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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  Sweet - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By hoonsgal - October 2 - 1:50 pm

  I just purchased the ML350 after seriously considering the Lexus RX400h and the Acura MDX. I really fell in love with the ML350s appearance and the smooth and relatively powerful ride. The interior is very comfortable and spacious and this car is a joy to ride. I will say that if navigation is a big priority to you, the Acura is much better. The system is clumsy and you cant even find a Starbucks on it! But, it is functional.

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  My first Mercedes is a winner - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By cfreema7 - October 2 - 12:30 pm

  Very stylish and great performance. This is my first MB, a used CLK320. I like the power. Moving from a BMW 525, this car moves like lightning. I was a little disappointed in the 22 mpg city/freeway I was getting, compared to the 26 I got in the BMW, and the 28mpg advertised. The cockpit is a nice fit. The cup holders are awkward when open and the glove comparment can be used for just that - and nothing else. But putting the top down, this car moves like the wind and I get plenty of compliments. One handed convertible process is ok. The V6 out drags anything it comes against, and the suspension tracks perfectly through 30 mph U-turns. Im sold and looking forward to my first CLK55.

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  Love My Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S-Mazz 500 - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I love driving this car. I got the almandine black matallic with java interior. The car turns heads. Love the keyless go and voice command. Its comfortable, quiet and smooth. SAT became available after I ordered the car. I set up an install but stopped the installation when dealer called to tell me they would have to mount antenna on truck and needed to drill a hole in the lid. Almost 7k miles on the car without any problems. Oh, hit some road debris and tore a hole in a tire side wall. Called roadside assistance via the wrench button. I was back on the road in less than 45 minutes. Great service all around.

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  Quality All Around - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RABMAN - September 30 - 7:36 am

  High quality car with great handling and performance. The 550, V8 is far superior to the 350 and well worth the added $8K. Sound and multi-media system is A-1, dynamic seats are fantastic.

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  ML 350 4matic 2011 - 2011 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By benzhound - September 29 - 3:09 pm

  I own several MB products; this ML is a joy to drive and although it does not take the corners like my MB coupe and sedan, it is a solid performer, well laid out interior and has all the current tech features. Controls are easy to use, has great cargo capacity, roomy cabin, adequate power, smooth transmission and the blind side assist feature is like an extra set of eyes.

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  I love this car - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By Kelly Wells - September 29 - 10:51 am

  I looked very seriously at 4 vehicles before buying the Mercedes GLA 250 : the Volvo V60, the VW Alltrack, and the BMW X1. The Mercedes has everything that I wanted. It has the Apple CarPlay, which I love. The controls are really easy to read and understand which makes driving the vehicle safer for me because I am not taking time to figure the display out. BMW - display was too busy and complex for me. The Volvo, seats not that comfy in my opinion and visibility terrible. The Alltrack was nice but to be honest, the customer service at the dealership stunk! The salespeople at Mercedes were so attentive and on point the entire time, that the sales process went very smooth. This car has driven like a dream for the 1000 miles Ive put on it to date, and I really like it. Cons are that the glovebox is small, the headroom is a bit tight at times if you are tall and the back storage is a little tight, but the drive and comfort on the road and ease of controls, heat, radio, etc. I just love the layout of it all and the interior is very stylish!

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  Best yet. - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Benz Owner - September 28 - 12:50 am

  This is my third E-class (1997, 2003, and 2010), and its the best of the bunch in most areas. The transmission is a major step up, and the ride and steering are even better than before. The "Command" system requires a steep learning curve, but it is all you could ask for in terms of options. Im not sure what the mileage will be after some long trips, but in the 1600 miles Ive driven so far (mostly around town) its 21.7, which is not bad but not quite up to the 23.5 that I got with the 2003 (overall for 107,000 miles). I hope the reliability improves: it was substandard on the two previous models, which was my only major complaint. Outstanding safety features make up for this, however

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  Excellent small SUV - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By CDZa - September 25 - 11:43 pm

  This is a good quality, German car. Very reliable. Feels extremely safe.

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  Great Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bill - September 22 - 7:53 pm

  My wife and I both wanted the C300 Luxury Sedan. We have had it a week and took it on the road this past week- end and love the ride, average 28.1 MPG, love the looks inside and out. We plan on keeping the car for a long time.

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  Lived up to its expectations - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SINGAPORE - September 22 - 2:00 am

  I am from Singapore. I must say that this E class is definitely better than the previous E.(I sold the old Efor this). Sohpisticated Air conditioned system. Wonderful styling both interior and exterior. Personnally, i feel the brakes are superior to the previous e, giving drivers a very sensitive yet gradual braking feel.