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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  It doesnt get any better than this! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MAD DOG - March 13 - 10:00 am

  The E300 Turbodiesel is a great car. Have loved it since the first day we drove it home. The diesel gets between 30-35 mpg and there is no problem with power. Wonderful ride, am looking forward to many wonderful years of great service.

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  A Great Car! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mlx52 - March 13 - 10:00 am

  The Mercedes M-Class has gone above and beyond all of my expectations... I live in Chicago, and I consider myself to be a horrible winter driver, however, with the purchase of this car I feel comfortable and in control of the situations that the road deals me. The interior has been vastly upgraded since the 98-model year and is now in line with the rest of Mercedes Line. The interior is flawless everything is in reach of the driver and everything is intuitively laid out. The car has been a pleasure to drive and have recommended it to all of my friends. I simply can not say enough of how much I love this car!

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By The best one - March 13 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle handles well and enjoy the hell out of it. Yes not to good gas mileage, but fun to drive.

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  My first Benz - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By swest18102 - March 12 - 4:00 am

  This is my first Benz and it sure wont be my last. I just returned from a trip out west and was very impressed at my fuel mileage of 35mpg running 80mph hwy. It was a joy to drive 10hrs straight in.

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  Initial New Review - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mark - March 12 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful car; handles well. I have the "radar" package (Distronic) and it is worth every penny. Quality build. I would hope to write a review in a year to see if I am still as satisfied as I am now.

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  Diesel R-class well worth it. - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Andrew - March 11 - 2:30 pm

  Six large adults - not a minivan or an SUV? Its the R-class. Ive never had a more comfortable car.

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  Excellent Car! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Todd - March 9 - 6:56 pm

  This is the first Mercedes I have been purchased. After having it almost a year, I have to say that the car is fantastic! I have had no problems at all as the odometer approaches 37,000 miles. Its a great car for anyone who wants a Benz but doesnt want to go broke paying for it.

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  Great SUV....so far - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Arthur - March 8 - 12:16 pm

  This is my first SUV and my second MB, my wife drives an 02 SLK. I leased my ML 320 CDI in Feb. 07 and so far I have been very impressed with the quality and workmanship of this SUV. The ML320 drives and handles well for a AW drive SUV. The performance is impressive,the diesel is super quite and the MPG is good for a vehicle this size, I have been averaging 21-22 combined and 24-25 highway. I have 7000 miles on my ML and so far no problems. The only down side is the price, MB needs to start offering more options as standard equipment, ie: Bluetooth, formed mats, power and heated seats, moon roof...etc and a lower price so more people can afford it. I would highly recommend this SUV.

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  Better than my first one - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Stan Long - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my second ML in 4 years. The 350s interior design is greatly improved, over the 2000 320. The center console is more functional and the rear A/C controls is a welcome addtion. I also like the larger wheels, they made for a smoothier ride.

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  Mercedes-benz E-500 ! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By hong tran - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Its perfect ! Two thumbs up ! Ill always trust in Mercedes-Benz,especially in E-class.