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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  Update on Mecedes E-320 BLUETECH - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Henry - May 13 - 11:30 pm

  I recently submitted a review of my new 2007 Bluetech. In this review I stated the problems I was having with the 7 speed transmission. I am happy to tell you that Mercedes has installed new software to eliminate this jerky shifting problem. My local dealer and Mercedes in Germany was involved in this process. It has been a week now since the update and the transmission is now shifting as smooth as silk. In fact, the transmission is shifting much more positive throughout the entire speed range. I think Mecedes and my dealer has done a great job solving this shifting problem and eliminating it. The entire process took about one hour. I thought you like to hear the good news.

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  Fantastic Engine, but not for twistys - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By socalh2oskier - May 13 - 9:10 pm

  Just upgraded from 350 cab to the 550 cab. The engine on the 550 is amazing. Too bad the rest of the car lags in comparison. The suspension is downright sloppy. Straight line acceleration is exhilirating, but the smile on your face quickly fades if you have to turn, as it is plagued by execissive body roll and lack of control in corners. Stereo is so-so, and seating, even with the p-3 option pdg which includes upgraded "body contour" seats, is still far below the support and comfort of a BMW. If the BMW 335 convertible were available, I would have bought it. But it is not so I will enjoy this car for my 3 yr lease term and then trade for the more comfortable and sure-footed BMW.

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  Eurocarlover - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Luveurocars - May 13 - 9:06 pm

  I just recently purchased my CLK 500. When I test drove the car, I looked for power, quietness with the top up, and overall enjoyment to drive. This car is fun to drive. Ive owned Porsches, Audis, and Range Rovers. This is my first Mercedes. This is definitely as fun and as comfortable to drive. Im still getting used to the amazing power off the line. It is also a very quiet ride with the top up. Other convertibles we test drove, were quite noisy. Im very pleased with this vehicle. Shes a beauty!

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  Proud owner of 13 CLS 550 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By pedalmetal - May 13 - 5:14 pm

  I have to say that this is one fine automobile! It is an orgasmic experience-wow! The handling,power,linear lineage,interior layout and exceptional craftsmanship to detail is wonderful. I have read some reviews that mention that the rear seats and headroom are a negative-really?! I bought this car for myself and my wife-I could care less about the comfort of the rear passengers-take a cab! The features that jump out at me are the side bolsters, passive massage, COMMAND features, Lane Assist option, raw power and acceleration. I work in auto sales with a competitor, but after reviewing this vehicle for 2 years, I had to have it. I may be looking for a new job, but this baby is worth it!

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  Skin deep beauty - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By jp_BucksCo_pa - May 13 - 1:56 am

  Facts: Shop service average is every six weeks since purchase. Repeat problems = air bag, trunk open/close harness, radio, suspension, wheels & tires, pressure sensor, brake pad sensor, windows. While many under warranty, the fun this car is to drive has been ruined by poor construction, unreliability, giving up almost a day a month to repairs. Dealer offers no solution despite complaints, though loaner (other make) is always available. After only 4 years, window seals and interior chrome are failing. My 7 YO F-150 has held up better. Too bad. Car looks and drives great, but car is a family joke. We leave it home for long trips never knowing when "Drive To Shop" light will come on mid-trip.

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  Cant Touch This Vehicle! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BENZ LOVER - May 12 - 8:16 am

  We recently purchased a Toyota Sienna Mini-van. With AWD and options that came standard on the Mercedes, the price was $3000 more than we paid for the ML350! We have not spent a cent on maintenance in 3+ years-all standard service covered plus warranty! Had a small problem with side window coating like other reviews I have read-replaced by dealer during regular maintenance visit-no problem. This car has the most stable, solid ride I can imagine for a truck. Its impossible to get this vehicle to sway, and the horsepower is great. You need a V-8 plus $15 grand to match the power in a BMW. To quiet Benz bashers in the media - this is a beautiful, well-built vehicle and an exceptional value!

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  2004 Mercedes-Benz C230K - I Love This Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kristin - May 11 - 11:26 pm

  My 2004 C230K is my very first Mercedes-Benz and I have no idea how I can ever go back to regular cars. This car performs like no other I have driven. It handles better then any car in its class! Go test drive it and see for yourself! It was love at first sight. It is a little pricey but it is worth every penny. I love my car so much and I get so many compliments.

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  Traded in a 2014 E350 and its an upgrade. - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dave - May 9 - 11:21 am

  Our lease was up on our 2014 E350, which we loved. We werent even thinking about the new E300 because of the change from the 302 hp V6 to the 241hp turbo 4. I did have the opportunity to experience how smooth an powerful the new generation of twin turbo 4s can be as I recently also bought a BMW 328i. Two days after picking up the E300 I took it on a 500 mile trip that I did often in the 2014. There is really no discernible difference in performance between the two engines in speeds up to 90 mph. The 4 with the 9 speed transmission is incredibly smooth. The full torque is available at very low rpm so the car felt just as powerful, fast and quick as the V6. Both cars have a similar smooth ride with the new car having a little better driving dynamics. The beautiful exterior and interior styling, amazing seats with power thigh bolsters, and cutting edge safety and entertainment tech makes the new car superior to the 2014. Our new car stickered about $4k less than the 2014, but overall was better equipped. Although I dont have adaptive headlights or pano sunroof this time, having lane departure, self parking, autonomous braking, Appleplay, etc makes up for it. Dont hesitate being concerned about the shift from the 6 to the turbo 4. It makes no difference in real world driving. Compared to the BMW turbo 4, the Benz is smoother and quieter, the BMW is quicker and more athletic. The E350 was the best sedan I ever owned and the new E300 is clearly better. Surprisingly though the gas mileage is not that much better: 2 mpg on the highway - 29 for the 2014 and 31 for the new one, both 4matic. This was at average speeds of 75-80. UPDATE at 1 year. I will not be getting another Mercedes when this lease is up. Car performs well, but the technology does not work as advertised. Appleplay conks out, the screen goes blank, nav is very awkward to use, voice recognition is not very good, self Park is useless, Mercedes app doesn’t work right. Mercedes service doesn’t have answers. Beautiful car, nice highway ride, but not really an upgrade on the old E350. Next time I’ll be looking at Audi or BMW.

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  The overlooked item - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By F.Dressler - May 9 - 10:00 am

  We are all raving about the new E320/500. Has any one of you ever looked into the trunk. Yes it is now as large as in a VW, but the spare tire...a donut on a black rimm, What is becoming of MB.And try to get the tire out, you have dismantle the whole trunk.Very disappointing will not buy unless I get a full size matching wheel.

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  This car rocks! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By James - May 9 - 2:33 am

  So far this has been a terrific car. The power is unlike any vehicle Ive ever driven. Believe everything you have read about this car; it boogies. The interior is different for me, having had SUVs and trucks. Cupholders and basic storage are the only downside. The build quality overall is impressive as is the overall comfort of driving. The driving experience is somewhat different because the brakes, gas pedal, and tranny are always "thinking" on how I am driving, etc, so it will take getting used to. It does drink the premium though. Also, the a/c is incredible, as in hang meat in the cabin cold. Stereo is OK...lots of gadgets overall. Its a beauty to look at too, makes me smile.