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 at a relatively great price - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kimi Raikkonen - July 3 - 10:00 am

  C230 sport sedan is a great deal. If you dont mind giving up a little bit of refinement (V6 vs I4), this is the one to get and save about $3000 over a BMW 325i. The car has been flawless so far, and I like the car more and moreas I drive it. You wont be dissapointed.

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  unidentify noise - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By wjp1 - July 3 - 6:11 am

  I bought a 02 E 430 SPt SEDAN NEW. I have no problem in over 10 years. Only minor repairs. The vehicle performance magnificent,strong unbelievable aggressive acceleration and amazing handling , with the MECHANICALLY RELIABLE POWERFULL 4.3L V 8 engine AS APPRX. 160,000 MILES I want to keep this car for a while longer. I AM EXPERIENCING ONE RECENT PROBLEM, I JUST PUT A NEW A/C SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE, BUT AROUND APPROX. 1000-1200 RPM I GET A DRAGGING PANORAMIC SOUND THAT GO AWAY OVER 1200 RPM. WHEN THE A/C SYSTEM IS ON ONLY. WE REPLACED THE UNIT BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THE LOCAL M-BENZ DEALERSHIP NEVER EXPERIENCE NOTHING LIKE THIS. I still have the noise and need help.

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  DC - 2002 C240 Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JJDC2005 - July 2 - 12:43 am

  Great car to drive/own. Just bought new E500. Nothing like a Benz, nothing. At 5.5 years old, still feels tighter, newer than our 1 year old Maxima.

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  A great car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rob - June 29 - 4:16 pm

  The car is an absolute joy to own/drive. Many people who ride in it cant believe that it is "only a V6." I tested this against the M3 and honestly it just came down to the extra 2 doors. You couldnt go wrong with either one.

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  Sleek - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Dr B.Singh - June 29 - 5:36 am

  I bought this car for my wife but i have been driving it more for now. No doubt it is one of the best Mercedes we have. Cup holders are neat but do interfere with moving the shift stick. One may spill his/her coffee. Storage space in between front seats is small .I would like to have small space to put my papers in front console. A cover to accomadate a fifth passenger/child would help in rear middle. It definitely however turns heads.

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  Smooth Power, Value and Quality - 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By safari_joe - June 29 - 12:43 am

  Hello all: I have found it to be a fast and subtle commuter/touring machine. I traded over to it from a 97 993 (which was a great car) as my wife was adverse to the Porsche ride (a very good ride in my opinion). This is my second SL and my 3rd Mercedes. As all SL’s it is quietly fast and comfortable. The handling is greatly improved from models of the late 70’s and the dealer service has been equal to that of Porsche (excellent). As with the 993, I would recommend a dealer extended warranty as these cars can disrupt your budget if something major malfunctions after the original one expires. My wife is found of the panoramic roof in the rain and enjoys the heated seat.

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  Great Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mblover - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I love my new mercedes. It is so fun to drive. I love the way it looks.

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  solid decision - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By chuck in sc - June 27 - 2:00 am

  a sporty sedan with some power. compared hard with 3 series/ A6. i have owned the car for 4 months now, and i can honestly say that it was a great decision....no regrets. power and transmission are awesome. style is incredible and sleek...gets lots of looks. my first mercedes. it outdoes the 3 series i used to own, primarily with handling characteristics and very responsive throttle/transmission. this car is fun to drive and is an excellent value for the price...considering the luxury associated with the name, the european performance, and beautiful craftsmanship. very solid buy.

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  Great Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By tom - June 26 - 3:36 am

  We previosly owned 4 MLs, but it was time for a change. The car is fun to drive. The car has plenty of pick up. The interior space is very generous and the ride is great

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  EXCELLENT CAR - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SDUKE - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I TRAVEL SIX STATES IN MY JOB. I HAVE OWNED BMW, VOLVO, AURORAS THIS CAR IS BY FAR THE BEST OVERALL BEST VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED