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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  C-Class at its BEST! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kyle - May 4 - 3:26 pm

  Wow. First off, I can’t believe some of the reviews you people gave for this amazing car. I’m even ashamed with the Edmunds score. For only owning and driving this car for 1 week I can say this car takes the cake. Its very comfortable (and I’m 6 foot) its very powerful. It hugs the ground on tight turns. It comes rear wheel drive standard (compared to the 2010 Audi a4 thats front wheel drive standard with a four cylinder motor). The interior is a mix of sporty and luxury. The front of the c300 sport looks so sexy and the position of the head lights and fog lights is just so mean looking I love it! Sorry BMW lovers. You get more out of the standard c300 sport than the standard 328i.

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  AN EXCELLENT MIDSIZE MOTORCAR - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By TMP - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THE ENGINEERING & HOW ITS BUILT. THE ONLY MECHANICAL REPAIRS REQUIRED WAS NORMAL MAINTENANCE. I PERFORM 99.9% OF ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE/MECHANIC WORK. I TUNED THE ENGINE & DROVE THIS CAR ON A 200 MILE TRIP AND GOT 29.9 MPG, AT 60MPH, WITH THE AC ON AUTO. THE FRAME IS VERY STRONG WITH NO BODY SHAKE ON ROUGH ROADS. I DONT DRIVE THIS CAR IN BAD WEATHER BUT WHEN I GOT COUGHT IN THE RAIN ITS GREAT. IN MY OPINION THE BENZ HAS BECOME THE BENCHMARK FOR HOW I RATE MOTORCARS. I WORKED FOR BMW FOR 8 YEARS & ALL I SAW WERE PROBLEMS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THAT IT GETS DIRTY. THE NEXT BENZ WILL BE AN S-500.

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  A GOOD Truck ! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Goodmill - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Very good car,,, with status and well design features..

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  CLASSY - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mk - May 4 - 4:16 am

  What a great car ! My first MB, couldnt be happier. Everyone should own one of these once in their lifetime. Fuel economy is where it should be for a all wheel drive 268hp heavy sedan. So smooth its unreal.

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  New Mercedes diesel - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By John DuPlessis - May 3 - 6:00 pm

  I just bought the new E320 Bluetek. I replaced an E55 Kompressor, so the acceleration is down of course, the milage is double and power is enough. I drove last years 320 CDI, its straight 6 was a little less noisey, you can tell this is a diesel when idling. Overall a beautiful car.

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  The Epitome Of Understated Luxury - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By chofgarden - May 1 - 1:12 pm

  After several thousand miles in a 2015 S550 it would be hard to imagine a more well rounded or comfortable luxury sedan. Performance with the 449HP V8 is more than adequate for any circumstance, and handling is better than one might expect given the size and weight of the car, especially when in the sport mode. The ride is remarkable over any surface and the noise level is lower than any luxury car Ive owned, including a Bentley Flying Spur. Mileage is runnning about 20 MPG in combination town and highway driving, getting 25+ on the highway. The technology features abound but are subtle enough not to intrude excessively, and arent difficult to master. Not one problem so far. A home run

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  It Just Keeps on Ticking! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By carolyn baker - May 1 - 5:31 am

  Bought my 99 e320 4matic in 02 with 78K miles. A tree fell on it in a hurricane in year 2 and creased it down the middle. I thought it would be declared as totalled. It was repaired by the insurance company at a cost of $7,000. Had the transmission replaced 2 years ago. This vehicle lgets excellent gas mileage. On the highway I get 470+ miles to a tank of gas which I believe holds 18.5 gallons (about 25 mpg highway). I absolutely love to drive this car. The header is falling down a little in the back from where the tree creased it. Otherwise, it is pretty enough. I am presently at 256,000 miles and look forward to my next road trip

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  05 ML350 Special Edition - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jerrylaw1 - April 30 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is great. Not what I expected. I didnt even like it that much, until I drove it.

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  Luv-en It! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Luven It - April 27 - 9:36 pm

  Love the E320! Loved the design of 2002 vs more recent models, classic vs a more cloned look. Ride is great, acceleration is awesome with a smooth transmission even after 5 years! Fit and finish is in wonderful condition even after 5 years. Was unsure if purchase of a used vehicle was a smart move but with 1 year of ownership under my belt, very happy I made the choice. Seat warmers are weak, front interior lights are too bright- like looking into the sun.

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  Value & Elegance - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Heike - April 27 - 2:00 am

  The C280 is undeniably part of the Benz tradition of exellence and luxury. From its solid construction to its ability to turn heads around, the C280 is the best small Benz yet.