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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  Better than BMW - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Chitapita - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Great car, fun to drive. I had two 3- series BMWs before this car and this is by far a superior vehicle. I think that it is more compatable with a 5- series BMW (and at a 3-series price). I will buy a Mercedes again and am encouraging a family member to trade a Jaguar in for an s-class.

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  Love IT!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Corkiedog208 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  LOVE IT ALL!!!!! TURNS HEADS!!! BETTER THAN THE 99 E320 I TRADED IT IN FOR. LIGHT YEARS AHEAD!!

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  Excellence - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Pharmaster - April 3 - 2:00 am

  The re-designed E500 is outstanding. The interior is as comfortable of any car Ive ever purchased. The preformance is perfect. I couldnt be happier. Thanx Mercedes

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  Love this Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kathrynlla - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely love this car. Fun to drive. Handles well. Looks great. NOt sure I would buy any other make after owning a Mercedes. Do wish fuel economy was a bit better.

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  my rate - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By haylee - April 3 - 2:00 am

  i really like this car my family loves to drive this car we love to go on vacation with our benz.

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  An average truck. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Eric F - April 2 - 10:00 am

  The M-Class is a good SUV, it does everything well, but will never be able to win a comparison against other luxo SUVs

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  110, 000 Miles and Very Solid - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Rant - April 2 - 12:33 am

  I have this car for 3 years and is very solid. Lot of power and still feels like new. I highly recommend this car. 110,000 Miles and no issues. I use it on daily basis for everything. Mercedes benz road assistant said the CLK class is the most reliable of all Mercedes and I agree with it. For a V8 23 mpg is really good.

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  A Really Sleek Touring Coupe - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By miracolo - April 1 - 8:10 am

  This is my first Mercedes and overall, I am extremely pleased. I have owned 6 BMWs and most recently, an Infiniti G37 Coupe, all with manual transmissions, so this car with auto/paddle shifters was a leap. Before buying I looked at a BMW335 Coupe, another G37 Coupe and an Audi A5 Coupe. While the A5 design is great, it felt a little cramped inside especially since the sunroof doesnt slide open - weird. The E350 looks great, inside and out. Interior is spacious and the panoramic sunroof adds to that. Road and highway handling are excellent, but it could use a bit more power and some muffler resonance. Overall, its a Grand Touring Coupe that I am truly happy to drive.

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  Great choice - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ChuckinTucson - April 1 - 4:20 am

  This my 9th Mercedes-Benz. I really like this car a lot. Mine is Orion Blue with Ash interior, and gets a lot of compliments. I bought Yokohama S- Drive tires for it right after I got it, and love the comfort ride, and the handling. Great combination of car and tires.

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  2 Years Later - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Max Headroom - March 31 - 8:36 am

  We picked this car up in Germany in Oct,2005, fresh off the 2006 production line. I highly recommend their white-glove international delivery. We tooled around on the autobahn at speeds of 120- 130mph with little effort. I only recently went on a road trip of any length in the U.S.; 2000 miles to NY and back to Atlanta. What a dream on the road! Surprizingly, room for 2 suitcases,a computer tower,various coolers and tote bags without having to put the top up! Mileage ran at 30mpg @ 70-80 cruising speed. Because this is a performance car, the ride is stiff, but not intolerable for long trips. The adjustability of the driver seat makes finding a comfortable setting easy. Navi system is adequate.