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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  The Best of European Luxury - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Cleighman - August 7 - 10:06 am

  My 13th Mercedes and the best. Amazingly smooth ride coupled with the SIRIUS satellite radio/stereo make driving a pleasurable experience.

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  Great deal - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By professordavid - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Slick, comfortable, and responsive vehicle able to grip road, drive elegantly while responsiveness of a sportier vehicle. Never have had a major repair -- only minor glitches detected by computer, or fragility of a cup holder..

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  CLK 320 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By gotmymojojrkn - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This car has taught me what a car should be like. I find ingenious features every time I drive this vehicle. You dont even need the 430 version because this CLK 320 car is a sports car in itself. Worth every penny!

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  Beautiful Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Andrea2001 - August 7 - 10:00 am

  The car is everything I expected and more. Its luxurious, classy and sporty. Unfortunately, Ive encountered electrical problems (a defective wire) where the computer had a complete system failure. Mercedes did a great job getting the car towed and fixed. It hasnt happened again but the windows seem to have a mind or its own. They tend to close and reopen back to its original position. Still havent figured out why this happens yet.

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  Mecedes Getting It Right - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By D. Stumpf - August 7 - 3:56 am

  In spite of the negative press MB has received of late, I do think they are getting it right in the 2005 and 2006 model years. In particular I have nothing but praise for my trusty E320. This is my third MB (2nd in the last 3 years) and by far the best. In fact, I think it outshines anything in its class. I now have nearly 15,000 miles and my only service has been for scheduled maintenance. Its been a trusty vehicle for over a year now, and I would not own any other brand for this type of car. My only complaint (and this holds for the 2003 models as well) is extremely poor wear on OEM tires. I have over 45,000 miles on my 2004 Acura MDX with less apparant wear than the MB.

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  Everything I expected from a Mercedes - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Polishpride212 - August 6 - 3:00 pm

  In the process of choosing a luxury sport sedan, I went to all the usual suspects, but each had its downfall.(Lexus LS430 = bland styling, BMW 5series was too sporty, Infiniti M35 had a cheap detailing)So I was left with two possiblities, the new Acura RL, coming in 05, or the redesigned E320. I choose the E320. Its interior was of an unmatched style and quality. The exterior has the right amount of sport and luxury. And that three-pointed star sealed the deal. So far, I have not have one single problem, and hopefully it will say that way. The dealership treated me as though I was a prince when it was sent in for service. The power is more than adequate, and it is all I wanted.

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  Hooligan in a Hugo Boss suit.. - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Alex - August 5 - 12:15 pm

  ..the title was ripped from a professional review, but it pretty much sums it up. Im a "No replacement for displacement" kind of guy, but this C63 combines the best of both worlds.

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  GREAT G500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By DM11366 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  AWSOME GO ANYWHERE DO ALL VEHICLE, BEST 4 WHEEL DRIVE OF THEM ALL!!!!!!!!

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  Fun in the Sun - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Lindaellen - August 2 - 2:00 am

  I had a CLK coupe prior, and this is a wonderful improvement! It handles like a dream, and feels great to be in. Its very comfortable, and roomier than the prior version. People are always giving compliments are coming over to take a closer look. I do suggest getting the power trunk closer, as the trunk lid is more difficult to handle than its predessor.

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  Pegs critique - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By peg west - August 2 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 that I recently purchased is the 6th SL that Ive owned.. I love it!