Kia vs Mercedes-Benz:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Kia had more branded searches than Mercedes-Benz among car brands in the United States. Kia had about 3.5 million branded searches, while Mercedes-Benz had 2.2 million. Kia made up 5.2% of all car brand searches we track, and Mercedes-Benz accounted for 3.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Kia appeared in two of the five answers and Mercedes-Benz in one. Kia and Mercedes-Benz were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Kia, about 59% more searches than Mercedes-Benz
Who does AI mention more?
Kia, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Mercedes-Benz in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kia was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Mercedes-Benz was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kia and Mercedes-Benz were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Toyota4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Honda4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Hyundai3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Subaru3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Ford2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Kia2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Mazda2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Lexus2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tesla1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Mercedes-Benz1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about car brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most reliable car brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best family SUV to buy?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best suv”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Kia or Mercedes-Benz more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Kia and Mercedes-Benz by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 46 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Kia, Mercedes-Benz. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Toyota | Tesla | Honda | Ford | Kia | Chevrolet | Hyundai | Nissan | Subaru | Mercedes-Benz | BMW | Jeep | Mazda | Porsche | Lexus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 10.1% | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.6% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 10.1% | 5.6% | 6.8% | 6.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3% | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 10.1% | 5.5% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 4% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 10.5% | 5.7% | 7.2% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 10.8% | 5.7% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 5% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 10.3% | 5.6% | 7.1% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 10.5% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3% | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| May 2026 | 10.6% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 10.7% | 6.4% | 7.1% | 6.2% | 5% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 11.1% | 6.1% | 7.1% | 6.1% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 10.5% | 6.7% | 7% | 6.3% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 11.2% | 7% | 6.8% | 6.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
How has the Kia and Mercedes-Benz comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kia was ahead of Mercedes-Benz in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kia’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 4.5% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3M to 3.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mercedes-Benz’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 3.4% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.3M to 2.2M.
How did search popularity change for United States car brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Mercedes-Benz rose from 13th to 10th among car brands in the United States.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Kia in the United States rose 14% over 12 measured months, from 3M to 3.5M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
16 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kia’s and Mercedes-Benz’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Kia
10 branded search terms
- kia
- kia carnival
- kia ev9
- kia forte
- kia k5
- kia seltos
- kia sorento
- kia soul
- kia sportage
- kia telluride
Mercedes-Benz
6 branded search terms
- g wagon
- mercedes
- mercedes benz
- mercedes c class
- mercedes g wagon
- mercedes gle
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