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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  Hands down the best! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CQ - November 7 - 12:20 pm

  This car has it all, style, performance, luxury, with the AMG sports package... this car does turn heads!

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  Nice 1st M-B - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By thjatty - November 7 - 12:40 am

  This is my first M-B and I really enjoy it. The quality of the build is very nice and it performs well for city and highway commuting. Although it is between a compact and a standard size sedan, I fit comfortably (being 5-9" and 200 lbs). The heated seats are nice, and the DVD-NAV display is very cool. I dont have much trouble with the technology, other than trying to decide which one to use as this car is very multi-task functional. The engine is great for the size. I have owned Porsche, VW, Chevy, Ford and Chrysler products. Hands down this is the best overall package Ive ever had.

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  wow what a car - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By nomoremustang - November 4 - 10:20 pm

  sold my Mustang as soon as I drove the C350 Coupe. The C350 coupe is fast, nimble and very fun to drive. Interesting how this model is in very short supply. I have already been offered $5k more than I paid for it. I love the technology in this vehicle.

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  Happy CPO buyer - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By wingnuttzz - November 4 - 3:20 am

  I test drove the C280 and the C350 4matic side by side and it was an easy decision to go with the extra power of the c350. I also drove a 2006 C240 4MATIC and it was clearly underpowered for an all wheel drive car. Especially with all wheel drive I think the extra 40HP between the C280 and C350 make it hard to tell its working all 4 wheels. Wow is this car fun to drive! Paddle shift manual possible to over-ride automatic tranny and when babying the gas it drives like butter.

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  GREAT CAR !! GREAT VALUE !! BUY ONE!! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By 05 C230 sport sedan - November 3 - 4:13 am

  GO BUY A C-230 SPORT SEDAN !! YOU WILL LOVE IT!! The car has been perfect. Fit finish and quality of materials is excelent, controls are perfect, NO rattles no squeeks, rides well, performs great, FUN TO DRIVE and looks VERY cool! When people see and ride in this car they cant beleive that a Mercedes Benz with this quality these amenaties only cost just over 30 grand!

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  Another Amazing Benz - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RI N8TIV - November 2 - 8:23 am

  What an amazing vehicle. = Picked up in Wisconsin and drove 630 miles back to Kansas in sheer comfort and style getting 27 mpg the whole way. Seven-speed transmission is as smooth as butter and the 268-hp engine provides ample passing power. Car is Platinum Blue over Ash leather and is downright stunning. This is my fourth MB. Currently have this and an 04 C230 Kompressor. I have also owned an E320 sedan and an E320 wagon.

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  A Quantum Leap - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim G. - November 1 - 10:40 am

  The E Class car has always been a "boost" to the MB line of vehicles...but the new E550 is a quantum leap. Fantastic is the one word to capture what describes this car. I traded a 2007 bmw 750i, and the Benz shuts it down in every respect. I recommend it - unqualified.

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  Lemon? - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Nas - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Had to replace the fuel pump at 36k. Warranty had expired 7 months prior and mechanics could not believe that part will go bad on a 36k ML430.

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  2004 E500 AWD wagon - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Pavlin - November 1 - 2:00 am

  This AWD wagon is fantastic. The driver gets a choice of sporty or cushioned ride at the touch of a botton. And the V-8 engine delivers power when needed. The Nav system is also very useful. This is a definite upgrade to the 1999 E320 I used to drive and also loved. My only disappointment is the relatively low number of miles per gallon.

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  Outstanding, high performance automobile - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dougd - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Great fun to drive. All the power speed and handling you can use on the highways (and byways) in a package that looks and feels fantastic without attracting undue attention from the "athorities".