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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  Great little sporty car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert Hewitt - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Great little sporty luxury vehicle.

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  Best Buy ever - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rafa77095 - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I looked and looked and Im glad I found this car. I had never own a Mercedes before but I can see why people buy higher class models. This car is super fun to drive. The air-con controls are a little odd. I just hope I made a smart choice.

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  Glad We Moved Up!! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By nymonymgr - May 14 - 3:50 am

  We replaced a 2007 Honda Pilot whos lease was maturing. Couldnt pass up the deal. Lower payment than a new Pilot or Pathfinder do to MBs year end event and a much higher residual. Couldnt be happier so far. True German engineering and craftsmanship. Plenty of power and room for a family of four. Looks great in Capri Blue with a tan interior. It has the P1 package which includes NAV, power liftgate, etc, heated seats, running boards and the dual dvds for the kids. Perfect fit and finish with high end materials. NAV, bluetooth, etc. arent as intuitive as my Infinity but got used to it. This truck is a tank in the snow...handles much better than the Pilot did!

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  Amazing Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jrhchicago - May 11 - 3:13 pm

  Certainly the best car I have ever owned and the most fun to drive. I finally decided to go with some elegance in my sports car purchases and couldnt be happier. This car is stylish, feature rich and a monster when called upon. I would recommend this car to anyone considering a upper- crust sports car or who wants some oomph in a stylish daily driver.

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  Benz - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ronfenn - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Got my C230 in Jan. love the way it handles, good speed in the mountains.

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  fabulous automobile - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By meurice lefevre - May 11 - 10:00 am

  this is my fourth SL. This one doesnt ride as soft, however, the handling is unbelievable for the weight. The top action is to die for and its great to be able to recline the seats. I have made only one road trip but the seats are fabulous. It was worth the ten grand over MSRP to not wait one or two years.

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  Ed`s review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ed - May 11 - 2:50 am

  Had an old Ml320 for 5 years and like it. This one is a far better car , drives better , looks better and has all this bells and whistles. It doesn`t drive like a SUV anymore. High quality vehicle.

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  I switched from the 3 series - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By nealb0853 - May 11 - 12:23 am

  My lease was up on my 04 325i. Saw the pics of the c300 and had to see it in person. Immediately fell in love. The ride is superb. The car looks and feels more like an expensive luxo-car. Its comforts are so much better then my BMW.

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  Safe and Secure. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Joe Cross - May 9 - 4:56 pm

  The feel of this SUV on the road is one of stability and security. This is my second M class, the first was the reason for the second. On my way home one evening a Lincoln Town Car pulled out in front of me and we collided nearly head on, I ended up on 2 wheels going the wrong way into on coming traffic. I was able to control the vehicle and turn it while on two wheels back onto my side of the road.

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  Sa-weet Ride! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Celia - May 9 - 6:26 am

  Great turning radius, easy to drive and park, and looks good. Great speaker quality. Cruise control--unlike with some cars--will hold your mileage steady through hills and valleys. Find a great mechanic who doesnt work for Mercedes, and you can keep the maintenance costs down. Solid and safe car!