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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  SL500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By kmke - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Love this car - but for the GPS and Audio which are archaic.

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  Good Looks. Lacks Interior Features - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Stu - November 4 - 1:36 am

  Wife and I love the looks. In comparison, I wanted the Acura TL which has more ponies, better leather and interior creature features. Wife loved it more than me. Imagine a $38K car without full power passenger seats. The seat/mirror/steering wheel memory is poorly designed. Instead of just pressing a button, you have to hold it in to change from one setting to another. Also, its not activated from the remote key. No compass. The steering wheel controls for the radio and readouts are confusing and not user friendly at all. Im in a 2yr lease and cant wait for it to expire. Better choices Lexus I250 or Acura TL or yet BMW330I

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  2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class-320 CDI 4Dr - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Sam - November 2 - 12:13 am

  Own this 13 months, bought brand new. Just completed 50k miles, had no problems. Excellent drive. With this size of SUV mileage is very good 24- 25MPG, perfect for the highway. Owned several SUVs but I think this is the best and think it will last forever. MB has really improved there product. We are very happy.

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  The Best E Class Ive had yet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By krudolph - November 1 - 2:30 pm

  Ive driven this car for two years, and it is the best E Class yet. It is fun to drive, and with four snow tires it is very good in the snow. I am going to get a E550 4Matic. I got 23 mpg on the highway with the air conditioner running and 16-17 mpg around town.

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  Love my M350L - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Tiffany - October 31 - 3:00 pm

  I went from a Navigator to the M- Class. I love the handling of this SUV because it feels like a car. It has tight handling and you should check out the lean when driving in a curve. It has all the luxurious that say "Mercedes" but is also fun to drive. The new body style is sportier and doesnt look like a minivan. It is an SUV I plan to keep for a while.

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  Everything I expected - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Dean - October 31 - 6:13 am

  I had been looking at this vehicle since it hit the MBUSA website in 6/08. I loved the styling inside and out. I got the premium package 1 with navigation and I-pod. Everything has worked like a dream since I purchased in 11/09. I drive very conservatively and have been able to get 22 average mpg in city/highway driving. I have been waiting to write a review until I took it on a road trip. On a 2000 mile trip I still only got 22.5 mpg. Not too disappointed though since it was so much fun to drive. I also purchased chrome handle inserts and rubber floor mats. The chrome inserts add a touch of class and the floor mats will add durability because I plan on having this car a long time.

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  Truly a great vehicle - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mjdaidola - October 29 - 11:22 pm

  Prior to this car I owned 4 C-Classes (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011). Personally, I felt the C-Class was a good vehicle that came with a premium price tag because of the 3-point badges affixed to the hood and bumper. Unable to get my hands on a C-Class coupe w/ 4Matic I went with the 2013 E350 Sport 4-Matic (Black on Black, AMG Wheels, P2, and Pano-roof). What a suprise. There is a clear line drawn in the sand between the C-Class and the E/S Classes. First, the E-Class is crafted with overall superior materials and attention to detail. Second, this car is fast, much faster than my last C300. At almost 4000lbs this car is a beast (0-60 approx 5.6). Last, its roomey inside like a Lincoln Town Car.

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  one great car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By tollerkoch - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this car last week on ebay and drove it from Miami to Santa Fe,NM. Everything you expect from a Benz and more. The ride is luxurious, quiet, and has plenty of power. Speaking of power, the interior is a living room, all leather and power everything. After testdriving about ten NEW cars from GM, VW, Nissan and Chrysler I can honestly say that none of the new ones was a match for this six year old car. I owned a beautiful 92 300CE Coupe, which was a total loss after I got rear ended, but this car has helped me to forget her.

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  I love my car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By deejared - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I love my car. I had driven the ML several years ago and did not like they way it drove,the changes made to the suspension make this car wonderful to drive. I will definetly purchase a new ML when the 2006 comes out.

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  company car ok - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Newtoca - October 29 - 10:00 am

  It is okay for a company car. I would not purchase this car for personal use.