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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  1997 Mercedes SL500 with 38,000 miles on - 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Robert T - January 23 - 7:30 pm

  This car is solidly built, handles extremely well, and is a pleasure to drive. The design is one of understated elegance. Mine has very low mileage for its age and all original paint with no mechanical problems. These are a bargain if you get one without issues as new they cost $89,000 w/o options. The r129 type from the pre-Chrysler era is desirable. The mileage is what one ought to expect from a two ton car driven with a big V-8; if you are having this much fun is has to cost a little money! Skip the non-factory wheels as they really do nothing for day-to-day performance.

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  Great all around car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Scott Price - January 22 - 2:16 pm

  I have owned my CLS55 for four months. I had very high expectations for this car having owned other higher end high performance vehicles. The car has surpassed all of my expectations. I am 61" and dont have any problem getting in or out of the vehicle which I read might be a problem. I have sat in the back seat for extented periods of time and found it very comfortable. The performance on the car is amazing. The dash layout is extremely functional. The trunk is large. This is the ultimate family of four car. My wife who historically has had no interest in cars but has owned Range Rovers, 7 series Bimmers, M Bimmers and a CLK Cab. absolutely loves every aspect of this car.

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  Good by 996/997 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By kevin - January 22 - 3:23 am

  I love this car. Candidates: M3, 911, S4. The highway is not a race track. No do I have to endure the harshness of my 996 to have neck breaking speed and a boat load of "cool factor". This thing is a serious wolf in sheeps clothing. The power, torque and hp, is amazing. The ride is plush, more body roll than my Porsche and BMW, even with the sport suspension, but I got over it quick enough. It is still well composed in the twisties. I am waiting for my H&R lowering springs to arrive and for $600 the body roll be gone. Cops dont even notice it. Great car! Of course it eats tires and gas, but a car with 386 ft #s of torque should!

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  Great Car! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Christian - January 17 - 12:56 pm

  Ive had this car for 2 months now, and I love every minute I drive it. I have a 6 speed manual, and its shifting is so smooth, and has amazing power and pickup, with decent fuel economy (23/30). So far I havent had any problems with it. Id definitely recommend this vehicle to anyone considering it. The V6 is definitely a plus compared to the old 1.8 I4 vacuum sounding engine from previous years

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  Outstanding in every regard. - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Joe Blake - January 16 - 6:50 pm

  This is my first offshore vehicle. As far as I am concerned, this car is in a class by itself. It was a said day when I passed the Cadillac and Lincoln dealerships realizing there was not a car in there for me. As expensive as it is, this car blows away the Jag XK8 which is almost twice the price. And as far as a BMW 335 comparison, I have yet to find anyone who has been in my car that agrees the 335 belongs in the trash can when compared to the CLK. Unfortunately, the 2010 E350 convertible replacement of this CLK model looks harsh, like the design was forced onto the car. And the price is another $12k. Get a CLK while they are still available.

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  Great car still has a few computer bugs - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By bob - January 15 - 4:53 pm

  My 2007 is a much better vehicle than my 2003SL. While the styling is similar, the new 7 speed transmition is fabulously smooth, the additional horsepower of the 550 vs. the old 500 is very noticable and the handling greatly improved. Also improved is the breaking which has eliminated the annoying "cluncking" sound and hesitation experienced in the 2003. Still a problem seems to be the computer system operating the ABC (active body control system). It was a constant problem with my 2003 and unfortunately has once more shown up on my 2007. The car was in the shop for 2 weeks while the computer part was flown in from Germany. Aside from this one electrical problem, the car is fantastic.

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  Cheap Luxury - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Javier - January 15 - 12:30 pm

  You will not get anything similar for this price. Fun to ride.

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  Great - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By rvaughn - January 15 - 10:26 am

  It is a great suv!

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  The BEST - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Vic Standish - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Best personal car I have ever driven

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  E-Class Excellence - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sema - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle a real 1st class treat