In the 1960's Mercedes was aligned with German luxury. Their sports cars were exotic and their large models combined comfortable transport with a certain cache. The Gullwing Mercedes was particularly esoteric. Owning a Mercedes Benz was once the privilege of the famous and the wealthy.With the advent of the Ford Sierra/Mondeo sized Mercedes 190 in 1985, Mercedes Benz ownership became more accessible. Granted, the three pointed star will never be synonymous with cheaper brands, but owning a Mercedes is no longer as expensive; neither is it as pricey to maintain as other luxury barges.
Mercedes have steadfastly branded their classes of vehicle according to the alphabet for many years. The A class is the smallest of the hatchbacks and the S class the largest of the saloons, with the Ford Mondeo sized C class, and the Range Rover competitor M and G classes residing somewhere in the middle amongst the B E and R classes.