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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  Former Lexus owner - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mark Burns - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Drove an LS 400 for 250,000 enjoyable miles, but wanted something with a little more road character. Throughly enjoying this new experience.

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  10 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Hi - May 16 - 8:36 pm

  The SL65 is a very reliable, fast, and is a joy to ride and drive. It has so much horsepower that as soon as you step on the gas you are flying. It is great.

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  The Best Mercedes-Benz Ever!!! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mike - May 15 - 4:36 pm

  I just bought my 2010 E350 Sedan, sport package with P1 package, Panoramic sunroof and the AMG Sport Wheels, I owned MB E class cars since 1975, and however, the 2010 is the best ever build in term of design, performance, quality, beauty, curb appeal, technology and fun to drive. In summary, this is unbelievable car.

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  The 4-430 AWD is super - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By prush - May 15 - 2:00 am

  This car has performed virtually flawlessly for three years. I hate to give it up. It is comfortable, a great road car.

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  I Love my Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tom Roddenberry - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Luxury all around, the car looks and feels like a $50,000 car. Very Comfortable. Gets wonderful gas mileage. The perfect luxury car to take my mind away from the horrible commute. I looked at everything else, the Acura TL, the Infiniti I 35, the BMW 3 Series, the Jaguar X-Type, the Lexus ES, the Volvo S60, nothing else came close to the luxurious feel of the Mercedes C240. This car feels like it should be far more expensive than it is.

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  Best mid-size SUV on market - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BEN-Z - May 14 - 12:30 am

  The rumor is true, when you buy a Mercedes you expect nothing less than the best in everything; and that is what you get. 2003 ml350 w/ sport and comfort pkgs. Cant say enough good things about the car, gets better gas milage than expected! Truely the classiest yet most fun to drive SUV on the market. There is definately a reason the star turns heads no I know why! All of our expectations were met. Sincerely, Extremely Pleased Mercedes-Benz owner

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  A Joy to Drive - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Maggie - May 13 - 9:20 pm

  This car is truly a joy to drive! This is my fourth Mercedes (previous ones were 450SL,C240, and SLK230), and Ive also driven BMWs (including an 850ci). And this car, although certainly not the largest or most powerful of the Mercedes, compares most favorably to all of my past vehicles. The handling is smooth as silk, the acceleration quick, and the braking sure and steady. As in all of the Mercedes, I feel safe and secure with a very solid car beneath me. Oh, and dare I say that its a "beauty" too!

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  Diamond Black C55 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mizutiger - May 9 - 4:50 pm

  This vehicle has surpassed my expectations. I had two M3s before this car. I miss the exterior design of the M3, but nothing else. This cars interior is first rate. The stereo is first rate (unlike the M3 it can handle bass). The ride is nicer than the M3 as well. I understand they cancelled the C55. I guess they couldnt fit the 6.3 litre motor in the compartment. Its a shame because I think this is a perfect small sports sedan. One of the best I have driven.

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  Rapid Depreciation - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By chip - May 6 - 1:50 pm

  Bought new E350 in may the car performs very well. Expect a rapid depreciation the first 6 months of about 40%. Purchased in May for $53,000, trade value in December was $29,000 with a peak of $30,000. Car is pristine. Tried to trade for an 09 could due to the depreciation.

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  A Styling Classic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By E. Maggio - May 6 - 2:33 am

  Among the earliest CLK 500 Cabrios shipped. Superb styling and remarkable acceleration with pedal to floor. Also drive a 67 427 stick Vette so I speak with some authority. Minor problems with drivers seat belt "presentor". Early navigation system difficult to use, improved later in year but dash/wood/knob styling looks much better than improved GPS version. Whats more important? Im a style geek. Gas mileage seems poor to some because take is small! Get 23-25 on highway, 17-18 city driving. Top operation slick. Hard to understand why anyone could not love this car. Still get many great comments into 5th year. Wish it ran on regular gas! More power not essential with this car.