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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  The Perfect Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By expertowner - July 28 - 5:23 am

  I had heard that this car was not very well received. To look at it I found it hard to believe. I test drove it, and fell hard. While it could be a problem for 6ft 5 inch people in the back seat, there simply is nothing bad that can be said about this vehicle. The looks are stunning, the ride is silk lightning, and everything about it says....THE PERFECT CAR. I hope that Mercedes realizes what they have accomplished. They have taken back the lead from BMW with one quick stroke of genius. If you are looking for the perfect car, and are able to spend 75k, you cannot find anything better.

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  Poor Quality - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Problems1 - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Had nothing but troubles. Catylitic converter went out. Speaker problems, rattle in wood trim, EC button problem, ABS problems, malfunctioning key. You get the idea. The car also has accessive ratling.

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  definitely not a Toyota - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By bdkman - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Nice ride, comfort & decent traction,reliability is lacking.I have had Japanese designed & manufactured cars for the past 10 years or so so I was expecting the Benz to be comparable - not so.The car is plagued with little annoying problems that I wont tolerate.Like an old set of Christmas lights I never know which light will not be out next. Sunroof broke just out of warrany $300, engine gives off a nice blue smoke cloud when it starts, CD changer broke(CDs entombed inside, various unexplained glitches in the stability control electronics & in the electronic throttle control. Low fuel pressure trips Engine Light too!

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  2001 ML320 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mrouw - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Bought based on MB reputation for quality. This vehicle is a disgrace to the marque. Poor interior build quality and very poor dealer service. In 2 years and 30K was at dealer 6 times for warranty (replaced window tracks 2X - rattles,glove compartmen and map pockets fell OUT, center console top broke, Windows and sunroof covered in Goo from iside door and ceiling sheetmetal, Drivers seat panel fell off. Dealer service even worse. Stated work complete that was not, Actually told me the ML was not built to MB standards.

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  Lots of fun - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jcv - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I dont know how Mercedes makes and sells these cars for so little, this thing is great. Solid MB build, excellent performance and reliability, what youd expect from a Mercedes Benz

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  RATE - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By NIKKI - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY CAR BUT I WISH I INTERIOR WAS A LITTLE MORE DIFFERENT THEN OTHER MERCEDES AND SOME SPORTY EFFECT ON THE EXTERIOR

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  EXCELLENT AUTOMOBILE FOR THE PRICE - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By CMASPLUND - July 27 - 10:00 am

  EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. EXCELLENT HANDLING AND BRAKING.

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  AWESOME - GAS GUZZLER - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SF California - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Awesome handling around the corners; great acceleration; quiet and smooth yet sporty ride; interior well-designed for ease of operation; looks great (sport package); guzzles gas (about 15MPG combined!). Opt for the 320 if MPG is important.

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  Great Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sadamb - July 27 - 10:00 am

  So far I have loved this car. The looks you get while driving this car are great. Its affordable for being a Mercedes and I feel good about the safety features.

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  fun to drive - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By jonlands - July 23 - 10:00 am

  The car is fun to drive.Reliable in bad weather.Gas mileage is terrible.The second row of seats is not that comfortable for kids in their car seats. Great styling and solid steady handling.Cargo space is OK