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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  2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 - The Most Beautiful Car Ever - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mc - April 17 - 4:13 pm

  This car is more than just the fancy Mercedes-Benz name. it has power comfort, looks and best of all you really do get what you paid for.

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  Own it. To know it. - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MJ. Velus - April 16 - 5:23 pm

  PROS: Luxurious cabin furnishings, plush ride quality and a strong range of engines. CONS: Not much cargo space,mediocre fuel mileage with V6.

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  excellent - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By falko - April 14 - 10:00 am

  this is it!!!it is the best on a planet! euroquality & comfort - what else? it is a fun to drive!

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  Luv My Mercedes - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jay Cutler - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Still gets praise for its beauty whenever its getting gas or valet parked. Only complaint is the occasional over bumps squeaks, coming from I suspect the convertible top and how it locks onto the frame (my wife insists the noise is from the dashboard). The car is still a dream and even my most obese non front seat passenger doesnt complain about room in the back . In fact it can take two not so big people fairly comfortably in the rear seat.

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  Best luxury SUV on the market - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By NB Driver - April 12 - 6:33 pm

  Lexus has no chance on this one, for the time being, as we did consider the GX 470 and many other SUVs. Standard equipment on this car is unbelievable and the ride is irreplaceable. Great job MB

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  ML430 Sport 2001 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Angelo - April 11 - 11:40 pm

  I love the vehicle. Was growing tiered of squeezing into my Lexus coupe. I am 6 7" tall and love the head and leg room

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  Wonderfully Powerful 550!! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By B1Mario - April 11 - 11:36 am

  Bought a certified CLK550 Coupe with all the options a few months ago. Absolutely love the car, great power, decent handling and nice interior. Came from an 01 Corvette and the CLK550 is every bit its equal in power. Handling is a little on the softer side but much easier to live with every day. Drove 06 M3 and 08 335 before choosing the CLK. Basically went on features and power the BMWs could hold up. 335 might have a little more speed here at altitude (CO - 6000) due to the turbos; but overall like the CLK much better and am very happy with my choice.

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  Quality is back - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By CBM - April 11 - 6:43 am

  I traded my 07 GX 470 Lexus in on this and have been very happy. I get 25 mpg, which is not bad for a large suv. With diesel at 4.50 a gal. it costs to fill the tank, but it is money well spent. The GL is a true pleasure to drive, comfort and ride of a lux car. I have pulled a large boat with out any problem. The little V6 offers plenty of power. It is not a corvett, but fast enough.

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  Reliable and fun - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jeff - April 9 - 11:10 am

  Ive had a 2005 C230 Sport Sedan for 2 years now and love the car. With the AMG styling and upgrades the sport sedan has its a real head turner. I have had zero problems with the car and I drive it about 30000 miles a year. Ive only brought it in for scheduled maintanence and had a couple recall problems fixed. Id buy this car again and would recommend it to anyone. My friend has a BMW 325xi and my Benz is much more fun to drive

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  Best ever - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By tandan - April 8 - 11:06 pm

  Is it a coupe or is it a convertible? It is both and the best ever of each. After 4700 mi. I am a happy camper. It is safe, it is solid, and it is beautiful. If I put my foot into it, it is faster than my Viper. If i dont, it gets the same mileage as my Lexus. If you can afford it, this car is the true pinnacle of design and performance.