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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  Mecedes Forever - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jon Vattuone - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I can`t believe how this car/truck handles. You can "jam" a tight turn,and it stays with you. No lean at all. I`m getting 20 miles per gallon, or better. It has lots of power!!! I`ve taken it off road several times.It is as sure footed as my Bronco was. I am "blown away" by its performance in every catagory. I`ve been a professional Teamster for over 30YRs. I know Vehicles!!!

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  you pay for quality, not just the name - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Otis723 - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Cant get over how well thought out this car is both in driving terms as well as maintenance. Will own nothing but MB if finances allow. And with used C classes so cheap why not?

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  absolutely horrible - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By catherine parker - April 5 - 12:33 pm

  Just when I had put 7,000 miles on this car, I took it for its first service. Was told I needed new tires, new brakes and rotors. The tires were dryrotted from sitting on the lot - the dealership effectively said that was my problem. When questioned re: rotors, they knew nothing as well. $1800 dollars later, im selling the car. Never again.

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  2015 C300 4 Matic -Mini S class - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gottlieb - April 4 - 6:06 pm

  2015 C300 4 Matic Luxury Class

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  battlecruiser - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By hovocop - April 4 - 3:12 am

  I purchased this car a month ago used with 162000 miles on it. The price was right, and I thought it to be a "disposable" car. NOT SO!!!! I have driven much newer mercedes, and this 14 yr old car has not lost a step in performance or comfort. Beware of a "weeping" oil drip of this car. I was stunned and horrified when I discovered it. A little research on the internet told me that the oil should not be at the "max" of the dipstick. it should be in the middle. The key comes down to maintainance records. If you had an anal previous owner, you are in luck. If you had an owner who saved his pennies to get it (and did not want to spend his pennies to maintain it) you will have a bad experience.

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  Best Car Ive owned or driven - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Lloyd Torchio - April 3 - 11:16 pm

  Excellent performance - - 19 to 28 mpg - - stunning looks(black)- - its a head turner, people comment on the vehicle

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  Update to my earlier review - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CarolB - April 3 - 5:40 am

  Now have 6600 miles on the Benz. I still absolutely love to drive it & my overall rating doesnt change. Have found a couple of minor things that could be improved upon. The auto- sensing wipers are not very good. They sometimes come on when there is not any moisture at all. You cannot adjust them other than slow, med, fast and auto. My Toyota had a variable speed ajustment like a dimmer switch that was quite useful. The second item is the nav which doesnt allow anything to be entered while the car is in motion. While I understand this is likely for safety reasons it is aggravating since it prohibits the passenger from making any course adjustments while riding.

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  I Love My Mercedes ML - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mark Godbee - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I love the performance of this suv. German car feel makes driving fun. I receive many compliments on this beautiful car. The rear could look less like a mini-van but the front and side looks awesome. After 101,000 miles, I have only had a few problems: window problems, cup holder, power-steering pump, sunroof, interior trim, tail light, and a/c fuse. But Im not picky. Warranty covered these items except interior trim. There are obvious quality control and reliability issues with the interior of this truck which can be costly, but I have yet to hear of an engine problem/transmission problem except for fuel pump. Be sure to buy extended warranty, I think its worth it.

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  2005 ML 350 Special Edition - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By moto - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Our 2005 ML350 SUV is great. Love the Special Edition package,navigation system, and park distance option. The interior is roomy. Cant wait to see how it performs in the snow.

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  320 review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Pac Pac - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Dissapointing for a Mercedes Benz.