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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  Good for the family, too! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Luigi - May 12 - 3:00 pm

  A beautiful car with a gorgeous style and power to spare! I traded in my 2003 MB CLK 320 for this car because I needed a 4-door car to travel with my two children. Room was my only concern. I am not a truck/SUV kind of a guy so I was looking for a sport sedan that would offer a backseat big enough to accommodate two carseats and a large trunk to carry my childrens bike, stroller and other stuff. My CLS just does that and more since I was not expecting this much room! Very impressed. In terms of performance? An endless engine, a GREAT manumatic gearbox, superb brakes and royal comfort/quietness.

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  Solid car consistent with reputation - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Vincent A. Salgado - May 12 - 10:00 am

  First car Ive ever owned with zero defects. Also my first automatic. Alittle clunky out of first gear when cold. Very powerful engine and unexpectedly great fuel economy. About 16 mpg in downtown Washington DC and a solid 30 mpg on the open road. Bose sound system is fantastic. Fit and finish are impeccable. Wish they sold a turbodiesel.

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  My First Benz - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By tsberkey4 - May 12 - 10:00 am

  Unbelievable!!! If you have never owned a Benz before, what a great place to start. A warning, however-- it is a drug from which you will never recover. Meaning-- you will never be able to go back! I LOVE THIS CAR!!!

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  C230 Sport Coupe - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jeffery f - May 12 - 10:00 am

  Very nice quality. Very good value for the 3 pointed star. Enging smooth and linear and fun to drive. Fit and finish like a 120K Mercedes! Very reliable. Shousld hold its value nicely.

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  Great Car with exceptional balance! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MB lover - May 10 - 6:40 am

  Bought it used at 13k miles in 2/2006 and its 62K now in 6/2010. No problem whatsoever (but I dont race or abuse it though, always garaged), solid and well-built, its powerful when needed (thanks to the Supercharger), fuel economical when driving conservatively (4 cylinder topped 36mpg in 2 hour trip on secondary hwy with A/C set to 1, backseat fits 2 adults almost 6 feet tall (my car pool). Panoramic roof fills the car with openness, trunk is so roomy and practical with both backseat folded down, styling is subjective (just the right balance- I love it!)

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  Update after two years of ownership - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By joe43 - May 6 - 3:34 pm

  I have now had my ML550 two years since my last review. I actually enjoy my vehicle even more than before!! I have had no problems with it and the power is just so amazing with the gas mileage not so bad (avg 15mpg). I live downtown and do not drive a lot of hwy miles but when on hwy I get 19 to 20 mpg. Small trucks with V6 engines do not get better in town gas mpg. The quality has stood up and I intend to keep this ML550 for a long time! I just love this SUV!!

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  total package - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By tractorbill - May 6 - 10:00 am

  A great driving car in the mountains and for road trips with 7-8 day durations. Trunk is large enough for two sets of clubs and luggage for two for a full weeks travel. The power calls one back to the days of the pony car. When shopping for a new toy considered the Porsche 911 and the new Jag, but there was no contest. Power and speed plus a trunk gave the CLK a major edge. Having owned more than 15 sport cars during my time and 10-15 luxury type sedans, this is the most fun and responsive car yet. Features I like are the throaty V-8 when the peddle hits the metal,the passing power, and the downshift capability in the mountains.

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  what i thought - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By mel rust - May 6 - 10:00 am

  the clk 500 coupe has alot of power for a small car. i wanted the cabriolet but the wait was to long!!!

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  BEST CAR EVER!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By KAMIN - May 6 - 10:00 am

  this is the best car i have ever driven, it has everything. I can drive it like a sports car, yet pack in 5 people and make it into a luxury sedan! Its perfect!

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  1998 ML-320...Nice Ride - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BKR - May 5 - 6:53 pm

  Good mileage; good performance; highly reliable; go almost anywhere. Well worth the money.