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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  2008 ML320 CDI Diesel - way to go! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Peter Shiakallis - December 10 - 5:40 am

  Bought the ML320 CDI after much consideration vs the BMW X5. It is better than advertised on MPG! I get 24- 28MPG around town and 30-32MPG on the hiway! Minimum 600 - 700 miles per tankfull! Plenty of power and torque that no gas engine can match! No black smoke and no noise! Americans should re-educate themselves about diesel! No hybrid can match the power and range - period. It is way ahead of any competitor in this range and I am 100% satisfied and as a previous Mercedes Benz owner - this the best I ever had!

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  Tenth Edition - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By K.Garnes - December 9 - 9:16 pm

  I purchased the ML after trading in the Lincoln Navigator. I purchased it for my wife who loves the look and comfort of the vehicle. I like the sound feeling and how easy it drives. We recently took a short two hour trip and found it to be all we expected and more. We have previously owned 6 SUVs in the past but this by far is the best SUV we have ever owned. For that matter it just might be the best vehicle we have ever owned. I would purchase it again without any reservation.

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  S600 Sedan - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By TonyAAAA - December 9 - 10:00 am

  The best car I have ever driven and the most fun!

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  A ride to have - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mj V. - December 8 - 1:06 pm

  This is a ride you must own in order to tell a story. What a beauty to own! This is my first ML 350 and I wouldnt have chose anything over this SUV. Its a solid built for the road, a powerful yet luxurious ride. The suspension is beyond words. I am excited about this purchase and thrilled to know that Ive bought this 2005 body style. From the pics Ive seen, the 2006 ML-350 looks too much like the RX 330. Less of an on and offroad SUV and more of a crossover sedan and car. Dont like it.

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  Cutest Car For Young Girl - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Leona K - December 7 - 12:16 am

  This car is awesome. Prior to this MB I had a Passat V6 . Not only is this car nicer on the outside, but moves faster and smoother than the Passat. The exterior is so AMG-like! I love it. Nice features and comfortable seats. Perfect car for a young girl!

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  2004 Mercedes CLK 500 Cabriolet - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Mercedesgirl - December 6 - 10:00 am

  One of the nicest looking Convertibles on the road today at a reasonable price. I love its Power and Speed. Fuel Economy is pretty good also. Definitely A Fun Vehicle, especially for my children.

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  Fun Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By AKrychev - December 6 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic car, built with very high quality materials. With the soft top on, it is very quiet inside. Very powerful engine.

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  class act - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Crashman1 - December 6 - 10:00 am

  Solid fun, great power, super styling, MB quality in a affordable package with headturning appeal.

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  YOU NEED THIS! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rbb - December 6 - 10:00 am

  there is absolutly nothing that you need besides this car. we waited until this year because the last models headlights and interior were cheap feeling/looking but any more!

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  Better than I ever dreamed - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Nancy - December 6 - 3:00 am

  I was happily surprised with how this vehicle drives as I was not initially impressed with its looks. In fact my husband said it looked like a hearse. After test driving it, I had my husband test drive it and he fell in love! (We did test drive the diesel as well and my husband found it to be noisier). The car drives like a dream! It is hard to park in tight spaces (hard to see the nose of the car) and it is too easy to switch gears accidently when driving (suggested improvement). All and all, would highly recommend.