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 1st Benz - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By PhillyBurbs_Benz - November 16 - 10:00 am

  Bought my first Benz, a 2010 300 Sport 4matic. Was considering Acura TL SH- AWD and BMW. Mercedes dealer gave great price for certified pre-owned, and extended warranty. Acura was faster, but overall Benz is better looking, great handling, comfortable and great quality. Ive put around 1,500 miles on it so far and no complaints. Its quick, but not FAST, but you cant beat the ride and handling, and 1st class exterior looks. I wish they made the C350 in 4matic, then it would be perfect. Currently getting around 19 mpg around town with pedal down, averaging 21 - 22 mpg in mixed condition, and have gotten up to 25 mpg on mostly highway driving. Smooth acceleration / 7 speed transmission.

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  Fantastic - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fantastic - November 16 - 10:00 am

  This car is fantastic if you want dont care for the driving experience that BMW provides. Dont get me wrong though, I love the way this drives, but I just started a family and wanted a smoother, more luxurious drive. I think this car cannot be beat in its class. We looked at the 2011 BMW and the interior design and technology doesnt compare to the E350. We also looked at Lexus GS 350 and were considering the Jaguar XF, both of which did not seem to offer the luxury drive that the E350 did. I love this car, and I highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Great Car - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Daniel - November 14 - 4:55 pm

  Ive owned this car for 4 years and have had no problems. I baby it when it comes to maintenance, but I di drive it rather hard.

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  Baby Benz has Grown Up to be a Big Benz - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By L - November 14 - 3:13 pm

  Just purchased the C350 with leather, Prem 2, MMedia, Ipod intergration. Must say I made the right choice over the Lex and Infin. What a fun drive, great pickup, perfect balance driving exp. Mercedes has done a nice job with the interior design and space at 62" the car accomodates my ht. The C350 no longer has that femine design (2007), the 2008 is masculine with a design women will enjoy as well. The car performs exceptionally well with the overall beauty of a smaller C63 AMG with a $100k lower price. The only negative for me is the IPOD intergration, doesnt allow full fuctionality of IPOD. Plays songs alphabetically. What a drag for a nice car. Dont buy comes with standard mp3 jack.

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  Ownership - 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Bruce Hohler - November 13 - 2:53 pm

  This car is all you would expect from Mercedes Benz. Economy is much better than advertised...25 on the highway at 80 MPH. Comfort is awesome, handling is great and interior layout was well thought out.

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  clk500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By superf - November 12 - 2:00 am

  What an absolutely beautiful, FAST eyecatcher. My ONLY gripe is the cupholder location and the lack thereof of more than one. Barring these minor imperfections this car is a jewel!!!

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  Awesome Vehicle!!! - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By 2017 AMG GLE 43 - November 6 - 9:02 pm

  This replaced a BMW 328i as my daily driver. I needed/wanted a larger vehicle for highway driving as well as more storage and space. I am shocked at how well this drives and how sporty it is when in Sport or Sport+ mode. I find it quicker than the BMW and nearly as capable in the curves. It is unquestionably heavier and it is not a true sports car but the driving experience and sportiness are far exceeding my expectation. I love the semi-autonomous driving features for long stretches on the highway. This is an incredibly versatile vehicle.

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  Great car! - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MB Owner - November 6 - 8:12 am

  After test driving numerous cars I found the C300 was good if not great in all areas. The driving experience is comfortable, quiet, smooth and has great handling. I love the looks of the exterior and interior of the car. It has a luxury feel and is very functional too. Ive had the car for several months now and no issues. Im very happy with this car and my wife loves it too.

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  A Great Ride So Far - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By benz_man - November 5 - 3:52 am

  We bought our 05 CDI with 48K on it 1 year ago tomorrow so I thought this would be a good time to right a review since I came here to read a bunch before I bought it. This car is a joy to drive and has been nothing but great for us. We downsized from an 07 Suburban because we really didnt need the room anymore and the Suburban is hard to give up if youve ever driven one. Great mileage, pretty much 28 in town and 35-37ish highway. This car feels safe, drives great, is quiet and has been bulletproof. I had one service issue, a door lock problem. The extended warranty covered it for 100 bucks. Drive one and put your foot into it. The diesel torque will put a smile on your face, I promise.

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  a real blast from the past - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bg516 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  this car is not only great to drive and does everything well, but i have the 430 clk cab. and it moves out like a muscle car. a real blast form the past with all the features we want today. worth owning this one.