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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  Saks 350 - Love it! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By AZBenz - July 8 - 3:13 am

  This is our first MB and wont be the last! The car is very functional, the NAV and HK audio upgrade really adds to the already engaging driving experience. The car rides solid and quiet..no rattles or squeaks. The interior color combo on the Saks edition is beautiful. After evaluating the IS 350 and BMW 3 series, it was clear that this car provided the best blend of performance, interior comfort, value and styling.

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  M-Class Poor Reliability - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By smitty2 - July 6 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle looks reasonbly good, handles well, gets good fuel mileage, rides well, but is not reliable. Requires frequent service.

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  The Best of the Best - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Steebie - July 6 - 2:00 am

  This is my second S430 in three years, and the 2003 has really improved, especially the command system. The trunk pop out handle allows you to close the trunk without one fingerprint on the finish. Sound system is the best of the best, and comfortable ride cant be beat. The 2003 is the best yet.

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  Best car I ever had - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By caygirl - July 5 - 2:20 pm

  I have had the BMW X5, and 325Ci and the Porsche Cayenne, and this is the best car I have had by far. It is practical, comfortable, and well appointed. My husband has the Mercedes S class and is happy to get in and drive it with our two kids in the back and nanny or other passenger in the third row. Everyone is happy and comfy. I strongly recommend this car if you need seating for more than 4. Fast too. Caveat: Parktronic is a must!

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  S550 a Winner - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By BobObO - July 4 - 4:43 am

  Initially, I wasnt too excited about the exterior look from the pictures, but it grew on me once I saw the actual car. After sitting in it on the date of the delivery, I was convinced that it is a definite success. I have a 745Li, but the fit and finish on the S550 is definitely warmer and more sophisticated then the BMW. Driving it was heavenly, with the 7 speed transmission and the 382hp, the car was silk smooth. I also got the ABC suspension a $3900 option, and I was worth every penny. ABC on S550 is almost the same as the Maybach suspension. Although many criticized Mercedes for its COMAND center being too much like the BMW iDrive, the COMAND is soo much easier and faster. S550 a winner

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  The Best Car Ever - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Ryan Jennings - July 3 - 2:20 am

  I recently bought this new S-class 500 at Atlanta Classic Car and it was my most enjoyable buying experience. Mercedes knows how to treat its consumers right. I love this car it has a strong engine and the technology is amazing. The safety aspect was one of the reasons I bought this car. It has the Pre-Safe system and 8 different airbags. The seats are very confortable and it can make you feel as if you were riding in a limo. Love the Car. If your in the market for a quality and powerful luxary sedan, the Mercedes should be your fist choice. Love this car!

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  R350 2007 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By John - July 3 - 1:03 am

  The automobile is a fine ride overall. The BlueTooth ranks with BMWs. It works great, not like Acuras that frequently disconnected mid-sentence. Sleek look and well designed cabin.

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  Not buying MB again any time soon - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Stew L - July 2 - 7:03 am

  We have 2000 E430 and have about 60,000 miles on it. So far, we had to spend over $9,000 on repairs ranging from A/C to differential leaks! It is a well designed and good looking car but the MBs quality is sub-par. Unless MB improves the quality, we wont be touching another MB for a long long time.

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  BMW convert - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gp - July 1 - 10:56 am

  After 31 years of driving BMWs of one type or another, the iDrive and the exterior design forced me to look at this car. Fast, Fast, Fast. I dont know what in the world could ever replace it for me. An improvement would be a manual 6 speed. Its the first auto tranny I have ever owned. If they could ever get that BMW feel, no one would buy a Bimmer. I will look at the M6 when it comes out, but it going to take a lot to pry my white knuckled hands from this steering wheel. An all grown up luxury hot rod.

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  2003 S Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Hawk1 - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Magnificent car in every respect except reliability!! The vehicle was delivered to me with no refrigerant in the air conditioning system. It required service to charge the system within the first week of ownership. No leaks were detected by the service technician. Seven weeks later the AC failed again. The system maintained the charge, but another component of the AC system failed. Parts are on order but this means another trip to the service department--three within the first two months of ownership.