Google Maps view over time of Mercedes-Benz dealership shows how much has changed with its cars in 12 years

Google Maps can be a surprisingly good way to see how much the car industry has changed, and one Mercedes-Benz dealership in London provides a particularly good time capsule.

Looking back at imagery of Mercedes-Benz of Colindale on Edgware Road reveals rows of cars that now look unmistakably old-school.

The dealership itself has remained recognizable, but the cars sitting outside have gone through a dramatic transformation.

And the differences become even more fascinating when you compare the dealership’s lineup year by year.

Mercedes-Benz’s 2008 lineup looks very different on Google Maps

The older Google Maps history from around 2008 is packed with Mercedes cars that will be instantly familiar to anyone who remembers the brand’s lineup from the late 2000s.

Among the cars is what appears to be a Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221, identifiable by its imposing grille, flared wheel arches and executive-sedan proportions.

Nearby, a silver Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204 represents the smaller end of the brand’s traditional sedan lineup, while several darker cars appear to be E-Class W211 models.

There is also a Mercedes-Benz M-Class W164, giving an early glimpse of the SUV direction Mercedes would eventually take much further.

At the time, the lineup was still heavily centered around traditional luxury cars, with SUVs and compact models playing supporting roles.

There was also a heavy presence from the neighboring Smart dealership, with a few Smart cars dotted around the forecourt.

Fast-forward to imagery from around 2015 and the change is already obvious.

The dealership is now dominated by Mercedes-Benz vans, including what appear to be V-Class or Vito W447 models, alongside Sprinter and Citan commercial vehicles.

There are still plenty of passenger cars, though, including a silver C-Class W205 displayed too.

That generation had arrived around 2014, bringing a much smoother and more sculpted design than the boxier W204 it replaced.

A compact Mercedes, seemingly an A-Class or B-Class, is parked nearby, while another car on the right-hand ramp appears to be from the contemporary C-Class or E-Class family.

The modern Mercedes lineup is all about SUVs

By September 2024, the transformation becomes even more obvious.

The dealership’s forecourt now features much taller, more aggressively styled vehicles, with a gray Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class SUV prominently positioned on the ramp.

Next to it sits what appears to be an AMG SUV, identifiable from its much more aggressive bodywork and Panamericana-style vertical-slat grille.

That is a world away from the rows of W211 E-Class sedans and W221 S-Class models visible in the older imagery.

The newer imagery also shows how Mercedes’ coupe-inspired designs have become more prominent.

Behind the wall, a white car appears to be a modern CLA or A-Class Sedan, while a metallic blue car looks like a modern C-Class or E-Class coupe.

The cars are lower, smoother and considerably more aerodynamic than many of the vehicles visible in the 2008 imagery.

The most interesting part is that the dealership itself hasn’t undergone the same dramatic visual transformation; the colors and the font have changed, but the building has stayed pretty similar.

The Mercedes-Benz of Colindale site at 403 Edgware Road remains a Mercedes-Benz retailer today, offering new and Approved Used vehicles as well as aftersales services.

But the cars parked outside tell a different story.

In just over a decade, Mercedes has gone from a lineup dominated by traditional saloons, with the occasional SUV and tiny Smart city car, to one where SUVs and sportier crossover-style models are everywhere.

And thanks to Google Maps’ historical pictures, you can see that evolution without even having to leave your sofa.