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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  poor build quality - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By wc - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I never thought I could write a review after only putting less than 2000 miles on my brand new 2002 C320. I guess I was simply one of the most unfortunate MB owners(but fortunate enough to be able sit here and write this review). In the past 3 weeks, I had two very scary experiences. The car engine suddenly died on the freeway in two separate incidents. There was no warning nor malfunction code. The car had been in two separate dealers. Numerous parts had been replaced. As of today, I am still not convinced that the problem is 100% solved.

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  Thumbs UP! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c320happy - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Couldnt be happier. Only gripe is the digital instument panel menu. Took awhile to master... a bit confusing. But the car is powerful, quiet, and fun to drive.

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  Great SUV with diesel - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By GB19 - March 31 - 5:33 am

  SUV has been great so far. Fuel consumption has been v. good (23.5 mpg avg. so far over 6K miles, 26+ mpg on longer hwy trips - I used to avg. 16.5 mpg with my old Sequoia!). Seats are very comfortable (feel hard at first, but are great on long trips). Ride quality is excellent + acceleration with the diesel is v. good for a large SUV, but be sure to make a cutout if installing non-MB rubber mats, otherwise you will limit the travel of the accelerator pedal! Interior is v. nice (especially with real leather), exterior looks good, except a bit minivan- ish from the rear. So far has been reliable except for a problem with the charging of a secondary battery. Main gripes are with stereo/nav.

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  E300 Turbodiesel - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RPO - March 31 - 2:00 am

  Have over 40K miles in this car and love it. This is my 2nd MB diesel, having previously owned a 1983 300D and there is a world of difference between the two. First of all, you will not be able to tell you are driving a diesel since the engine clatter and smoke are all but gone. I get between 33-34 mpg on the highway and about 30 mpg in town. The car is quiet and very reliable having been to the dealer only once for a leaky oil line which occurred in the first month of ownership.

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  The new ml 320 2002 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Vito - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I love my new ml320 2002 model. Its fun to drive and its loaded with features. Nothing beats a Mercedes Benz. I dont think I will ever go back to either a Japanese or American car ever again.

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  Most disapointing car I have ever seen!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S430 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased my 2002 Mercedes Benz S430 in L.A., and 3 hours later, i found out that my key would not lock/unlock the doors. Worse, i could not open my trunk! So now, i have to lock/unlock manually by pushing up each locking switch on each door.(the inside automatic-locking button wont work either) I really should have gotten (for a lower price) the Lexus LS430 ultra-lux. But if you like the outside/inside style and the name, go ahead. But I do like the outside styling and the interior room (and rear legroom)

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  Major Improvements! - 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By abacomike - March 31 - 12:08 am

  I owned a 2014 CLS 550 but the 2016 CLS 400 is a major advancement in technology and performance. The NAV/DATA screen is huge and well positioned. The mouse controller is more functional and a bit more complex but once youve played with it for a time, it becomes second nature. Fuel economy is superior 20/30 compared to the V8. The 3.0 V6 twin turbo is almost as fast as the V8. I bought the staggered 19" multi spoked wheels with ultra high performance summer tires. Outstanding balance, handling and cornering. This is my first Designo Diamond White Metallic car - very rich looking and very visible at night. Transmission is smooth and responsive and cornering, handling, acceleration and stopping distance are superior. Remember, this is a 4-door coupe so rear seat room is limited, however front seating is luxurious and very comfortable. Exterior visibility is excellent to the front, but limited to the rear due to sloping roofline and small rear window. Car comes with rear camera which is essential when backing up. My car has Premium 1 & 2 Pkgs., rear spoiler, wheel locks, Illuminated Star, sport steering wheel (flat bottom), Lane Tracking and Blindspot Monitors, and light interior leather with black carpeting and headliner. Mirrors fold in automatically. The audio system is the best Ive ever heard in a car and you can connect iPhone to audio system using USB cable in console. It acts like an iPod and charges the phone at the same time. The new dash screen is HD - amazing Traffic and Weather displays. This is a more "personal" vehicle rather than a family vehicle. The new LED front lights are amazing and light up the road. They are adaptive and have auto-adjusting bright lights. I love the car - a big improvement over 2014z

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  What a Luxury SUV Should Be - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Mr. Jim - March 28 - 7:35 pm

  We used to own a GMC Yukon XL Denali. That was a great roomy SUV but frankly it felt like driving a school bus around town, and long trips were kind of draining despite the fact the vehicle was roomy and comfortable. Our GL450 on the other hand has a little less room on the interior, but it is the best SUV I have ever driven. It steers and feels more like a big luxury sedan than a "truck". The seats are comfortable and look almost brand new on a car that is nearly 5 years old. There is plenty of room for our family of 5 and the third seat can be split or both side folded down to give cavernous storage room. The GL450 accelerates very well, brakes great and shifts smoothly. Some of the controls take a little getting used to and yes, it is a Mercedes so the maintenance can be a bit pricey. That said, we have had nothing major go wrong in the 2 plus years we have owned it. A couple of quirky things required fixing but were covered under the extended warranty we purchased. The GL450 has been really reliable and although the services can be costly, we always get a loaner and are treated with tremendous respect and courtesy by the Mercedes service staff. I think a lot of folks dont consider the loaner value when they complain about the cost of repairs. When I get our Ford or Buick fixed Im usually out anywhere from $50-$100 to a rental car place. The GL450 looks great, is a safe and reliable luxury SUV.

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  Not as impressed - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By greg - March 26 - 5:00 pm

  I went from an Audi S4 to my E55 and have to say I am really disappointed with the MB. It is a great car, fast as can be but doesnt compare with the Audi. The handling and build quality of the MB arent up to the Audi standards which was a let down.

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  the last industrial grade vehicle - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By romanvegas - March 26 - 2:00 am

  In a world of "me too" styling, with emphasis on gadgets and gizmos this truck stands alone. It is a handbuilt industrial strength machine intended for those who understand how to use its capabilities - soccer moms need not apply. Unfortunately, the pit bull looks do tend to attract a certain gangsta element to this truck - they want to talk to you at stop lights and find out how much it cost. Fortunately, that big motor allows you to blow them away when the light turns green.