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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  Chose this over BMW and Audi - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Theresa - March 25 - 2:53 pm

  I had just purchased this vehicle and love it. I looked at the BMW 3 series and the Audi 3 series. People will try to contradict you about Mercedes and how its not that great of a car. It is far better than the BMW and Audi. My family owns both BMW and Audis. The interior does not even compare to the others. Also, the 4 wheel drive is something that BMW doesnt have. The horsepower in the C280 4matic has more HP than the more expensive Audi(3.0 Quattro) and BMW(330) models. I paid $38,500 Fully loaded nav system and all.

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  The Perfect Drop Top - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Sg5845 - March 24 - 1:36 pm

  I have owned my SL 550 for about 18 months so I have driven it in all conditions. I have to say it is absolutely the finest car I have ever owned. When the top is up, it is as quiet as they come. I often conduct handsfree conference calls in it and people think I am at the office it is so quiet. When the top is down, oh man, it is awesome. The car is plenty fast in the SL550 trim but if you need a rocket ship, go for the SL55 or 65. But be careful, learn how to drive a car with that kind of power! The ride is smooth and acceleration is excellent. I live in a big city where the interstates are competitive. I have all the power I need in this car. I would highly recommend it!

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  Better than a Bentley at half the price - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By CaliforniaCL550 - March 23 - 9:26 pm

  The ultimate luxury car. Seriously, go test drive a Bentley Continental GT then take a ride in this! The fit is superb, the computer system is intuitive, the interior mood lighting at night feels like a sexy club, and the exterior (with AMG package - a must!) is the classiest thing on the road without screaming "look at me!" Unless youre looking for a compact nimble sports car feel, you wont be disappointed.

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  What a SUV Should Be - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By DieselBenzGL - March 22 - 11:10 pm

  The GL is a perfectly sized SUV. It is large enough to carry 6 people comfortably yet not so big that it looks like a behemoth coming down the road. Its size makes it very maneuverable and easy to drive for such a large vehicle. The GL320 Bluetec uses approximately 30% less fuel and polutes 30% less than other large SUVs. 500 miles in the city and 600 miles on the freeway are the normal fillup intervals. On the freeway, it handles better than most sedans. The steering is not loose but at the same time isnt so tight that the vehicle swerves every time you adjust the HVAC. The rearview mirrors were made larger in 2009. Any larger and they would look out of proportion to the vehicle.

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  Johns review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By johngroskopf33 - March 20 - 2:56 pm

  This vehicle has the best heating and air-conditioning system I have ever experienced. The optional three zone system with infared glass makes it really comfortale in the sun. The car handles very well, the speed-variable steering is a very important standard option. The optional parktronic system makes it very easy to get into the garage each day without parking by "brail". The seats are very comfortable, they allow you to drive for long distances without the normal "back-ache". It is not the cheapest vehicle, but with all the options and safety features is a bargain.

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  My new 04 320clk CAB - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jonathan Perelman - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Fabulous... Picked it up at a great NJ dealership in Little Silver NJ (Contemporary Motors) The convertiable was picked up during the coldest day of the year so far. I put 4 blisaks snow on the car and it drives fine in the snow. The car is a headturner. I am enjoying the car so much during the winter and can not wait to put the top down during the Spring.

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  Fun and fast CLK500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Raymond Lopez - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my CLK320 for the CLK500 and what a differecne in speed, torque, and handling. The CLK500 is built solid and runs like a dream. As for the comment by another review about an oil dipstick, why? use the computer to check your oil, thats what Mercedes is all about. Nothing beats this car in build, reliability, and interior qualtiy. The Bose system is awesome thanks to the new digital wiring and sound.

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  E320 4matic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By leslir - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Great car and amazingly fun to drive. We love the extra interior room without having to drive an SUV. What a nice change after 12 Years of SUVs. Reliable and sticks right to the road even on snow (we have AWD option). This one is a keeper.

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  SL55AMG - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Confucius - March 19 - 2:00 am

  This is the best mercedes ever made for public consumption.But I have only driven only 1500 miles.I have driven them all since 1964.

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  mercedes SL55 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By toymaker - March 19 - 2:00 am

  The most fun to drive of any car I have owned. Fast and functional. This car has everything.