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 all time perfect car. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c32hammer - November 6 - 12:23 pm

  I have found the perfect all around car, its name is C32. Try it you will love it.

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  solid, safe - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Tarrant - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Safe and solid. Would purchase it again. After three years, the ML320 has been great. No problems whatsoever. Mercedes has proactively replaced some items under warranty during regularly scheduled maintenance visits. *Great* service in Texas; crappy service from HBL in Vienna, Virginia.

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  MOST FUN EVER - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By shaun - November 4 - 3:10 pm

  Let me start by saying this is one bad bad car(meaning great great car)Bought it with a strict budget in mind so i settled on a 2005 with call it 50 thousand miles.Black on black pd and i payed $31000 for this monster. Enough of that lets start with the fun aspect nothing i mean nothing will hang with this car the torque is just sensational i find myself looking the the lite to turn red so i can stop wait then lift off....whew it tough! I have owned the car for 2 weeks and not a problem yet,this car is all about the engine ,the interior is practical but my 04 745il was more plush driving position .JUST GO AND FIND A LOW MILE E55 AND HAVE FUN!!!!

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  A great car - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Paul Schroeder - November 4 - 12:29 pm

  This is a great car. We previously had a 2014 C300 4Matic. I would frequently tell my wife that what that car needed was more horsepower and a quicker shifting transmission. This car has both. The transmission shifts in an instant (almost as good as Porsches PDK) and rev matches downshifts. The handling is sharp and the steering is precise. The ride is good for a car with these sporty characteristics. The seats are comfortable and the interior is very high quality. The nav system is far superior to the one in our prior car (which I rarely used, preferring Google Maps in my phone). I highly recommend this car, especially to those who might be considering an S4 or a BMW M sport line car.

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  Marks S430 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Mark Papay - November 4 - 1:33 am

  My Mercedes-Benz S430 is the finest car that Ive ever driven. This is the so-called base model of the "S" series and it is provided with standard features that most other manufacturers have never even thought of. It actually out-performs the stated EPA mileage data (17/26). It provides an amazing blend of comfort and performance at a surprisingly tolerable price.

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  Great family vehicle; beast in the hills - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By DSpike - November 3 - 9:50 pm

  Great family vehicle with lots of room and fantastic comfort when cruising on the highway. Low rating on "Fun-to- Drive" because frankly this car/van/stationwagon/crossover isnt intended to be fun to drive the way a sedan might. Its a safe, roomy, family vehicle with style. That said, I will confess that the diesel engine makes this vehicle a beast in the mountains. We live in Colorado and it is sometimes mind- boggling to me how easily this car climbs steep grades. I will say that snow handling was very poor with the original tires, but once replaced became respectable. Fuel economy for this size vehicle is also very respectable. Overall 24-25 mpg. (Around town 19; Highway 27).

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  Versatile luxury - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Ralph - November 2 - 7:40 am

  At first, I went to get a 4 door sedan, therefore I was hesitant to get what I thought of as a "minivan in disguise". But the more I drive it, the more I love it! I like the way it handles both on the highway and around the city. It feels like a Mercedes Benz car not a minivan or truck. People love the back seats, and the plentiful leg room available. The diesel model, which I have, is giving me great mileage per gallon of gas. I love that the seats in the back can be arranged in different configurations, very versatile. It is very luxurious inside. The sound system is excellent.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JJG - November 1 - 6:13 pm

  I purchased this car with less than 13,000 miles (certified). Decided to add the extended warranty which extends coverage to 100k. Because of the lack luster economy I realized significant costs saving when I purchased this vehicle. This is a great Automobile! The ride is absolutely first rate and the safety features are without peer! My wife has a Lexus and there is a significant difference in handling and ride quality. Im continuously complimented on the vehicle. This is my first MB! Definitely will not be my last. Simply put, this is the best automobile that Ive ever owned!

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  My New Bluetec - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Alan - November 1 - 2:33 pm

  This is an excellent all round vehicle. I opted to upgrade the wheel package to 10 twin spoke alloys - why these are not offered as standard as they are on the E350 surprises me

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  SHOCKED!!!!!!!! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By APM - November 1 - 10:00 am

  I cant believe the reviews on this SUV. Have driven the RX300 LEXUS and the MDX from Acura, the ML320 has them beat. First, it is just plain fun to drive. Then again the simple ergonomics and quality in the leather is amazing. Very quite and I am shocked at the many people I talked to who said this is a "trucky" feel to the SUV.For someone else in my category i.e. Third a must, quality in the ride, great sound system. Try a ML320.