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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  Has bad side too - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Agie - December 20 - 9:03 am

  I have this vehicle for over 2 months and stumbled into a common mistake and filled up with gas. Costing around $800 to remove the gas when I did not started the car and realize while fueling. If you start it may cost you $6000-$8000. Very delicate fuel and exhaust system.

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  On The Money - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dagooch - December 20 - 2:00 am

  I leased this car and I was sure Id give it back once the lease was up. I have a couple of months left on lease, and I have already made arangements to buy it out. It has been the best and most reliable car I could have asked for. I would recommend a 230 to anyone.

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  My ML320 Review - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By UNHpro983 - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Among many of the reviews listed on this site, I, too, have had several problems with my ML320. To begin with, problems with the power windows, the power door locks, the alarm system, the airbags, lights coming on and off, etc. have caused me to make numerous trips to the dealer. Many of which I had to sit there and wait for because the dealer wouldnt give me a loaner. My Montero never gave me so many problems, and I am very skeptical about keeping this SUV after the service contract is up. The service is above a 10, but I do not want to have to pay for so many "little" problems.

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  Definitely nice! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Hondo - December 20 - 2:00 am

  While my ML320 was in for scheduled maintenance, I received the E320 as a "loaner". I was skeptical since a significant snow storm was predicted. But it turned out I had nothing to worry about. The traction control was outstanding, and the antilock did its job. The car felt confident and performed extremely well. Ride quality excellent, and the car just feels SOLID. The engine is spirited (thats a V6 underhood?), quiet, and refined. I found it kind of odd that the car had a motorized headrest, but a "push open" fuel door. Huh?

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  Marylander - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Marlylander - December 19 - 12:00 pm

  Since the new CDI arrived, I had been wanting to buy one. I have been happy ever since I bought this car. It is fun to drive, and gets more than excellent gas mileage. I average 650 miles between fill-ups. Then interior is comfortable and well designed. Sound system is great also.

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  Beware of the E Class Defroster - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By nipomo - December 18 - 11:33 pm

  The E Class defroster has no adjustment. Full temperature only on the windshield and interior of car. Makes for an oven when on. Doesnt cut off automatically. Had I known this, I would not have bought a $55K Mercedes.

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  Love it - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Jab - December 18 - 10:30 pm

  First time owning a benz. I love driving it with the options of comfort or sporty.

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  Major defect with Mercedes engine components - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By md_car_review - December 17 - 5:17 pm

  The overall reliability for the 2006-2007 W203s is excellent until you encounter failure of the balance shaft gear. My father owns the 2006 model, and the component failures that he experienced with his car are now mirrored at precisely the same mileage on mine. 1) The thermostat valve tends to fail after around 100,000 km. 2) More importantly, the balance shaft gear fails after around 130-140,000 km. This is a MAJOR DEFECT that MB declines to recall. Essentially the gear wears out prematurely, and if not replaced, the engine will eventually fail. The repair cost is $5-6,000. As a consumer, this is unacceptable. Shame on Mercedes-Benz.

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  As good as always - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By dono - December 17 - 1:26 pm

  This is our third S class. We drove the S350, dont waste your time (under powered and too small)and why spend the extra $10K for the S500 as the 430 has good power and no luxury tax. These cars are limos with great handling and style.

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  2005 E 320 Sedan - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By L Jaksetich - December 15 - 8:00 pm

  Fantastic mileage,...drove 920 miles to Florida on less than two tanks of fuel!!! Great road car for comfort, speed & handling. Purchased car, used, 3 yrs old with less than 10K. Even performed well this past winter in driving for its weight,....truly is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. This is my 4th Mercedes. Hope to drive it for a long time. Service is 2nd to none at my selling dealer.