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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  Beware of Mercedes Warranty - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Brit in Dallas - February 20 - 11:06 am

  I bought a new (2004) E320 Sedan with Appearance and Luxury packages. Its very stylish but has been in the shop way too often. The air conditioning (horrible smell) which Mercedes was reluctant to correct first time stunk. Mercedes - simply flushing the system does not work - it needs to be replaced. Worse was to follow - the Mercedes Dealership damaged my computer during yet another visit to the shop (brakes recall) and it was replaced with a used part. Yes, a USED PART on a new car. I called Mercedes USA and was referred me to my new car warranty which gives them the option to do just that - replace parts with used or reconditioned ones. How cheap can you get Mercedes?

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  Fun to drive, some problems - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Nicole K - February 17 - 2:55 am

  Car drives very smoothly and has a luxurious feel. The interior is nicely designed and you get used to the gear shifter really quickly. The touch pad is not very intuitive. Ive had problems with the sunroof and door rattling as well.

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  S350 is a bargain - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By LanceL99 - February 15 - 6:50 pm

  I intended to purchase a new E350, but wound up with the S350. Its not as quick, but I preferred the 5-spd auto. My old E320 was a great car - this should be as well. $53,500 including Keyless Go & Trunk closer. What a deal!! Ride is awesome, bank vault quiet, frigid AC, huge cabin, all of the good features. Overall it is an exceptional buy!

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  Lemonaid? - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By TexanTrue - February 7 - 12:23 pm

  Great looks and comfort, but in one year has been in the shop 4 times for a total of a month with all kinds of mechanical and electrical troubles. New steering rack, new rear suspension, rear deck closer, thumping into downshift at stops in tranny (numerous software updates), a 6- year old Navigation DVD supplied making Navigation system useless, rattles in body. Pages and pages of campaigns to fix mistakes in build each time I bring it in, but at least they fix it free and give a nice M-B loan car. But when its working, its a dream, and Ill buy the new Diesel ML-320 CDI version soon.

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  my review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Misalis - February 5 - 2:00 am

  all and all I love this car.It has lots of power.

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  Tires, brakes and dash - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Marty Cohan - February 3 - 12:30 am

  Brakes have squealed since first service. At 19,000 miles I am on my third set of Michelin Pilot sports at =/-$300 each. Dash electric went out in first 6,000 miles and dealer replaced under warranty. Dealer also performed a full alignment on them after second set of tires wore out.

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  2008 gl450 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By DAWN - January 31 - 6:30 am

  I am a previous LX470 owner and I have to say there really is no SUV that compares to this car for comfort and the ride and the third row seating. I cant wait to get in my car every day and drive it! Although the nav doesnt compare to Lexus ease of use and the DVD is in a weird location for usage. I also did not realize that the non-leather seats are a bit sticky in the heat due to the fact of no ac in them. The ac works great and the stereo is better than my Lexus. The windshield wiper controls are hidden and hard to see. I kept hitting the cruise control for the first month, now I am used to it. I have never had a Mercedes so all the controls take some getting used to.

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  Too familiar with the service department - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SMB - January 29 - 9:50 am

  Like others, we bought the car thinking wed keep it for a long time. After 6 years and many, many trips to the dealer we are saying bye to the Benz. Thankfully, the warranty covered replacement of the entire dashboard assembly, brakes, phone, hatch and various other electrical issues. Unfortunately, post-warranty I was stuck with the bill for the struts, rotors, hatch (again) and a new $100 key! Like others, its burning oil at a rapid pace. The car drives well, is very stable and eats up highway miles. Performance in the snow is fantastic - better than our Land Rover! Cargo/people hauling space is great.

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  Premium Price -Poor Quality? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Beautiful, Quality - January 29 - 12:50 am

  Beautiful car that gets a lot of looks. Fit and finish are right on par with what you would expect from a Mercedes. We have had many problems with the quality of this car: Broken interior panels, faulty anti-lock relay, faulty anti-lock brake pump, broken baffles inside gas tank (had to replace gas tank!). Now the ignition system has just failed. 53,250 miles, and many rented loaners. We are glad to have bought the extended warranty.

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  Navigation and service - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By db - January 29 - 12:00 am

  False promises from sales and service. I always keep a $125.00 garmin gps with me, never wanna depend on MB nav system, Im scared it will take me into a deep ocean one day, entire car good but nav make it worst experience