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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  Fantastic Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ana - June 26 - 11:10 pm

  After owning 3 BMWs, I decided to give MB a shot. My switch was mostly driven by the fact that I needed an all wheel drive car, a feature that BMW had neglected for a while. My first Benz was a 2003 C320 W4 and I loved it. This year I decided to upgrade to an E- Class and I could not be happier. This is the first car that combines the level of cornering, torque, stability, that I loved about my BMWs, added to amazing agility and impeccable maneuvering. The luxurious quality interior is MB dignified. The sleek, but classic exterior is sure to turn heads. Although the price was steep, it was worth every penny.

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  Its a truck - not a luxury SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By j.edwards - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle in spite of your review. I wanted a stiff rding, ruggedly built, durable vehicle with a military heritage. You may nit-pick, but its still an S-class interior. It cant go out of style because it never was in style. It will out climb an H-1 and do 130 on the road. Try that with any other SUV on the market. Yeah, youll be laughing in years to come, but it will be at yourselves for identifying this thing as a luxury SUV.

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  The best Ive owned - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rockinb23 - June 25 - 7:38 pm

  Ive owned a bunch of different nice luxury cars over the years including a Cadillac CTS, 3 Series BMW, 5 older Mercedes Benz cars and when I was trying to figure out what to buy I compared the E Class to several others like the Acura TL, Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series. This car is by far the nicest Ive owned or driven. It is very stylish and even with the 3.5L V6 it gets up and goes!!!! The Paddle shifts make you feel like a race car driver when you are getting on the freeway. Mine has the Sports package and the P1 Package and it looks killer in black with the low profile 18" wheels. I get compliments on it from any one who sees it or rides in it. Great car!!! 44k Miles so far so good.

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  Squeak, Rattle and Buzz! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bummah - June 24 - 11:16 pm

  Squeaks, rattles, and buzzes like a 30 yr old Blazer. Surprisingly poor build quality and blatant cheapness in materials. At idle the fuel pump rattles and thumps so bad it makes the car sound like a diesel. Not like the old school MBZ!

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  Not Thrilled with MB - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By LJ - June 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used and loved the style of it. I have had several problems with it including replacing both electric window motors in the back and constantly have light bulbs blowing out. The electric seats will move in the opposite direction when pushing the buttons. I took out a BMW 540 yesterday and couldnt believe the pickup vs. the E420.

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  Totaled one to appreciate it! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gringobob - June 24 - 10:00 am

  A bit Boring. But let me tell you, this car is a life saver! I had the car for three, effortless, worry free years. That is until one day when someone took a left turn onto 45-50 mph oncoming traffic. She is fine (wiplash etc, lasceration but walked away)I walked away with very minor effect. No pain, No problems! Car: total loss! The E320 went into its Teutonic engineer mode and protected me admirably. The air bag deployed, yet never hit me, but was there "just in case". The passenger compartment integrity was superb! Crumple zones worked, absorbing the crash without serious or lasting injury. THANKS Mercedes!

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  Nice car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By drjay71 - June 24 - 10:00 am

  Great ride, amazing luxury, solid feel

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  Fun for the price tag - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By yongra - June 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my first MB. I had a great deal that I could not pass up. Now, after about a month. I dont regret it. I love the car. Handles well in corners, performance is above average. The supercharged engine really helps. When I need pick-up, it is there.

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  Could have better intial quality - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By axion - June 24 - 10:00 am

  Had to replace - gas tank (over spill) - Driver side seat belt (clicking noise) Rattling noise from center console.

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  500 Sl - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By James - June 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is simply wonderful.