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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  meh - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mark H. - May 7 - 11:20 am

  I test drove one of these and wasnt very impressed. The engine under load sounds like an overstressed rental car. If you dont need the space, the BMW 3-series diesel is a much better car for less money. Or take a look at the A6 TDI.

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  Love my C300 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By flyer - May 7 - 7:06 am

  Absolutely love it! Even though it could use a little more power I am very satisfied otherwise. Handling is great. Build quality and quality of materials are top notch. I was pleasantly surprised. I was looking at a BMW 335ix and it was a lot more money and I couldnt justify the added cost for the added performance.

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  2002 M-Class is Much Improved - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Woody - May 7 - 1:20 am

  We loved our 98 ML 320 but were less than thrilled with multiple simple problems that plagued the first year of production: rattling rear seats, window switches that failed, rusting lug bolts, noisy suspension to name a few. We are loyal MB owners and have been for 19 years, and can honestly state that the 2002 M-Class improvements are first class--the quality has finally caught up with the design mid-way through this models life cycle.

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  Nice little taste of Luxury - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Shirl - May 5 - 10:00 am

  The car is delightful to drive, fast, handles nice, etc. Car looks better coming, than going! Love the ability to make seat position really high for us short folks. Visibility is good, front seats are very comfortable. Lots of room in back seat area. Got great mileage at 60 MPH on long trip, averaged 35-38 MPG. Engine is quiet, ride is great. Dealer recommends the highest grade gas, but Ive used the cheaper and it works fine.. no pings, appears to have same pick-up, etc. Love the sunroof, although have had problems with rattles and sticking. Overall though, I love this car!

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  Poor Quality - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By armani5 - May 3 - 12:50 pm

  Car died at 90K miles. I have had three Mercedes and all of them have had severe quality issue. Never buying a Mercedes again.

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  KJ - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By kim - May 3 - 11:03 am

  This is my 3rd. ML I really like the way the 2006 drives, Much smoother ride than the others. Im very happy with this vehicle

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  Decent Value - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Carguy - May 2 - 10:53 pm

  112,000kms when I bought it. Ive put 15,000kms on it and have replaced the air mass sensor, wiper regulator, brakes, rad flush. Every few months the engine light comes on for some reason. On the other hand this car is 10 yrs old and does give you great value for the vehicle. The inline 6 has to be one of the best engines ever made. Very roomy and all creature comforts. Many of these cars are 1 owner cars so you can find many that have been well looked after. Forget about a Camry or Accord you and have a Benz with more options, lower miles, and more class for about some price.

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  My first Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Paul - May 2 - 10:00 am

  You get what you pay for. This vehicle is solid while comfortable and quiet. Rides like a car, great in the snow and rain. Smooth on the highway and delicate around town. Beautiful lines outside and in. A real value for the money. I told my accountant I was looking to buy a car and considering either a Toyota or a Mercedes. "Thats quite a difference" he said. Not really, any idea what the base price for a land cruiser is? $54k! The Mercedes was 10 less. I know 8 vs 6 cyl and whatever but... Even take the Highlander and compare it with the same accessories and you are paying pretty close to what your paying for a Mercedes. Go for the MBZ

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  THE RIGHT STUFF - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Mr. Big - May 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the best SUV I have ever bee in

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  Best in Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By smherlin - May 2 - 2:00 am

  I was a previous E320 and a short lived 03 E500 owner. After being disappointed with the size of the E500 I traded up to the S430. I am pleased with the restyle and love the interior.