Mercedes Benz GLB. This SUV sits between the GLA and GLC, and in my opinion, it combines the best of both of those vehicles. The GLB is a full-size practical SUV, with more cargo and passenger space than the GLC, and a lot more than the crossover GLA. The benefits of the GLB don’t stop there; you get an interior on par with the GLA, containing the latest infotainment technology.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Great interior and infotainment system | Performance is lacking |
| Plenty of space for cargo and passengers | Design isn’t the best in the range |
The GLB does have its downsides. Like the other SUV models we’ve covered, the 250 spec has lackluster performance, a feature I wish Mercedes would address. Ok, it’s not going to be the most important factor for most owners, but this is a $40,000 car after all.
Speaking of price, I think the GLB represents excellent value, at $5,000 less than the GLC, with a far better interior and increased practicality. It doesn’t have the GLC looks, but this is a family SUV, not a G Wagon.
The GLB might be the less interesting choice for a mid-size SUV, but its combination of practicality and tech-heavy interior makes it worth the number three spot on our list.
2. Mercedes A 220 Sedan – $35,000
Our runner-up is the least expensive model in the entire Mercedes Benz lineup – the A Class. This might be the entry-level MB model, but it’s packed with features and, like the GLA and GLB, features the latest in their infotainment technology.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Great looks | Performance options are non-existent |
| Lots of technology | |
The A Class technology is a huge reason why it takes our number two spot on this list, but I also want to mention the exterior design. You need to get the AMG line upgrades and spend a little on paint (the rose gold is a great choice) but once you do, the A class is one of the best-looking cars in its market sector.
I’ve been critical of the performance stats on our previous models, and unfortunately, the A Class is no better. The 220 spec is the only engine option, offering 188 bhp. In 2022 when you have rivals like the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series, it’s hard to understand what MB is thinking here.
Practicality in the A Class isn’t outstanding, but it’s manageable, and this is a compact sedan after all. The A Class won’t suit everyone, but if you’re looking for a premium sedan and you don’t want to spend $60,000-70,000 on the more expensive options, the A Class may be worth a look.
1. Mercedes C 300 Coupe – $48,900
Why does the C Class Coupe take the top spot? At a glance, it’s the least practical car on this list, with the highest starting price. So why is it first? For me, the C Class Coupe is peak Mercedes Benz – let me explain.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Beautiful looks | Technology is a generation behind |
| Impressive to drive | Power is ok, could be higher |
| Has the premium car feeling |
Let’s get the obvious out the way first – this is a beautiful car. Compared to the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series, this car is on another level. Is that enough to justify the top spot on this list? Probably not, but it definitely helps. Like the A Class, you should get a paint upgrade against the base black (Starling Blue is my choice) and this car will turn heads.
The interior technology isn’t as good as the A Class and needs an upgrade – in fact, it is the weakest part of the C Class. The material quality is excellent, and you can feel the difference in this compared to its smaller cousin.
Performance in the C Class is acceptable, with 255 bhp in this 300 spec. $2,000 more gets you 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, which I would argue isn’t necessary on this model. The C Class Coupe isn’t a car you will want to drive aggressively though; it’s a car you’ll want to enjoy. It feels more of a driver’s car than anything else on this list, and to me, that is a vital part of the appeal.
Overall, I put the C Class at the top of this list because it feels like a Mercedes Benz. It’s more refined than the other models on this list. For you, the other cars may be more suitable due to their practicality, but for me, it has to be the C Class Coupe.
Summary
So, we’ve covered some very different cars here, from practical family SUVs to sporty coupes. Whether you agree with my list or not, it shows that you can buy a new Mercedes Benz in 2023 for less than $50,000. And even more importantly, there are some great options out there!
There we are – my top five new Mercedes models for under $50,000. In order, we have:
5. Mercedes GLC 300 4MATIC – $46,900
4. Mercedes GLA 250 4MATIC – $40,650
3. Mercedes GLB 250 4MATIC – $42,950
2. Mercedes A 220 Sedan – $35,000
1. Mercedes C 300 Coupe – $48,900
Thanks for reading – if you’ve enjoyed this article and want to find out more, check out the links below:
The Best Mercedes Packages and Options
