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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  Great Car So Far - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DKS - August 23 - 10:30 am

  Ive owned my 07 E350 with the no-cost sport option for 30 days and I could not be happier with it. I hope it is reliable. So far so good. I purchased the extended 7 year warranty. My 97 E320 was very unreliable and gave me a lot of problems.

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  Great Crossover SUV - 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By happymercedes - August 22 - 1:06 pm

  My family and I were set to look for a vehicle that was comfortable and fun to drive. This Crossover SUV is a blast. The interior feels like mercedes didnt miss a beat. It is luxurious and spacious. You feel like you are riding on air. We fit seven adults with comfort. Other so called seven passenger crossovers could merely fit my two young kids in the back. We test drove the Lexus, Infiniti,BMW, none had the comfort and amenities of this car. The Lexus line is cheap! It looks like Toyota just slapped on the lexus name and raised the price tag. BMW and Audi were small, not even close in comfort. This car is sporty, fun to drive and can fit 7 adults comfortably. I highly recommend this car!!!!

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  cla 250 4matic - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By discussion - August 22 - 12:36 am

  bought the car in march and put 10,000 miles to date. the car is fun to drive, love the looks and the attention you get while driving it. we have had zero problem to date. The ride is smooth on the high way but little firm on rough pavement. I have driven the Porsche 911 and I am not comparing to two but I love driving the CLA much more than 2013 Porsche 911. its just seam to have a sportier feel on the road than the 911. it does not have a lot of room in the back for people 6ft but it is still comfortable. must get the sport body style with moon roof. I rate this car a 10. would highly recommend this car to any one. Wish there was a convertible CLA so I get one

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  A totally misunderstood car - 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By rowner - August 21 - 12:44 pm

  I just purchased my second "R" diesel, a 2011, black and almond. Many magazine reviews for this car since its introduction categorizes it as some version of a minivan. Believe me, it is not a minivan by any measure of comparison. It is an SUV, pure and simple! Having owned a MB-GL diesel, a gas ML, and a 2008 R diesel, I can say it is the best of the three models. It has more usable room, weighs less, handles better, accelerates faster, uses less fuel, is more passenger friendly and more comfortable than its MB stablemates. Plus it is $10,000 cheaper than the comparable GL. My 08 R had 50,000 miles on it, all w/o a single mechanical issue or problem.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ML500 - August 21 - 12:43 pm

  This has been a wonderful car to own. Ive had it for 4 years. Ive taken good care of it, and in return its taken good care of me. Ive been looking to move on to my next purchase but have had a difficult time finding something that I like enough to give this one up. The 2005 model year ML was the best looking, particularly the special edition which I have. It was the most distinctive design. MB ruined the ML with the introduction of the 2006 model year that looked almost identical to every other middle sized SUV on the road. From 2006 on, they look like a Kia Sorento, A lexus RX, and every other round bubble SUV on the market. Had one small problem in year 1, a faulty battery.

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  Fun Car but be careful! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mike - August 20 - 4:46 pm

  I have owned this car for a year and a half now and have had to take to the dealership about 15 times for various quirks. Not that the car has really alot of problems just the dealerships have crappy mechanics so far. They break stuff and the service managers are scripted on what to say it gets annoying. MBUSA doesnt care either about the problems as they are all independantly owned. Not what I would expect from a supposedly classy luxury car. As long as the car has no problems you are ok but the dealerships are terrible. The new models dont even have the free service deal anymore which is sad for what you pay for the vehicle. Better cars out there for the money but I dont feel as safe in them

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  Wouldnt Buy Another MB - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fra - August 20 - 2:16 am

  I have had the C230K since 10/2004 and there have been problems non stop. Brakes squealing all the time, replaced twice. There is very ittle gas pedal room. Handles not even close to an Audi or BMW. Horrible traction in a little snow or rain. Loud engine noise. the only things great about this car are the gas mileage and style. Customer service is very poor and watch out for the salesmen on telling you that this car is fully covered. That standard option end in 2004. Now you have to pay for this bumper to bumper option. Things changed for the worse after the merger with Chrysler. Bottom line, last MB I will ever recommend or buy.

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  This is the CAR - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By COMPLA768 - August 19 - 8:23 pm

  My First MB. It is fun to drive, takes curves like it is on rails. 1/4 clocked at 100 mph. With the adjustable steering wheel and CD Changer and all the options, it is such a luxury. My 3 year old eggs me on "Go Faster Daddy". Dont bother buying this car without the 4matic. My neighbor has one and he spends more time digging it out from the snow than driving it.

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  Drivers car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By offline - August 19 - 1:36 pm

  The performance of the car is great. The build quality is great. Its comfortable beyond words. Its also a piece of crap. How can MB put so much into a car, and yet still build a car that idles quickly at times, or shakes at high speeds. Its love/hate. I love certain features and characteristics and hate others.

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  The wife loves it! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By IH82BL8 - August 19 - 11:10 am

  This is our 3rd MB. The wife didnt want a minivan, and our ML was out growing our family. We got a great deal, $12000 off sticker! The R350 was the perfect choice for our family. Its large enough to fit 6 very comfortably and its very luxurious. Its a large vehicle but it drives like a sedan. Ive got a sports sedan and I even enjoy driving the R350. The NAVI is not as user friendly as the Japanese built cars but we are slowly getting used to it. We love the HK stereo and the panoramic roof. The wife appreciates the auto tailgate. The rear doors are a little too big at tight parking spaces. No regrets at all!