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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  I am loving it. - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RaleighMB - November 23 - 6:00 pm

  I have had this car for over a year and absolutely love it. It is a solid built car with a super smooth drive and transmission. The audio system is simply outstanding and the gas mileage has been great. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the purchase.

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  Still the best - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jake - November 23 - 5:23 pm

  What an impressive value! The styling is fantastic- they really did it right with the wheels and tires combination. Even the brake clipers say Mercedes on them (my friends $70,000 Audi doesnt). Ive only put 1,500 miles on it in 4 months and it lives in the garage, but is an absolute joy to drive. Pickup with the 6sp manual seems pretty good, but I havent seen the economy on the sticker yet. Nicely equipped too, with lots of standards like the power seat, rain sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights, sunshade, etc. Great value- I looked at the IS250, but Mercedes is still the best.

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  Didnt miss my Passat for long! - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By juelladeville - November 21 - 2:00 am

  Never have felt so secure on the road. Bought it when my daughter started school in next county.Great on highway. Yeah, cupholder is actually a better cell phone holder, but Ill deal! Bought it used with 29000 miles on it, saved a bunch over new and it still feels like new.

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  C300 Sport - Nice! - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By egmdx - November 20 - 12:46 am

  Beautiful car! The only complaint I have is I wish it had more horsepower. I have a G35 coupe which has 280HP, and going down to 228HP is a little change. The ride is awesome.

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  My BABY BENZ - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tara - November 17 - 1:16 am

  My first MB and I will never own anything else. So much fun to drive. I get excited when its time to drive it. My husband at first didnt like the idea of a Benz but he drives more then I do now. We are already planning on getting another MB.

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  New Baby Sportz Benz Fun To Drive (FTD) - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By KOPRESSORJACK - November 16 - 10:00 am

  We just bought this car for my wife to drive. We looked at the usual suspects in this class; G35, IS350, 3 series, A4, S60, LT-S, etc..., what a great group of cars all of them. This car just stands out from the rest. Its not the quickest, or the best sport handling, or most luxurious (thats the C320), but the sum of its parts seem to make it feel greater to drive thna all the rest or what gives it the FTD experience. Ours is the Obsidian Black w/Charcoal interior (the fastest of the C230 Sport Sedan),plus it has the looks over all the other sport compact sedans. Remember we just bought this car, so we hope, we still feel this way as time goes on.:-)

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  C240 4matic 2003 A wonderful car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Frank B - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. The ride and handling are superb and the fuel economy is decent. I find the power is adequate (Im coming from an Audi S4). I have only had it a week so I dont know how reliability will be. I am giving it a 10 for now (although the door open warning does not come on). I drove the 2003 Audi A4 Quattro and BMW 325XI and preferred the ride of the C240. All the cars seemed to handle very well.

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  Ten years with my E320. - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Thomas G Lambach - November 15 - 11:56 pm

  Bought new in 96, an excellent package in terms of its exterior size, interior space and cargo volume. Handles well and is a pleasure to drive, especially on the freeway where it just glides along. Highway fuel economy has been as high as 27.75 mpg (Models EPA was 20/27). IMHO, in good condition the E320 is a screaming used car bargain, but only if its in good condition.

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  The Greatest E class - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Best E-class - November 14 - 9:46 am

  I two weeks ago I traded in my 2006 E350 for the 2008 E350. The handling and engine sound are much improved and there is more aviable options and combinations. I got my E350 with dvd navigation, premium 2 pkg, ipod integration, electronic trunk closer,voice control, and keyless go. The color is Sienna Black metallic which reflects red but appears to be black and the sahara/beige interior ( very nice combination). It had a MSRP or 60,500 and had a sticker price lower than a E550. I am delighted.

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  CLK 350 Coupe - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By PW - November 12 - 2:06 pm

  Great car, sound system is great, great acceleration. Im glad the Premium package I for 2009 has bluetooth since I live in CA. Great improvement.