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 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By diesel - September 19 - 12:00 am

  Great car in all respects--Mercedes does not understand what a great car they have here. Great pickup, Great economy. Who needd a hybrid when you can drive this?

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  My car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By chesapeakegirl77 - September 18 - 10:06 pm

  I love it. The car handles like a first class car, it has pick up, and it looks good. Its a Mercedes Benz, what more do you need to say? When youre driving the car it will perform as you ask it to. It doesnt drive you. Theres even nice trunk room and a spare that includes an alloy rim to match the others, not some metal piece of junk. Good gas mileage and comfortable seats for long drives that dont make you ache.

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  Pure Luxury - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mr. Yu - September 17 - 9:26 am

  This car is awesome! The powerful V8 is silky smooth with responsive handling making this car an absolute joy to drive. The interior feels like it was well made and solid with sexy styling. When you slide into the car you immediately get the feeling of "luxury". In addition, its packed with plenty of convenience features, too many to list. Definitely the best sedan Ive ever owned!

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  Sport Option = Big Go Kart - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rcdaddy1 - September 15 - 1:10 am

  This car is very fun to drive and the styling is a home run. Traded in 03 Lexus LS 430. So the Benz is a lot more responsive in the handling department but the road noise is a lot louder. Test drove the BMW 335 wow, that motor was awesome but with the ipod interface, the hard drive, the superior cup holders, and with the price differance we gave the nod to the Benz. This car handles like a go kart. I have a 05 corvette and Im very impressed with how the benz hugs the road. I like the car. My wife loves the car.

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  G500 EI Review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By IBCNYA - September 14 - 10:00 am

  This my third high-end SUV, and it is my best by far. The unique styling is very eye catching. All of the creature comforts offered in the G500 are comparable to those of the S and CL classes. The comfort seat makes long drives or sitting through protracted traffic jams a very comfortable experience. Couple the seats with the upgraded sound system and can almost shut out the rest of the world. The all-terrain tires can offer a fairly stiff ride, but that can be remedied by replacing them with a softer, wider tire that is more suited for highway driving.

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  Great Car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By artnostat - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Best car I have owned. Loved my Audi A6. This car is more fun!

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  Mixed review - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By j3 - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Like many ML320 owners, I have been frustrated over the last 3 years with numerous needed repairs. Early problems took away any new car fun. The dealership was very good about fixing the problems. My wifes 1998 E320 Wagon is a tank, few issues and superb build. It is hard not to lay the blame of the ML quality problems on the US based manufacturing. Still, the ML has not left me stranded, and if I could ignore the quality problems, it is a good size/design for my family of 5. Used it on several road trips. Still, I doubt I would buy another car made in America, regardless of brand.

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  No complaints - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Cornel - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Very satisfied - no major complaints.

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  This is my third Benz - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mercedes Fan - September 14 - 10:00 am

  This is my third Mercedes E320. I had an 86, 97, and now this 03. The car is as excellent as it has always been. My only complaint is the size of the interior. I find that this model is a lot smaller inside than the previous models, and so is the trunk, even if Mercedes claims it is not. Apart from that, it is strong, sturdy, reliable, and as good as always. Its just a wonderful car to drive and have.

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  Top-Notch Class! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By toppdollar - September 12 - 12:50 am

  This car is excellent! I have owned this car now for a little over 8 months and everyday it gets better and better. The quality and the features of this car are top-notch for a used car or new. I got an excellent deal at under 15K with only 41,700 miles. I have the sport edition and it handles and accelerates like no other 4 cylinder that I have ever driven. Solid all around. The feel of the sport seats and the steering wheel make this car 2nd to none in its class. I had considered a bimmer but this car gives the best of both worlds luxury and sport. All my future cars will be judged on this caliber of car.