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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  2015 ML 400 - 2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By autofire - August 29 - 12:53 pm

  Nice ride. Has everything anyone could want with a five seat suv. The 3.0 TT motor has plenty of power and the the rpms dont max out every time you step on the gas like the base 2014 porsche I bought the suv to use as a family suv and I will not take it to the track for a race day. I looked at the porsche and to get the same options I have on my ML 400 and not have their base V6 motor. It would have cost $20K more and thats just for the S model I compaired to Porsche because I have a 911 and thought I wanted to stay with them. After having the ML for the first month I know I made the right desicission

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  VERY NICE - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ONECALL1 - August 28 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS MY 53RD CAR...OVERALL #1 BUT ONLY DUE TO THE COMFORT FOR SPEED REASONING. AN M5 IS MORE COMFORTABLE, A LOTUS QUICKER, BUT THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS.

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  Suggested Improvements - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Frank D. Piperato - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I love this car!!! Only problems, 1. Location of buttons on the drivers side door panel to adjust seats are difficult to find at night while driving.

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  My best car yet - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Andy Lejnieks - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Excellent value for a lease. Excellent performer, even for a 6 cylinder, on the highway. Tight and precise on local roads. The car is flawless. I only wish I got the convertible.

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  SOLID MB - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Laguna Hills - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Solid SUV, smooth ride and very comfortable. I dont feel like Im riding in a "tin" can like other cars. Its a fun SUV to drive. No mechanical problems.

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  Worth the wait! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jEmEmUrIU - August 25 - 4:06 am

  This being my first luxury car, I’m very happy with my purchase. MB has just found itself a customer for life! I have the special edition with all the available options. The beefy brakes, strong engine and manual shift capabilities help make it a very involving vehicle. On the negative, though, certain people at my job now look at me differently even though I’m still the same person. Maybe it’s the marque. Oh well, the joy I get from the ownership experience makes up for the attitude I deal with at work!

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Someone - August 22 - 6:36 pm

  I love the Mercedes r350. it is fun to drive and perfect for any family who wants to fit more than five without sacrificing performance

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  Best Car Ive ever owned! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve B - August 22 - 6:13 am

  I love this car, it is not the fastest car I have ever owned but is more than fast enough. It is not the best MPG car I have ever owned but gets far better mileage than any other car I know of with similar performance. It turns heads even though it is a 5 year old design, I love the Mars red color. I havent had it long enough to really evaluate reliability, but have talked to several owners who have had now significant problems including one whos daughter has been driving one since she got her license and with 156k on it still loves the car. Mine is a one owner and has only 40k miles on it, it looks, drives, and smells like a brand new car. My Mileage has averaged about 20 city, 30 hwy.

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  fun! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Hamelin - August 21 - 10:00 am

  Great car, handles well, fantastic brakes, the panoramic sunroof is awesume, but tight when closed. excellent build quality.Just a fun car, has many amenities like his bigger more costly brothers. Also a plus that there is not a million out there. Always gets attention, and looks.

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  Wonderful Q Ship - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C32 go - August 21 - 6:06 am

  My 2002 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG is a wonderfully smooth and powerful car. To the uninitiated, it appears like any other C-class sedan, but those in the know understand the AMG badge. It is roomy enough to have two car seats in the back, yet tidy enough to park easily. Though not as single-minded as an M3, it is a lovely alternative to those who need 4-doors.