Acura or Mercedes — what we actually found
Side by side from 82 Acuras and 259 Mercedes vehicles buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 61/100.
Head to head
| Acura | Mercedes | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 82 | 259 |
| Average condition | 57/100 | 63/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 38% | 62% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~112k mi | ~106k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 83% | 78% |
| Structural repair found | 6% | 2% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 33% | 20% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Acura▬ Mercedes▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Acura▬ Mercedes▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
59%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
52%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
48%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
30%
Fluid leaks · Steering (hydraulic power)
24%
Oil leaks · Engine
66%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
53%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
40%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
36%
Electronic components issues · Engine
20%
Trajectory by generation
Acura
Not enough Acuras at the 5–10 year checkpoint yet to draw a generation trend.
Mercedes
▬ Consistent across generations
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 341 inspections · updated Aug 1, 2026