K-A

I know none of these Rankings are the end-all-be-all, but USNews is pretty much looked at as the bench-mark, and considering the W211 is in its last year, and its running up against a slew of newer designed cars, and wins again (it's won #1 every year I've been following the Rankings), is pretty damn impressive. The BIG question is if the W212 will hold that spot or slip?

Here's the Luxury Large Car Rankings:

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...ry-Large-Cars/

AND, it's only 1 of 2 Benzes to get #1 in their respective categories (only other one is the S-Class):

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...mercedes-benz/

What's really funny is that the 5-Series didn't even make the charts, they showed it as the bottom of 2 cars who are "Unranked". I think in '08 they had it Ranked as #3 or something, looks like its gotten tired faster.

Barry45RPM

Its only been at the top for 2007, 2008 & 2009. 2003-2005 cars were much, much worse products. (Some people had no problems, but the reputation for trouble was well earned & well documented.) Congratulations to MB for learning their lesson well & making these cars the superb vehicles they are.

cleankutazn

oh really, mines an 08 with only 10k miles and it already has power steering fluid and oil leaks.

K-A

True. I do know they really got it together starting in 2006. I'd still probably assume they're nowhere near the most reliable on that List, but nice to know the many plus points outweigh the negatives.

gaazmon

I've come to determine it really is luck when it comes down to these things.

BavarianPride

I absolutely agree, There are a lot of owners who have absolutely no problems with there Mercedes, and you just don't hear from them. Every other post on here is about malfunctions and problems, giving the common conception about a problem car, which i say it is not. There are always going to be some problem units, after all there are just machines.
T.

Barry45RPM

The 2007's onward were the result of a conscious effort by MB to save MBs reputation. The earlier 211s almost ruined it. They were dead last on JD Powers, having knocked MB from the top.

While luck is involved, very little luck is necessary when the product is made to superior design specifications and production standards. Every crappy part of the '03 - '06 211's was purged and/or redesigned, and quality mas made the # 1 job on the list. Again... congratulations are due MB.

If I had needed an artificial heart, and it was made by MB... I'd much rather it was manufactured in 2007 or later.

cleankutazn

I bet you wouldn't want the 2010 artificial heart

sleewell

its so weird to me that one car off the line can be completely perfect and have no issues and the very next one can basically be a lemon. buying a luxury auto shouldn't come down to luck of the draw - you know?

alejotrujillo

I'm very happy to see that the E-Class is #1 in that ranking, but when you see a Cadillac DTS (I didn't even know that POS existed) in #4 and the BMW 5 series unranked (WTF???), their credibility is on par with Sarah Palin's.

gaazmon

The cadillac dts is a POS and should be scrapped (same with the XLR, waste of production money, space, and time) leaving only the CTS and STS for cadillac sedans.

I agree that the quality is also a big thing. I mean the 03's were just flat out horrible.

SolanNo1

I haven't paid attention to the DTS (I can't recall what it looks like either) but not ranking the 5er in the top 5, much less than in the top 2, makes me wonder...

And its not because my primary car is a 545i. I don't have any problem with the 211 being #1. The e60 and the 211 should be the top 2 (in any order).

K-A

Yeah I dunno why the 5 isn't in at least the top 5. I'm not sure why it is Unranked

M-B did get their stuff together after the fiasco's of the early 2000's, however I still don't think they're at the top of the Reliability charts. '03's were just a miserable year for the 211's, it seemed '04's were pretty damn bad to, '05 started cleaning up, '06's are about as good as it gets for the 211, then '07+ goes as the safest Reliability bets.

MikTrebla09

Glad to hear about the W211!

But, I'm surprised no one actually read the reason some models were unranked:

Unranked: Luxury Large Cars
Our rankings are based on analysis of third party reviews. Sometimes, we are unable to find enough reviews to publish a definitive ranking. Please check back later, as we are constantly updating our reviews.

So, I guess it might be best to actually read the article before passing judgement on the competition.


I just hope models going forward will continue this trend of good quality. Good job, MB

gaazmon

Ya, the 5 is a good car, I just prefer the E over it, just like I prefer a 3 over a C.

SolanNo1

Can't find enough 3rd party reviews for 5er and Acura RL? Do you really believe the disclaimer?

SolanNo1

And that's fine. Personal preferences ultimately clinch the deal. My argument was that the 5er shld have been in the top 5, and maybe in the top 2.

And I also have an issue with an E being called a Luxury Large Car. The E-Series and the 5er have been setting standards for the mid-size-luxury segment for years.

gnma

...

USNews is the benchmark for auto reviews????

If you read your posted link to the article for the MB, they also talk about the 5-Series and how it is the best handling car out there, and as one mentioned above it is unranked which means neither good nor bad. The fact that USNews could not get enough data on the 5 - Series - well that says it all....

I love both cars, and am just trying to keep the issue unbiased. Just bec. the BMW is unranked it means there was not enough data according to US News to rank them. And I find that hard to believe.

K-A

Just wanted to bring this Thread up as I was searching around reviews for some cars and noticed the USNews Rankings seemed more up to date than before. The 5-Series is now Ranked and the W211 holds the fort down as the ONLY M-B with a #1 spot, as the W221 S-Class has slipped a spot due to the new 7'ers conception (I LOVE the new 7 and think BMW has the step up on M-B right now between those two cars).

Credible or not, I have to say I'm proud of the W211 holding it down as the #1 car in its class in these Polls 7 years into its lifecycle, not to mention in its last production year:

LUXURY LARGE CARS::




MBZ MODELS::