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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  New 2006 C230 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By yongra - April 1 - 1:50 am

  So far I had this car for a week and car feels very sturdy. Acceleration is slightly slower than 2002 C23 coupe I had, but it is alright. I got it with NAV and it works great. I have only been to few places and so far it is accurate.

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  Great Car/Value/Buy! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JFC - March 31 - 4:10 pm

  Bigger, faster, smoother, and quieter than my 2004 Comprressor Sports Sedan. Appears to be improved in all areas. Classic Mercedes exterior styling, but the company should swallow half the cost & put real leather in all models to elevate itself above the BMW 3 Series entry sedan. Received a great deal with year end factory rebates & convenient home delivery!

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  it is so fun to drive! - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By swixz - March 31 - 12:13 pm

  its a K.O.! when i test drove it for the 1st time,i was so impressed the way it drives and hugs the road. pretty solid!i didnt bother to go to audi and bmw. it makes a sweet thug noise every time i gently close the door and makes me smile. its too sporty and too low. beware! i didnt realized that until i hit a parking concrete barrier just few days after getting the car and if you have a passenger that has a problem bending down, its a little hard for them to get in and out of the car.

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  Yea, it is fun - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By bill ihle - March 28 - 6:56 pm

  This is my third SL. Yes, they are fun, and expensive. I like the retractable roof. So much better than lifting the other hard tops off. After spending nearly $90K for this car to have me pay for regular maintance is a joke. Really irks me and thus this will probably be last Benz.

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  Best of Any Year C-Class - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By grapes8 - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Great car. reliable. Great build quality. All around fantastic vehicle. Fantastic V6 engine Sport package. What more could you ask.

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  Its still an SUV - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ru2bsi2 - March 27 - 1:36 am

  I traded my BMW 528i for the 2005 ML350 Special Edition. If youre in the market for an SUV that drives like a sports car, that accelerates, responds & maneuvers nimbly - This is definitely it! Pinch me. Remind myself that this is an SUV. I wanted a car that had views of a truck + seats 4 adults + roomy cargo space. This is heaven! Knowing that I would give up a few things (i.e. sensible gas mileage and sports car bucket seats) - It is well worth it!

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  Very satisfied - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By nmotb - March 26 - 8:40 pm

  I am just weeks ahead of my 2nd year of ownership and this has been a great car, and I have not had any troubles with it that required a dealer visit. Its my first Mercedes Benz and I am impressed with how solid the car feels, it feels as though it will feel new and perfect for a long time.

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  Dont buy one you will regret Ray Catin - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By steve - March 26 - 8:30 pm

  This car has cronic transmission problems. This has been replaced and still is sifting like a go cart. Brake vibration problems. Also a problem with leaking lights (water this a been replaced also and still leaks. Electrical problems, windows and sunroof sometimes dont close, the window will make an attempt to close then it reopens Squeeky brakes. Dont buy one! This car needs to be recalled and reworked. Its really Mercedes garbage. This is my second Mercedes and my last!

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  CLK320 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By BLB - March 25 - 3:06 pm

  Mechanically (i.e, drivewise), this car is a dream. Ive had some minor electrical problems that were of course covered by warranty - things like faulty warning lights. I have no complaints.

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  Gefahr! -Danger, may be addicting! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Ronnie Reyes - March 23 - 9:40 pm

  This is my first MB and I came from a Durango LTD w/ the big V8 hemi. While torque and outright power are not the same I have no problem in this V6 cruising the interstate above the legal limit w/ ease and not putting any stress at all on the vehicle. Storage is not what it was, but is deceptively enough to put a $200 grocery purchase in the car w/ ease. The family fits great, the quality is MB and the safety aspect is more than worth the sticker. The only warning I can give is pay attention to which option package you choose. And everything is optional...MB should pay attention and put phone, NAV, back-up camera and memory seats as standard features on a car of this stature.