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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  Best in Class in PPR - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By vijay - March 27 - 5:40 pm

  Looking at the price performance ratio in this catogory of the cars this is by far and large the best. Yes it is trace less in terms of the power from the other competitors, but is way ahead in all other departments, so overall is a sure winner, and of course its a three point star, you know what it means.

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  Great SUV - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jon W. - March 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 98 ML320 in July 2000 for $26,000, and since then Ive had nothing short of an outstanding vehicle. Ive had no problems at all with it. The engine is very reponsive and powerful, and the 5-speed driver- adaptive automatic transmission shifts beautifully. The Starmark service is great. Thereve been no problems with any electrical systems or switches, transmission, engine, or controls like others have claimed. Itll treat you good if you do the same. Take care of it and itll last you a long time.

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  Best yet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Oaklandish - March 26 - 2:43 pm

  Ive owned 10 cars and this car keeps delivering me smiles. Ive gotten 35 mpg on the way to la. I consistently get 27 mpg. This car meets all my needs and more. I bought this car used with 40k miles and it has 55k miles on it now. Carfax report says car has had transmission work done. Tranny sometimes stays in first if car is cold then shifts roughly. This is a rare occurrence.

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  Best Benz Ever! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By The Saint - March 25 - 1:20 pm

  I love this car so much, Im on my second one! Both have been white on black leather. First one I drove from +- 150000km right till 249000km. Was hard-pressed for a replacement car when I came across my current one - still in good knick despite being over 10 years old! (mileage 132000km) I have had this one now for a few months and it feels like dejavu! I cannot imagine driving anything else! Even the new ones dont match up to this! one snag - I might have to replace the keys/ignition! That wont be cheap! Besides that, have been a MB fan for years - also own a W123 230 E which I also love to bits! My only worry is the chafing of the steering wheel and gear-lever knob! any ideas?

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  About the Mercedes-Benz 2005 C320 Lux Se - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Susan J. Whitehorn - March 24 - 10:00 am

  So far this car has more than met all of my expections. Its performance, drive, ride and technical qualities are superb. I am extremely pleased with how I have been treated by the people where I purchase the C320. They have been very courteous, professional, and helpful and their follow-up has been outstanding thus far. The only downside to the car is that its interior size is a little tight. I knew this when I purchased the car.

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  Love It! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Teresa - March 24 - 4:43 am

  I dont think I will ever own anything but a Mercedes now! Its the best! Plenty of room for my family. I cannot believe the fuel economy I am getting! The dealership filled up my tank and I drove on that first tank 723 miles. This has so much power, and looks so slick!

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  Better than the SLK I traded in - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MA Benz Owner - March 24 - 4:36 am

  I owned two SLKs and fully expected to purchase another hard top convertible or "maybe" a sporty coupe. After shopping all the luxury convertibles I started looking at the coupes. I narrowed it down to the Audi A5, Infiniti G37 Convertible and then I drove the new e class. What a change from my SLK. It has everything since I went for the premium two package. Just returned from a road trip to VT - extremely comfortable. Only problem - it cruises at high speeds and you dont feel it - great ride and handling. Love the adaptive xeon headlights, voice controls, awesome stereo with every capability. Panoramic roof with sun shades. ... Gas mileage was 26.5 over 500 miles combined.

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  you get what you pay for - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Octavian Belcea - March 24 - 1:28 am

  After owning this car I cannot imagine owning anything better. My next choice would be the hybrid version (feeling a bit guilty at the pump).

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  Great looks both in and out. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By maxell106 - March 23 - 2:13 am

  The most beautiful car I have ever owned, I was debating between this Mercedes and a BMW 325 but this car just looks 10 times better. The only complaint I have is that it does not have bluetooth, mp3, and ipod kit standard, even the Scion tc which is a $ 18k car has the ipod kit and it reads mp3 standard. But other than that its the best car for the money. Cant wait to get out of work for the drive home.

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  Issue with brakes - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By JJ - March 20 - 9:16 pm

  A Mercedes through and through, except the brakes. Same platform as the C class sedan and apparently same brakes which are not strong enough. Have to pump them once to get them to grab like they should. Dealership said theyve had similar complaints and MB is working on a resolution. They better do it quickly - braking is very below average and possibly dangerous.