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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  The Only SUV for a Single Dad - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By SingleDad - June 22 - 6:30 pm

  Mercedes Benz should pat themselves on the back for this one. This is my 3rd Benz and my favorite. Constantly receive compliments on the looks, both inside and out. Drives like a dream. The car is tight, quiet, comfortable, luxurious, fun, and in a league of its own. As a single dad of 2, it does everything a minivan can do, but does it with masculinity. The only negatives as others have stated is the DVD location and controls are not accessible without stopping the vehicle and pulling over (if you have little ones) and you only have access to the 3rd row from the passenger side of the vehicle. Having said that, nothing is perfect, however this sure is close.

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  2000 E320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mike - June 22 - 6:03 am

  Great car! Since new it gets 30-32mpg on highway trips and 21-22mpg on daily 14 mile comute on surface streets! Very quick acceleration and handles well at high speeds. Catalytic converters both expired at 73000 miles, just within the warranty. Front lower control arm had to be replaced at 70,000 miles and the cost is pretty steep.

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  Mini S - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Satisfied Customer - June 21 - 10:37 am

  Purchased C400 six months ago with interior, multimedia, panorama sunroof, blind spot, hands-free trunk packages; has been to the dealer exactly once to install plates. This vehicle is great for someone looking for a good balance between sportiness and luxury. Had driven the late model E-series a few times and, while it was moderately luxurious, always thought the handling was relatively stodgy and heavy-feeling, even with the V-8. The 400C is nearly as long and wide as an E, but feels far nimbler and quicker (in part because it weighs just shy of 3700 lbs.). Positives: power and handling, exterior styling and interior appointments, color combination (Palladium silver, cranberry red leather and open-pore black ash trim), blind spot assist and navigation/multi-media setup. Negatives: dont find the touch pad particularly intuitive, sport suspension can seem harsh on poor pavement, windshield profile creates some wind noise. On balance, though, very fun and comfortable drive -- and who needs the extra 30 horses in the MY16 C450?

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  Becareful - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By avanthomme - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This is now my second CLK320 Coupe. My first was a 2000 CLK320. This is turning into my worst nightmare. My first CLK was in and out of the workshop, and now in my 3rd week of ownership of my 2004 CLK320, I have to make it into the dealership b/c my lighting cluster (which houses my sunroof operation) is completely out. I cant close my sunroof! I think now (although Im a huge M- B fan) Ive lost complete faith in the company. This will most definitely be my last mercedes.

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  Fun to drive to ski and hiking - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By cmiao_98 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  very comfort to drive, especially in the snow area, and mountain side. excellent control in downhill condition. Just fun to drive in all weather conditions.

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  Piece of Junk.... - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mograce - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought this SUV on May 21 and had to take it in 3xs for the same problem- accelerator hesitation. When I would mash on the accelerator, it would hesitate for a few seconds and then take off. They replaced parts on all ocassions and the problem still existed. I took it back this past weekend and the dealership paid me what I had bought the SUV for and I traded it in and bought a Yukon. I just assumed that since this was a Mercedes, that it wouldnt be a piece of junk and that it was of high quality, but the joke was on me. I could see that I was headed for a life of misery with this SUV and am grateful that I was able to get out of it.

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  s500 Rocks!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By rsboca - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I had to get the S500 asap. The reason? I previously owned a S500 on a 2 year lease. When the lease was up my wife urged me to get a Lexus & I did (for 2 years) Yes, A lexus is great. BUT a S500 is like no other car. NOW I am soooooo happy! Quality=The Best & Fun to drive & Safety. If You have the cash, GET THIS CAR.

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  Absoloutely the best car Ive ever had! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By WTan - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is absolutely the best! I have traded up from an 04 SL500 and I dont regret it one bit. The performance and handling of this car is awesome! The shift by MB to DVD navigation is the right step! If youre looking for a roadster/convertible, this is IT!

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  THE E320 CDI LETS ROLL - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Clark D. Williams - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Undoubtedly the best car I have ever owned. The performance and handling even compared to the basic model is without comparision. So far Ive had 4600 miles of trouble-free driving. Its very quick with its 369 lbs of torque and will even squeal if youre too heavy footed all while still delivering outstanding fuel economy.

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  Back to the Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CraigIe Poo - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Mercedes and after being trapped in a Cadillac for the last 4 years I cant be happier. Great quality and performace.