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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  G Class Rules - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Q - August 23 - 10:03 pm

  I have had my G for quite some time. It is quality throughout. No plastic and thin metal. Go and drive the best. Its better than my BMW 5 series and the best vehicle I have ever driven. See for yourself. The Hummer owners wish they had one! Its for real.

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  C300 Sport - AMG - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MYC - August 23 - 8:16 pm

  Its a C300 sport with multimedia package and AMG wheels. 7 speed A. I bought this car about 9 months ago. I used to drive a 2001 BMW 330Ci before. It is a very fun to drive car. Brakes are absolutely amazing! My 330 was good to but C300 brakes are just amazing! It handles very nice. It gives you the stiff sharp feeling when you drive aggressively way and a very smooth nice drive whn you cruise down the highway. I get about 32-34 mpg on the high way (very surprising but thats what the trip computers shows). Parking lot traffic gives me about 14-15 though. 330s performance was better than the C300. Responds faster when you kick in, but overall its an amazing car. Needs more leg room in the bck

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  Love this car! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By mbzlvr - August 23 - 4:43 pm

  Purchased first as lease when new. Bought out the lease. Just love this car. Great power for a V6 and average 32mpg on the highway. Never have had any issues whatsoever. Great customer service during regular scheduled maintenance. Even got a loaner car every time! So much fun to drive and going topless is pure joy. I will definitely buy another MB.

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  Sleek - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Mark - August 23 - 5:23 am

  Heads turn often. Awesome sleek new look. Great power and handling. The car has a legitimate 2 person adult rear seat. Very comfortable. Despite low profile, I have not noticed any vision impairment at all.

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  Kinks to work out - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By AndyT - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Finally after 2 1/2 years of trips to the repair shop, I finally gave up on my ML. 12 trips to the shop for 8 different reasons and I finally had enough. The last straw was getting stranded by a fuel pump failure. All items were covered under the warranty but for $40,000 I at least want a car that runs for a couple of years before mechanical failures set in.

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  Mercedes SUV - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jill - August 23 - 2:00 am

  This is our 2nd Mercedes SUV. Previously purchased same model in 1998. The 2002 had many improvements and enhanced comfort ... great vehicle that I would recommend to anyone!

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  Mercedes SUV - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jill - August 23 - 2:00 am

  This is our 2nd Mercedes SUV. Previously purchased same model in 1998. The 2002 had many improvements and enhanced comfort ... great vehicle that I would recommend to anyone!

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  Hopeless - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S.Y. - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Interior noises ( Wood panel, dash, Drivers seat, Passenger seat, Rear cabin area,... ), dealership had to replace my brakes twice, replaced airmatic suspension ( still has problem ), replaced CD changer, replaced bottom of the drivers seat twice ( Needs third one! ), Replaced Keyless entry system,.... After 17 mon. Im so sick of this Good looking junk. Im making at least one visit to the service every month. Its my third mercedes in last 3 years, and the worst one. Actually the worst vehicle I ever had. Service department is great, but couldnt fix most of rattles!!! Im 26yrs. old and this will be my LAST mercedes... I miss you, Lexus!

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  Whatever the car is, need a MB - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By drmcomtrue - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Interior is awesome; spacious, sophisticated; like the subtle steel lining the wood trim; Engine very Quiet; road noise very less in city; on expressway more than I expected; Acceleration decent; Gizmos galore; nice that it either lowers the seat or raises the steering wheel upon stopping the engine. Big trunk - could stuff the typical jack-ass-boss there comfortably - space under the rear seat nicely used. Cloth interior easy to get smudged. Premium sound system is awesome.Storage cute And adequate.Big glove compartment, the spacer makes it difficult for the rather huge manual(s) to stuff. Brake assist assists you more than expected leading to a bit of jerky stopping.

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  Beautiful Car: Horrid Reliablitiy - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Autooracle - August 20 - 4:13 am

  Reliability issues. Climate control: 5 times in the shop for now, and going in now for the 6th. Rough Idle: 4 times. Seat belt motor: 3 times. Drivers seat motor. Rain sensor activating on a dry windshield. Reverse Ttilt for rear view mirror: repaired 4 times. Radio: 2 times. Steer clear. Overall reliability of electrical items is horrid.