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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  Nice but with some flaws - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Eric - January 11 - 12:30 am

  Overall, a very nice car with an air of high luxury. As for reliability, had a squealing noise which was a pulley bearing subject to recall. Dealer fixed with no hassle. We now have a strange rattle from the vicinity of the differential. Of course, it stopped when we took the car to the dealer and hasnt yet returned. Performance -- acceleration, braking, handling -- is just okay by my standards but I race cars, so I have high standards. This is primarily my wifes car. For the typical purchaser of this car, the performance is more than adequate. Not too happy about the high depreciation, but we plan on retaining the car for a while.

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  Worth the money, worth working for - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By annasdad - January 9 - 7:46 pm

  My family loves this car. We drive 700 miles a day when we travel, which is frequently, and we never feel tired afterwards. We are all the way up to 137K miles now and really it feels as solid as it did at 40K. The fuel mileage is amazing. We get 29 mpg on the road and average 26. Everybody looks at it admiringly, even though now it is 7 years old. We have had to make some repairs, but if you shop around and find a reasonable mechanic it really isnt much more expensive than other cars.

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  Great Car... Strange Standard Features. - 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By Krishna Patil - January 9 - 12:39 pm

  This car doesnt come with basic features as a standard option. I somehow ended up with this "robotic" car that doesnt have garage door opener buttons as a basic option. My 13 year old honda pilot and every car since has come with that as a standard feature. How can a luxury car like mercedes not include that... and not even as an optional add on after the fact.. strange.

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  The best car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Charles Jones - January 9 - 12:33 am

  This car is great. If you can afford it, you should buy it. The performance is great, and it is roomy.

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  The best M-class ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By skye - January 8 - 12:33 pm

  First off I live in East Hampton Long island N.Y. where the M-class is rarely seen.But in N.Y.C.(Brooklyn) they are all over the place (ML320350s and 500s)but not ML430s they stand out they look a little more unique because of their bigger rims and smaller body. I love this SUV it is so great it has a powerful V8.Check it out!

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  beautiful car - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By barneyhan - January 8 - 10:00 am

  beautiful car, very expensive to repair, rattles alot,dr iver side door window has scratches from rollers in door, has miss in motor,for a car that was driven only 7500 miles a year its not in very good condition

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  A SUPER AUTOMOBILE - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By WIL - January 8 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a thrill to drive and it is everything Mercedes says it is. I was very impressed with the power and quick response. If there is any down-side...it would be shoulder/hip room; I am 66" about 270lbs and its just a fit.

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  My 500 SL - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jm - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I had a 1998 500 SL before this one. I was never crazy about that car. It was bulky and difficult to drive. This one is sleek, attractive and lots of fun to drive.

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  Great entry level Benz - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Not Bad - January 7 - 4:46 pm

  This car handles well on the road. it can make any turn without any problem. A bit sluggish off the line but picks up in the later gears. I love the 7- speed automatic transmission and the sport-shift concept. Great interior design and it has a classy yet modern looking exterior. Get it with the AMG trim, it makes the car standout. A little disappointed in the amount of driver side leg room. I cant find a seat postion thats comfortable.

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  Great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fred - January 7 - 1:33 pm

  I have had this car almost two years, bought it MB certified but have had zero problems with it. Driven on on trips, heavy traffic, everything and the car handles it all. Was even great in the snow last winter. Highly recommended.