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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  Should have kept my chrysler 300c Hemi - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rose - August 29 - 6:13 am

  only one day into my new car and I am not pleased. the C300 really lacks in comfort and room. If your claustrophobic this is not the car for you. The seats are small and uncomfortable. Programming your settings is a choir. I have 3 years on this lease and I am counting the days. Purchased this MB instead of another Chrysler 300C V8 Hemi because of Chryslers Financial state. Personally as far as comfort goes... Maybe in time I will feel different about this MB, but why do I doubt that? "Should have had a V8"

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  Super Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Faith - August 28 - 7:33 pm

  This car is very unique. It is small and compact but it has all the luxury of a large sedan or limo. The car is so cool. Even the key is cool. It has buttons and it doesnt use metal in the ignition. You use a little box at the front of the key

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  C350 Worth A Look - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DavidB - August 27 - 1:10 pm

  The C350 shows sporty yet classic MB styling, is well crafted, has excellent power and torque, and is incredibly fun to drive. The navigation and upgraded sound systems are well worth buying, especially for gadget & toy fanatics. Voice command control is a fantastic addition to this car. Handling, acceleration are well-balanced with a smooth, quiet ride. The sport tires are slightly louder than touring tires, but its well worth the price of driving a sport-tuned suspension. Overall, the car compares very favorably with BMW 335i, but likely cost close to $5,000 less than comparably equipped models.

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  Great Car!!! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Greg - August 27 - 12:23 am

  Black exterior with stone interior - no better combination. I have had this car for two months and am still very satisfied. I have owned several MBs, BMWs and Japanese cars before and this one is the best in terms of quality, prestige and fun factor. There really is no comparison. It is also fast ! I would do it all over again.

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  Excellent Auto - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dave - August 26 - 12:26 am

  The car looks great and has a fantastic ride, The kids love the dual dvds and the satelite radio is easy to use for us. The ride is smooth and it handles very well.

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  Benz after others - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By mike - August 25 - 10:06 pm

  I love the new S550.The interior is well layed out and compact. You dont have buttons all over the place. The ride is gorgeous as youd expect, and I dont find anything out of place or an afterthought like the Audi A8. The monitor is built in the design not like a cheap afterthought. Face it, not many of us who own these cars go mad around race tracks, so comfort, drivability, looks, interior layout are more important. They still have to have the element of fun to them and the Mercedes sure does. It came down to BMW7 S550, A8 and IS460. being familiar with all, the S550 was my clear winner with the BMW750 close behind.

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  In Love with my GL 320 CDI - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By pollyspop - August 25 - 9:00 am

  Traded from a Yukon XL. I pull a 4000 lb boat and wanted to go greener. 23 mpg my first 2000 miles compared to 15 mpg with the Yukon. And all this Luxury! I bought the Premium 1 pkg, Trailer Hitch (which is very unabtrusive),19" wheel pkg,I-Pod Plug, Side rails and chrome fog lights. Power and Acceleration are Not an issue with this vehicle. I know there will be a larger diesel engine soon...I will not need it. I find the Ultra Low Sulfur fuel everywhere.

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  Buy anything but... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By eurocar - August 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is horrible. From the day I bought it Ive had nothing but problems. The dealership people are inentive to the problems Ive been having. The service deparment is constantly on backorder for parts and it is overall a bad experience. This is the first time that Ive bought a Mercedes (happy BMW owner) and Chrysler quality is really showing itself in this SUV.

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  love it - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By john smith 6969 - August 24 - 10:00 am

  best car for these price no lex. no bimmer can beat this car i love it

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  Wow - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By boethius - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Love the gas mileage and performance on the highway. We tested about a dozen cars in the same price range before chosing the C230. The car drives like a 35K vehicle!