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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  Wheel Spin, Torque Steer, and Bluetooth Disconnect - 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By Michael Shea - December 27 - 9:36 am

  I got this car from SIXT rental car in San Francisco and spent the week with it. I really wanted to like this car but every time you accelerate (even lightly) the wheels want to spin or you get torque steer around a turn. The engine is peppy but not so much that it should be spinning one of the front wheels. This car only had 5K miles on it so it was pretty new. The interior was nice, although the seats were pretty firm for a small SUV. The ride was firm but this doesnt other me because I like sporty cars. The other annoying thing about the car is that my bluetooth kept disconnecting randomly while on phone calls. I have an iPhone 6S Plus so there is no reason for this (and it does not happen in other cars). I think I would have given this car 4 stars if I had the all wheel drive version. I would not recommend the front wheel drive version.

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  Baddest on the road - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By rgalban - December 27 - 8:53 am

  Seems the Germans hit this one out of the park. Top opens easily, style to spare, a real head-turner. Mine is triple black & I love it. Sounds like a real super-car and performs like one as well. Ive had other sports cars but this one is my favorite for several reasons listed and some not willing to admit to here. Cant wait for the CLK63 as soon as my lease is up. "...if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up..." Ferris Bueller

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  My Dream Car! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Donna - December 26 - 12:43 pm

  I wanted to buy my dream car, a special car that I would love to drive for a few years and would still be great looking. I researched the web extensively, test drove more cars than I ever did before, and decided on the CLS, with the AMG package. When I first saw it, it made my heart skip a beat! I have driven 3 Cadillac STSs, a SAAB 900 turbo, went conservative with a Volvo S80 twin turbo, but this car is special. I love power and good looks and this car is awesome. I cant drive it without a smile coming to my face.

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  Great car...acceleration is amazing - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mustapha - December 26 - 12:40 pm

  I bought 2015 used C300 4matic with leather interior. Ive had it for more than a year and bought it used. It now has 21k . Let me tell you its a great car. No issues so far. I really enjoy driving it. The suspension is sweet and feels your riding on air in the comfort setting. It has this sport/sport+ shifting mode and man the pickup is fantastic even in the comfort mode. The economy mode is not recommended as it feels sluggish (I guess it turns the turbo off and feels like a 2L engine). Its built solid and gorgeous looking in and out. You will need premium gas though. Fuel economy is good for a luxury car. Its in the low thirties, not bad. Stability on corners is excellent. The engine can turn off on stop lights that take too long but you can turn this feature off. Navigation , blue tooth are all great.

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  Dont Buy One - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Scubabelle - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I immediately had problems (sunroof rattle, rattle/creaking from the dash, poor a/c, squeeking brakes, etc.). The dealership couldnt "duplicate" the problems and denied they existed. My car was in the shop approx 20+ days in nine months. I called the dealership, its owner (AutoNation) and Mbz Customer Relations. After approx 50 calls (no exaggeration), I finally got Mbz to buy it back under the Calif. Lemon Law. They kept putting me off hoping I would go away. The only reason I got them to buy it back is because I didnt give up - certainly not because anyone cared about doing the right thing. I will never buy a Mercedes again.

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  My 2nd ML500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By kwg - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Repeat buyer of ML 500: With enough room and power, backed up by a superior service network, this SUV makes my life easier.

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  Not for the faint of heart - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Rob - December 26 - 2:43 am

  By far the best vehicle Ive ever owned. I traded in a 1999 E430 for this car, and she was certainly worth it. The acceleration of this velicle is unbelievable. My wife hates to ride with me, especially if were merging unto the interstate (prime opportunity to to show off). I would only recommend this car to those whom a doctor has certified as healthy.

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  As promised - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bargamon - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Truck has been solid performer, good MPG for a truck, excellent all weather perfomance, engine great, not problems except power steering hose, covered by warranty.

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  Excellent Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By James Chan - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Good work MB,, Good Truck after the update.. Lot of well design features..

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  The Best SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Business Man - December 24 - 10:00 am

  If youre reading the negative comments posted here and wondering wether or not to buy an ML, trust me...... BUY ONE. I have owned other SUVs and believe me, there is no comparison. You have to experience it to understand