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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  S55 AMG - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Ron Kidd - April 16 - 5:13 am

  A world class automobile. A thrill to drive. It handles on par with most high performance sports cars but with the legendary S class comfort. Truely a shame that there is no place I can really open her up! I do wish that the final drive was a little taller for enhanced fuel economy!

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  Luxury, High Performance & Loving It - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Barb - April 15 - 8:46 am

  I have owned serveral other Mercedes vehicles and luxury vehicles but the 2003 CL55 AMG has displayed it all. Fun to drive, high performance, comfortable front seats, good sound system and not to leave out it looks great on the road. I am currently waiting for the 2007 to come out, I want another.

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  exellent - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By cccccccccccc - April 10 - 2:00 am

  exelent carSleek styling, solid chassis, composed ride, comfortable front seats, fast power top operation in Cabriolet. Cons High price, some subpar plastic trim, CD player isnt standard, a few hard-to-use controls.

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  Great car will buy again - 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Charles Davis - April 9 - 1:43 am

  The best of luxury and power

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  Mercedes ML 320 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Piethein - April 7 - 10:00 am

  Had a 1998 ML 320, liked it well enough to get the 2002 model and am extremely impressed wit the improvements. Ride, sound system, options are superb

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  Excellent Car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MelissaOmaha - April 7 - 10:00 am

  My husband purchased this car last year and has been perfect from day one. Drives like a dream. Two months later, we purchased the M-Class for me. His and hers Mercedes!

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  So Far So Good - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sam - April 6 - 7:53 am

  In 2010, I paid $3,005 for my 2000 C280. It drives like a dream and my last car was a Lexus LS400, so I know smooth. The small dealer slapped a sloppy paint job on the damaged left side, even stuck a screw through the left bumper to hold in place. Anyway, paint job was bad enough to drop the price well below blue book (~$6,300). Also, airbag lights are on, so what. Thats fine with me, because my pre-purchase inspection gave the engine an A-Plus! Ill get a better paint job and maybe fix that SRS (airbag) light later. In the meantime, it drives like a fine luxury automobile should drive, like silk. Do I miss my Lexus? Nope! I keep asking my wife, Is this car too good to be true?

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  Solid small luxury car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RDMC300 - April 4 - 5:43 pm

  The car reviews seem to dismiss this model as a car not really for car lovers, but I really enjoy driving it. This car has strong acceleration, an excellent crisp transmission, amazing brakes, and the Michelin tires grip the road very well. The steering is light and precise, with just enough road feel. The suspension, even in the lux model, is as firm as I would want in a daily driver. With the premium package and multimedia package, this car addresses my every need and delights with its many thoughtful features. Every piece of this car feels quality, and the doors shut with a solid thunk.

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  ml350 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By kemde - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Overall performance is very good. The car is sporty yet rides extremely well. I like the size because it is not huge and it is easy to manuever in parking. The all wheel drive is particularly helpful in bad weather. The safety factor of the car is also huge.

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  1st Choice, 2nd ML - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Robert W. Jenkins - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I first owned a 1999 ML430. Replaced with 2003 ML 500. Very happy with improvements and performance. No service failures. Only complaint is that now it is necessary to remove rear headrests to fold down seats. ML500 is stylish, comfortable for long trips, and will go anywhere. It is truly at home in wil or at the Opera.