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 luxury and safety - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By 2005 Mercedes-Benz s - June 21 - 5:06 am

  I have owned two S500 sedans and I cant imagine driving anything else. I have the sport package and love the interior. The ride is so smooth,nothing compares. The front and rear seat areas are roomy. Seats are comfortable and easily adjustable to drivers and passengers of all sizes. Very open feel and no blind spots. Keyless go and automatic door and trunk closing is great. Sound system is awesome. Hands free phone system is a must have. I had a major side impact accident and the car held up to its reputation for safety. The head curtain airbags saved my life, and side door airbags prevented serious injury. Walked away without a scratch.

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  I love my car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By ken greenfield - June 20 - 9:24 am

  But, after 3 years and the extended warranty about to expire, Im thinking its time to sell it. With the bumper to bumper used car warranty I had many things fixed for the $50 deductible. But this car has a horrible reputation for reliability, so??? But I love my car, so I am really torn!

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  Great Ride - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Nick77 - June 20 - 6:03 am

  My first MB and certainly not my last. What a blast to drive. Fun is only a down shift away, blow by anyone on the highway no problem, gaps in traffic just seem to open up for you like moses and the red sea. Fuel economy is fantastic, 28mpg at 90 mph, 30mpg at 70, 32mpg at 60; cant beat that, its ridiculous. Watch out for cops tho, this is a dangerous car, can do 90 without even realizing it. The sound of the engine is music to my ears, I put the radio on mute (which sounds great as well) just to listen to it when accelerating.

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  Ultimate Machine - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Abaker - June 18 - 2:00 am

  This car pppuuuurrssss!!! I love driving it and compared to my previous, Jags, BMWs, and a Rolls Royce-no other car comes close. Heads turn when I drive by! The horse power in this machine is like no other! Sleek exterior and interior is top notch. I love this car! Back seat is very limited, but the total ride is first class all the way!

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  Junk - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By da fred man - June 18 - 2:00 am

  Bought it used, love driving it, been in the shop 8 times, getting rid of it before the warranty runs out. What a disappointment!

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  best and safest suv on the road - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jojo A. - June 18 - 2:00 am

  Be ready for heads turning and lot of your friends want to test drive your car! with the package I got makes the car stands out with the other competitor. I have the inspiration package that adds a lot of sportiness inside, with the engine and transmission upgrade I never had problem in trying to go around on the freeway. Very easy to maneuver even in the most zigzag road. The most important is the peace of mind about the safety of the vehicle 10 airbags with 24 tele assistance which comes with 1 year from the manufacturer. Overall happy with my decision of getting rid of my old suv and bought this car. Makes me enjoy driving again!

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  Love It! - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By heatkar - June 17 - 10:43 pm

  This is my 2nd GL450. Hated the old one because of its many problems, but what can one expect when you are buying one of the first new models on the road. After driving an Odyssey for 2 years we decided to go for it again and I couldnt be more pleased. They have definitely improved a lot of things since 07. The ride is awesome, love the 20" rims, better nav, better rear DVDs, keyless go. I really love the running boards to help the kids get in on their own. Gas mileage ok, but what do you expect from a powerful SUV. This is a keeper.

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  Best vehicle in class - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dennis Livingston - June 16 - 6:19 pm

  Our 2007 Mercedes E350 is the first Mercedes weve purchased. We bought it with 4k miles on it in 20007. It has been a pleasure to own and drive. We have had it serviced by our Mercedes dealer, Walters, Riverside, Ca. At this time we have 88K on it without a problem. This after the front end was hit while the vehicle was parked, by an 18 yr learning to drive. The front brakes have yet to need changing! The rears brakes have been changed twice. Our daughter recently needed to replace her Honda Civic and as fate would have it, her area Mercedes dealer has a 2009 E350 with 70k miles that we didnt hesitate to recommend she buy! She is driving it with joy and confidence. She will also have it serviced by Mercedes only. My wife and I will purchase an S class and keep the E350 as a second car. The safety, quality, reliability and performance are hard to beat.

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  Fun to drive, when not in the shop - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By TimL - June 16 - 8:53 am

  I preordered the car in Dec. 2000. The car is wonderful to drive. Its comfortable, fast, and sporty enough to whip through the corners. Yes, the car could use some more power for my tastes, but it has plenty for normal use. The car gets good gas mileage considering engine size/weight. Main problem is quality. The car is being fixed every 2-3 months. Engine, transmission, electronics, brakes, AC, radio, CD changer, paint flaking off and lights. The dealer has been very receptive and everything has been fixed for free, but I am tired of the problems. My warranty is running out and I think I am going to sell it. If you are looking to buy a used MB avoid this model like the plague.

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  A best buy - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By The Young Looker - June 15 - 8:33 pm

  Definetely a real good deal when buying used ( low mileage ). Besides the cars still a real good looker, the 2003 430 can provide exceptional comfort, nothing a car of its age can. Performance is not significant, however is not underpowered. Those who desires performance might go with the 500 or the twin turbocharged 600. Watch for drivers side electronic seat, it might be disfunctional due to aging. Others, are exceptional