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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  Mercedes ML 320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jim Smith - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Continuing electrical problems. Doors lock while one is not in car. Always take out keys when I am not in vehicle. Intermittant rattles which dealer refuses to try and fix. Poor dealer relations when problems occur. Engine knock.

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  good build quality - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By anwar - April 17 - 2:00 am

  very good Luxury car

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  great car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By zimmer26 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  This car is the real deal, and noone was initially more skeptical than me- the only reason I own it now is purely due to my cynical curiosity of what type of car MB could offer for 25k and one drive sold me. I was waiting for the 24 valve vr6 GTI but I fast forgot about it. The C230 provides an excellent mix of ride/handling, quality, utility, value and panache that I found irresistible.

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  A Great Roadster - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By skybound - April 16 - 4:53 pm

  I have owned this car for for about a 1.5 yrs now. The only problem I had with it was a speaker in the door going out and I had to replace the hood pad that was falling apart. Other than that nothing at all. I bought it with 78K in great condition. A very fun and great looking car, lots of power and with the windscreen up you can hardly tell the top is down. The only negatives are the rear window creasing and the poor lighting of the non-xenon headlights, other than that this car is a dream to drive. I am very happy with the SL500, like poetry in motion, enjoy the drive, this is a one in a million automobile for the discriminating owner. With the prices of a used SL it is a real bargain.

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  CLK350 Buyers Beware !! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By 7X - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased a certified pre owned (cpo) 2007 CLK350 Coupe; gem of a car but since found out it has one EXPENSIVE FLAW ! Various Mercedes Benz models built between 2005 and 2008 have a defective balance shaft and/or balance shaft sprocket. Its a defect in the metal part which wears prematurely. To replace and repair, it in the CLK models with the 350 (272) engine, it requires removal of the engine!! The dealer knew this problem exists and didnt tell me before I made the purchase. I bought this car in good faith that it would last me many years, now I found out it will likely need an engine tear-down before it hits 100K miles, maybe closer to 60K. Shameful.

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  Best Premium Compact Sedan - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LEXpert - April 16 - 2:00 am

  I mainly was drawn to this car when my neighbor got one. I just couldnt take my eyes off of it. The short term lease sealed the deal. I have had 30+ cars and cant commit to one for long. I have recently had an Infiniti G35x and a BMW 325xi. I like how solid it is built. It is also very refined. Granted, the interior materials arent as nice as other Mercedes, but they are far nicer than the Japanese upscale cars and equal the BMW 3 series. I am a big fat guy and I find the seats and seating position very comfortable. I am very hard to please, so for me to like this car so much says a lot.

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  Beautiful & more - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Unbiased - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Prior owner of Lexus SUV, Jaguar and Toyota, this car was not on my list to purchase. I was all decided to buy the BMW 328 xDrive given the deals and the whole package. The prices for BMW and C300 4Matic were exactly the same with minor differences in equipment. However, as I drove the C300W it was a game changer. A very well mannered, it is a pleasure to drive this car. If you want to accelerate faster, it will let you do that. Handling is very good, the power is good and is adequate given what you are paying for. Legroom is very good in the rear seats. The cabin ambiance is just beautiful. Styling is awesome and it feels every bit of a mercedes.

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  Great Car! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By GavinJuly3 - April 16 - 12:53 am

  I love this car, had it since 2000 almost have 270,000 miles on it. But of course youre gonna buy a new one but if you already have one and are going to sell it then dont drive it until the wheels fall off!

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  My FIRST MB... and S-class in particular. - 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Nick B. - April 15 - 9:46 am

  I am from Europe. The poor section. Having 2016 S-class 350 d 4Matic (diesel), which is not available as a model selection here. So far 1,350 km on the odometer. The average fuel consumption is 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers. On a highway, I do get from 5.2 to 6.0 litters per 100 km. This is my first MB ever. I am amazed by the level of comfort it delivers. I have never experienced anything close to that. When I do enter my Benz, I do feel like being into an another world (of its own). It is very relaxing to drive it. I consider this overall high level comfort and technology, which I guess is also offered in other cars, like Audi, Lexus and BMW, to be a masterpiece of modern car manufacturing. This car is a dream I have chased for over 20 years. Now locked this dream down. Feeling quite good and satisfied because of that. However, I do find the interactions with other humans/animals/plants, to bring more happiness in life. If this info is about to disappoint you, wait until you have the ability to own one yourself. Do not get me wrong. This is the most amazing vehicle I have ever drove or being driven at, still, somehow, it is just a machine and it does everything right, yet, closely interacting (especially) with my wife, playing with the kids and other peoples dogs and cats, even just walking in the parks, makes me more happy...

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  1999 CLK 320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By spyke - April 13 - 2:00 pm

  Overall this is a great car. With the top up it is much quieter than most sedans, and with the top down it is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Everyone loves and envys this 7 year old car. Chrome AMG wheels really dress the car up.