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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  Presets in Steering wheel - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By WilliamMann - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I cannot believe the IDIOTS at the top of Mercedes, they made a decision that someone should be fired for! The comfort steering wheel is ANYTHING but that. The Sterio arrows in steering wheel just Scan the stations and do NOT skip to your presets as THEY SHOULD! The dealer said they changed this for this years model - ARE THEY NUTS!!! Im So upset that I spent 70K & I also have to hold the preset for Memorie seating too instead of a One touch like the Caddys. Really silly stuff that could have been great! SHAME to the executives making BONE HEAD decisions.

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  Fun to Drive - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Terryjo - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I looked at the BMW 325,Acura TL and Volvo S60 2.4T/R models before choosing the Mercedes. Ive never regretted it. Ive been driving quite a bit in the past month and it is so fun to drive and comfortable on the driver. I used to own a BMW but Im not sure if Ill go back. Im waiting to see if the Mercedes has the long term quality that I would expect.

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  Not my Favorite - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Candi - March 9 - 9:13 am

  Ive always owned BMWs, this is my first Mercedes Benz. I must say I prefer BMW over Benz. I like the drive but the seats are not comfortable they dont recline very well. I am starting to have multiples of problems from simple things as the window switch needs replacing to the radiator and now the brake control unit which is expensive. Im trying to now sell this car but Im afraid someone will be disappointed when they have to maintain it. But its cute!

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  Makes me want to get up to go to work - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Wisconsin - March 7 - 6:33 pm

  After two months, finally some bad weather for the 4 matic which was sure footed in heavy rain. The automatic winshield wipers are pretty cool. Although a smaller sedan, its interior does not seem small even when my wife and two teens go along. The field of view, steering wheel controls, mirror placement, overall performance, and ride make this the best vehicle Ive ever owned.

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  Last of the good Benzes - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Doug Hall - March 6 - 7:33 am

  I have owned about 10 mercedes, this 1992-1999 S Class is among the last of the truly good ones. Bought my 1997 used in 2000, pure joy. Love driving it, 23 mpg in mixed driving, gets lots of compliments at 8 years and 105000 miles. Strangers ask if I want to sell it. Black/black leather, Looks positively new, very reliable overall. These are very complex cars, buy one from a dealer with all records and the "Starmark" extended warranty, buy extra coverage to 36 months/100000 total miles. 1997-1999 are the best years, 5 speed auto, updated wheels/climate control/stereo, 1992- 1996 wiring harness and head gasket problems corrected.

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  Fun Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - March 5 - 12:56 pm

  This car is very smooth. I dont tend to use the car as hard as I did my 540 with a stick but the power and performance is there. Certainly it has a stiff suspension but I have found it civilized. Interior is confortable and functional. I love some of the details like contrasting stitching and suade details on the seats. Basically, if you want a really civilized car that can has heavy duty performance underneath the surface this is a great choice.

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  CLS-500-A Real Beakthrough - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Dick Thompson - March 5 - 9:40 am

  The 2006 Mercedes is a true breakthrough automobile. In design, comfort and performance , the CLS 500 has broken some very exciting new ground. It drives like a sports car, has the comfort of a much larger model, and performs admirably in all driving situations. The rear seating area is actually quite comfortable. The only limitation is slope of the rear roof line does make entereing the rear comprtment more of a challenge than in other 4-door sedan models.s The interior is not quite up to the standards of Mercedes, butit is acceptable. I would recommend the vehicle to anyone interested in a unique driving experience. It is an excellent addition to the Mercedes line.

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  First Mercedes-Benz - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Alex - March 5 - 2:20 am

  Im used to the comfortable hohum driving experieces of Japanese cars. For a long time Ive driven Lexus, but decided I wanted something fun to drive, comfortable, safe, and powerful. This car fit the description almost perfectly. I got the AWD model for Connecticuts uncertain winters. The car begs to be driven fast. You can fine tune your suspension from comfort to sport which ever you desire. A deterent for German cars seem to be its terrible reliability, so far nothing yet! Well see how the rest of the year progesses. Its nice to have the only one , the car turns heads all over. The vehicle was equipped with the premium and appearance packages, electric trunk closer, wood steering wheel, and voice control.

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  Heavy Duty Fagility - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Devon - March 5 - 2:00 am

  The G500 is a great eye catcher and off- road performer. The materials and and weight are reminiscent of the Mercedes of yesteryear. When you close the door... it CLOSES. All the major problems come from the advanced electronic systems. Seems as though Mercedes rushed it into production before bringing it to the States. Itll be better in 2003 or 2004, hopefully.

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  Tough Coupe - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Devon - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car since Oct 98 and havent had one day when I was tired of its performance. All trips to the Service Department were reletively small or regular maintenance. I drive hard and my CLK keeps a smile on my face and me out of danger (thanks ESP). Still not tired of the looks, even as the new 03 CLKs arrived this fall.