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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  Small car for small people. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mac Miller - October 11 - 6:46 pm

  This is a nice drivetrain, giving stout acceleration and 25 mpg while being smooth and quiet. The chassis feels solid, safe. Slow steering and soft shocks make the car a cruiser, not sporty. The interior is very handsome, high quality and nice to be in. Im selling this car. At 6ft/200lbs I dont fit in it. The cars center door post is forward of the drivers seatback, blocking exit from the car. To exit the seat I have to swing both my legs out first, hook my left elbow out around the center post and leverage my way out between the post and steering wheel. If the side of the car is dirty so is my shirt sleeve. The things you dont notice until after time!

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  Worth the few repairs - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jerry - October 9 - 7:03 pm

  As a pre- owned, the car was void of service records and up to date service. However, after bringing the maintainence current the car has been great. The thottle positioning sensor needed replacement and minor electical with the top. Other than the usual service, no worries and a pleasure to drive. I now have 75k on this 1999 and have plans of holding on to it

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  Best car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Bob - October 8 - 12:56 pm

  I bought an CLS 550 at the end of March 09. In bought it at the Mercedes Benz of Annapolis Maryland, Great dealership. My wife and I drove it home to Chicago. It was the best driving experience I have ever had. I love everything about this car, the styling, comfort, sound system and the gas mileage was 19/27 great!!! This is my first Mercedes and wont be my last.

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  cool - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Juggluv - October 6 - 10:00 am

  much better than BMW

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  It is good one - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By YZ - October 6 - 10:00 am

  Trade my 00ML320 to 03ML350. Love this car. Had no problem with my ML320. ML350 rides even better, improved lighting, air-conditioning, etc. Best in the class for the price, great off- road capability(beats almost all SUV in snow conditions), nice looking interior.

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  Love It - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Glorious - October 2 - 9:40 pm

  As my first luxury car, I guess I jumped ahead. But I couldnt resist when I first drove it. In and out it has everything I could want. The seats look hand made with high quality leather, which gives it a great feel to it. The V8 AMG keeps up with M ustangs (not that Ive raced one...lol). If you love attention this a the car for you.

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  Great car!!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Hamlet Cabrera - October 1 - 3:45 am

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  Dream car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Don Theriault - September 30 - 11:06 pm

  I picked up the silver SL550 with the AMG sport package, panoramic roof and red interior Thursday, Aug. 17. 2006. I turned in my leased 02 Lexus SC430, which was the best car I ever owned for quality and fun. At this point, 1200 miles, I am still pinching myself. Awesome performance and I love just to stare at it. The gas mileage I had read was bad, but already I dont notice any difference from my Lexus 430 V8. The only thing I miss from the Lexus is the tilting down rear view mirrors when reversing.

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  2004 CL500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By cincy1 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  The CL500 comes close to meeting my expectations. Most features of this uber-machine are on a par with any super coupe on the planet. The exterior styling is elegant but understated. The engine and drivetrain are beyond comparison. The interior improvements over all other MB models sold me on the car. I am still disappointed that the floor carpeting and headliner material is less luxurious than my previous Lexus LS430. The dash (all leather), the seats, the center console and the instrument cluster are all amazing manifestations of the art of automotive design. Well done MB.

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  Perfect Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By trd277 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Best of all worlds! Incredibly fast, amazingly comfortable and beautiful too. Best car I have ever owned. Cruise comfortably or light up the tires and slide around the corner. You will not regret this purchase.