Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  MB 320 CLK - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By matrixsam - December 22 - 9:40 pm

  This car has been excellent from day one. My only regret is that I did not go all the way and bought the CLK 55 in the first place. The 320 is however a good compromise with good fuel economy, styling and comfort. The car handles well and especially with the sport package. My car has the classic brilliant silver with charcoal interior. Other colors I would consider is the black, and the navy. Stay away from red and white colors for this car. A winner is the silver tones, in the classic spirit for MB race cars!

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  Great Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By D. Fuhrmann - December 22 - 7:16 pm

  Great car to drive, especially with the 4 wheel drive. Very comfortable. Could use more horsepower.Compared with the Cadillac Seville STS I drove befroe this car, the C 320 is heaven to drive. Only two problems right off the factory floor: License plate light did not work, and airconditioner leaked coolant. Both were repaired after (unfortunately)several visits to the dealer. No problems since.

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  Im Definitely Styling - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MONI/RDA - December 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Benz and what a great looking car!!! It has plenty of power to get to where you are going and handles great. The appearance package is a must and definitely get chrome rims. The interior is much better looking compared to the BMWs interior.This car is total CLASS!!!

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  mercedes c 280 sport - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By charlibear63 - December 21 - 2:00 am

  when i went to buy this car my wife hated the color(black/blackinterior) ...then she drove it;-). we were signing the papers right after the test drive;-)

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  Good Decision - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ironduke - December 21 - 2:00 am

  This car has few faults. My ownership experience is 2 yrs and 24K miles. Maintenance: I replaced battery (recall) and headlights at 50K miles and an emission sensor at 60K miles. Mileage is 25 in town and 30 on the highway at 75 mph.

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  Great AWD Wagon - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert 1939 - December 21 - 2:00 am

  I live in rural area; moderate to heavy snow; steep hills. Car performs beautifully in winter conditions. On highway, it feels like a larger and heavier car, although it is slightly smaller and lighter than my previous car.

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  Good car after kinks - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By AtlantaLady - December 21 - 2:00 am

  After the first 4000 miles, car seemed to have more power and was more fun to drive. Youll look good in it, because it has a beautiful body. I would have bought the highly rated BMW 5301 if the 2003 model looked better.

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  A great car to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Carl C. - December 20 - 9:43 pm

  Ive had convertibles for the last 30 years. This is by far the most fun to drive. The trunk is very small, but who cares. If you have golf clubs, throw them in the back seat. However, as other people have noted, the electrical systems leave a lot to be desired.

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  Love the vehicle - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By vanmcleroy - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle now for almost three years and I love it. The handling is exceptional and and I have no mechanical or electrical problems what so ever. I recommend my car and all the versions after it to my friends and convinced one to purchase a 2002 version and as he said, I will never purchase another car ever again.

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  ML 320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sm - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this MB for about 2 years and have not had any problems except for a cup holder I broke with my knee that was replaced by Dealer free with no questions asked. The vehicle has been totally reliable and is fun to drive.