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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  Simply Gorgeous! - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By sqrl18 - December 15 - 7:00 pm

  I knew noting about this car, but fell in love with it instantly. The color is steel blue gray with stone interior. We didnt tint the windows, which kept it looking simply beautiful. Drove like a dream, but MB service was somewhat disappointing compared to other cars weve had. Two pet peeves: cup holder design is stupid and it was almost impossible to keep the kick area on the lower doors clean. Other than that, we loved this car. Sadly the car was totaled after 6 mo (someone ran a red light). Were heartbroken, but excellent safety design allowed us to walk away with only a slight sore neck that night. How do you value that? This car was priceless.

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  Love this beast - 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Stas B - December 15 - 3:03 pm

  Owned the car for a few years, put 64k miles, no problems, only regular maintenance which actually doesn’t cost that much. Oil change with filter only 130$ at the dealer, I think very reasonable, in comparison I paid 400$ for oil change for my cayenne so I’m pretty happy with reliability and cost of ownership. Resale value of course not great but it’s a good thing for people who buy this vehicle used. Great fit and finish of all the interior components. Headlight performance is not best but I updated the bulbs and it definitely made an improvement. Great acceleration and handling despite the size and weight of the vehicle. Would recommend it to anyone! Love mine

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  2009 E350 4Matic Sport - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By STSMLTLE - December 14 - 1:10 pm

  This car is marvelous! The styling with the sport package is great, it drives very well, and is comfortable. The 350 V6 has as much horsepower as my old Mercedes 430 V8. Its plenty fast and I get 20 MPG. It feels as stable and strong as a bank vault, but drives quick and nimble too. The climate control system and 7-channel audio system also are great. My only gripe is with the nav system. Its a pain to use and the screen is too small.

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  Concens with engine - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Slo Mo - December 14 - 11:53 am

  I purchased this car 2 weeks ago and Ive already had to return to the dealership for a oil leak. The car only has 30,890 miles and for it to have a leak is really concerning. I love the car but the oil leak really bothers me. Im disappointed so far because the car runs great but my confidence is a little shaken at the moment.

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  E350 4Matic - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Stephen - December 13 - 6:00 pm

  Its time for me to give my 39 month lease back. I would highly recommend this car. I spend 2.5 - 3 hurs a day in it for a commute and it has been great. Only problem I had was with the all wheel drive transfer box. Supposedly they had problems with the lubricants in this year and the car vibrates when moving slowly and making sharp turns (approx $4000 fix if out of warranty).

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  Much better than Porsche - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ultimate Machine - December 11 - 10:53 pm

  I purchased the AMG63 for my wife to replace her Porsche Cayanne S. She was hesitant because she really loved her Porsche, but after driving it for few days she fell in love with it. The ML63 is so much fun to drive that I almost like it more than my CLK AMG convertible. I cannot imagine anyone not liking this SUV. If you have $95,000 to spare there is no better family car to have. I guarantee it.

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  boat review - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By me review - December 11 - 2:00 am

  This car was perfect right off the lot. After 5 years I have had minimal maintenance performed and no major problems. It is the best car I have ever owned in 40 years.

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  E500 is tops - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Honeyman - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Superb vehicle--fast, sure, secure, and stable

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  Big Change For The Better - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By L. Huncilman - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Our third SL (1991 and 1999) - almost every feature has been imprcved - most notable improvements are ride, noise.handling and styling - Very pleased with this car.

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  Superb - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Frank B - December 11 - 2:00 am

  This car has the best combination of ride and handling and is the least tiring car to drive that I have ever owned. In one word it is "Superb".