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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  My C230 Baby - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By AMS - September 18 - 10:00 am

  I Love this car!!! The features that this car has is worth the money, by FAR!

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  Outdated and overrated - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By craner - September 17 - 4:26 pm

  This was the 1st Mercedes I ever had so maybe I was expecting a little to much. Many issues and concerns. Firstly, in this age of $4 a gallon gas, whats with the premium gas only? Im an Ivy league grad yet I never figured out the venting and air regulating mechanisms. The air conditioning was average and the car had a tendency to run hot in the summer, so I had to turn off the AC! Lastly, whats the deal with the dealer installed "emergency" phone system. Im guessing that the visionaries at Mercedes couldnt see the advent of cell phones and replacing this antiquated system! Center console storeage never worked either and CD system in the trunk...cmon!!

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  Great New Technology & MB-AMG Excellence - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By glineberry - September 17 - 1:25 pm

  This cars engine represents exceptional technology. The sound is quite different from the V-8 AMG CLK55 I had before. Not as deep. This one definitely lets you know its a turbo....get on boost and its amazing. No appreciable turbo lag! I wanted AMG performance with 4Matic in an efficient package....I am not disappointed. Brakes, suspension and handling are also exceptional. Took about 7 months after I ordered it for the car to arrive....worth the wait.

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  Fast but Unreliable - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Bummed Out - September 16 - 9:40 pm

  Yes, fast, beautiful and fun to drive but thats where it ends. The car has been back to the dealer three times in 7000 miles for mostly electronic related problems, twice on a flat bed. The latest is a bad alternator causing the computer to flash a red stop sign at me with an alarm blaring and a warning that the brakes were about to fail. Have to wait a week for the part because not one is available in the US. The navigation system is useless and the sound system inferior to say that of a Lexus 340SC. Scared to drive this thing any distance now and looking to trade her in sadly.

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  Fast as my old muscle car - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By David - September 16 - 5:52 pm

  Back seats arent for big adults, but great for average size.

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  best birthday EVER - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Josh - September 16 - 3:13 am

  This car was my 18th birthday gift from my parents last April (I know! How am I not spoiled?...) Anyway, they made a big deal out of driving it up in the middle of the party, and it stunned like only a Mercedes can! I still get a lot of attention for driving this car, and I love it. Its a real lady killer. The level of performance is great, and the interior is very comfortable. On long drives home from college, I often find myself just hunkering down in the leather seats and enjoying the ride. Its got great torque for passing and red lights. I love the design, too, both inside and out. This is, in my opinion, one of the sportier of the less expensive MBs. A definite recommendation!

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  I recommend - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C300 fun - September 15 - 11:33 am

  I test drove Audi A4 and Lexus I250. Both are great cars, but they did not catch my soul. As soon as I saw C300 Sport in the deader, I "fell in love." Excellent exterior design! The ride in C300 is very comfortable and solid. When I drive it in the hard rain, it is unbelievably stable. I feel more secured and protected inside C300 while driving than IS250 and A4. The gas pedal is stiff, but once I step on, the car runs fast. Gas mileage is about 20-21 in local traffic and 25-26 in highway. Not so bad in V6. The package includes Premimum 2, Ipod connection, automatic transmission.

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  A great suv - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By bhuskey - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I have owned several SUVs including a 2003 Land Rover HSE that I traded for the G-Wagon. Nothing compares to the Benz

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  Best looking luxury sedan on the streets - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Gannon - September 15 - 10:00 am

  Love the car. More money than competitors but love it. Power does not stop. Luxury options for days. Body style is the best on the road. Nothing beats black even though I got pewter.

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  Granny ditches the Lexus. - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lillybeth - September 15 - 8:06 am

  A little background -Im 76. Kids told me to ditch my 2006 Lexus 330. They told me, however, that they wanted me not to run back to Lexus to replace. They wanted me to "blow their inheritance" on myself. Well you can imagine that really opened up a LOT of options. After a long two days of looking I ended up buying the 2015 MB C300. It just checked all of the important things for me, ride, handling, safety, technology and looks. The price was a bonus. It cost me under $50K. I could easily afford well over that no problem and pay cash. But why? This car has everything I need. Why spend more? I want to have fun while in my car and so should you!