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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  Comfort and Fun - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MojoIojo - January 11 - 10:00 am

  The exterior is a work of art. Although the 2003 is redesigned, I still think my model looks great due to Mercs styling concept. The interior is conservative and sufficiently comfortable, which is what I expect for such an automobile, but I find every gadget useful and logically in place. However, the cupholders could be better. The ride and acceleration is smooth and quick, and the handling is good for such a heavy and relatively heavy car. Although the Lexus LS430 may be less expensive, it doesnt seem to have a unique character. The styling appears to mimic that of the E- series. In addition, it looks bland.

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  Outstanding ! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Zipcode - January 11 - 10:00 am

  This is an outstanding vehicle to drive. The security of a coupe with the ability to become a convertable at the push of a button. I have the Sport package, which in my opion, makes for an incredibly attractive looking car. On a 1400 mile trip I averaged 24 mpg, with a speed average of 70 mph. This included all stops. I think that is very good fuel ecomony.

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  Worth the money, worth working for - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By annasdad - January 9 - 7:46 pm

  My family loves this car. We drive 700 miles a day when we travel, which is frequently, and we never feel tired afterwards. We are all the way up to 137K miles now and really it feels as solid as it did at 40K. The fuel mileage is amazing. We get 29 mpg on the road and average 26. Everybody looks at it admiringly, even though now it is 7 years old. We have had to make some repairs, but if you shop around and find a reasonable mechanic it really isnt much more expensive than other cars.

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  The best M-class ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By skye - January 8 - 12:33 pm

  First off I live in East Hampton Long island N.Y. where the M-class is rarely seen.But in N.Y.C.(Brooklyn) they are all over the place (ML320350s and 500s)but not ML430s they stand out they look a little more unique because of their bigger rims and smaller body. I love this SUV it is so great it has a powerful V8.Check it out!

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  A SUPER AUTOMOBILE - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By WIL - January 8 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a thrill to drive and it is everything Mercedes says it is. I was very impressed with the power and quick response. If there is any down-side...it would be shoulder/hip room; I am 66" about 270lbs and its just a fit.

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  My 500 SL - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jm - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I had a 1998 500 SL before this one. I was never crazy about that car. It was bulky and difficult to drive. This one is sleek, attractive and lots of fun to drive.

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  Great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fred - January 7 - 1:33 pm

  I have had this car almost two years, bought it MB certified but have had zero problems with it. Driven on on trips, heavy traffic, everything and the car handles it all. Was even great in the snow last winter. Highly recommended.

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  Its The Bomb - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By clutcharies - January 7 - 12:24 pm

  Have a 2004 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. Im the original owner and have 257,000 miles on the car. I bought the car for reasons of safety, endurance, looks, and a sporty feel. Its given me everything I wanted. As long as I follow maintenance schedules I expect to exceed 400,000 miles. Ive not had any major problems with the car. This is the best car Ive had in my life.

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  E320 sedan loving it - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By cintol - January 5 - 6:20 am

  My wife calls this car her rocket when she touches the throttle it is gone. Excellent mpg 21 in the city, moon roof opens with touch of button but you have to hold the button for it to close. In order to fix the pixels for time and temp dealer says need to replace whole instrument cluster $800 overall we will never buy anything else but Mercedes from now on.

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  Love It - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Davis - January 4 - 11:53 pm

  I drove an Acura prior to the GL. I looked at the Navigator and Cadillac SUV, but settled on the GL. It handle well under all types of road conditions. The ride is excellent and comfortable in locally or on long distance travel. My kids love the third row and the room is great. It has been an excellent investment.