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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  C55 AMG very fast! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Emoney - May 6 - 7:33 am

  What can I say?This car is a dream come true. The power is right there when needed, and the ride is firm but still forgiving. I have always owned trucks, and this car is smooth all around. I still drive my truck for work, and I cant wait to jump in the C55. Everytime I drive it I have a silly grin from ear to ear. I love the fact the car is not flashy, but the quad exuast does give it away.

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  Could be better - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mbcar - May 5 - 2:26 am

  Car drives great. Average around 30mpg on the highway. Chrome is coming off the gear shifter and cup holder. Cig. lighter does not work, door sensor for windows/sunroof does not work. Dealership fixed door sensor once already. Radio stopped working. Electronics on this car seem to be the weakest point, plus cheap interior parts. 1,000 miles before last oil change the check oil light come on, checked and was 4 qts low on oil. Car only has 43,000 miles on it and doesnt smoke and isnt driven hard. A/C smells like a used tampon on fresh air. I assume its the fresh air filter. Had to replace both front fender liners - very easy to break.

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  WORST CAR EVER - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Mark W. - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many cars prior to this MB, from Infiniti, BMW, Land Rover, Cadillac, Buick, Audi, and more. Never have I experience more troubles than I have since purchasing this car. I have had the car in service every month that I have owned it...from squeeks to transmission problems. And the service and sales from MB is the same at the quality of this car. Although I thought this car alone was a lemon, I soon realized that is not the case. Many others who own S-Class Mercedes have the same disappointing stories. My advice...AVOID this car at all costs!

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  A dream turned into a nightmare. - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By "G" - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my clk for almost 4 years. Was planning to keep it 4 ever but as you will see that was wishful thinking. The durability of the car is not what I would have expected from "Mercedes". They replaced the catalytic converter twice. The rear shade twice. The heated seat coils once and I still get blown fuses. When I spoke to the dealer about having to add oil more often than I should, their response was, the rings should have been replaced by 50K. Also Im starting to have some starter issues. A $46,000 car with options and taxes. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE. Good luck to all that have the 99 model.

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  Great Car but - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jason brasil - May 4 - 2:00 am

  lots of annoying little problems; 1. the cruise control stick fell off at 10K miles. dealer fixed. 2. thumbing noise from driving wheel in tight turns. dealer never managed to fix the problem. 3. light bulbs in the instrument cluster burned out at 30K miles. dealer fixed. 4. LCD temperature and gear indicator malfunction. dealer fixed.

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  2002 s 500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Tabasco - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Great car ,love the air ride. CD player should also be in dash. You would think that with a $90,000 car the rear seat bun warmers would be included, not an extra.

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  Love it! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By veronica - May 4 - 2:00 am

  i drove the vehicle for 10 straight months to commute appro. 50 miles each way and it handled everything! it is so comfortable and smooth... difficult to keep you honest on a 65mph speed limit highway because you dont even realize you are going 80. the subtle details are absolutely appreciated... especially the way it lights up when you remotely unlock your doors. i like that they did not add rear-winshield wipers to compromise the design concidering it is not that useful and looks tacky on a small car. another great feature is whole fog light system!! i test drove several cars in its range and none felt as solid, classy and worthy of the cost... i love it.

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  Lovin the Ride - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By firstbenz - May 2 - 9:10 pm

  After the first 1000 miles the car is amazing. Gas Mileage has been good, not great but better then average from other posts i have read. Though hp could be more, that is not the mind set i had for this purchase if i was only concerned with hp the bmw or infinity would do, I wanted smooth ride, luxury feeling, solid build construction, and of course an amazing looking body style inside and out.

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  Instant Classic - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Vassili - May 2 - 10:00 am

  The convertible is a remarkable car. I bought mine only recently and the car feels like a tank (almost as heavy as one, 4000lbs) and drives as smooth as a magic carpet. Very civilized and quiet, its aristocratic aura will rub off on you. Reliable so far (64k). The acceleration is very lethargic but once it gets going it carries momentum very effortlesly. What left an impression on me is how quiet it is with the top down and the rear windscreen up, doing 80 it feels like I am traveling first class. Truly a timeless jewel, I am the third and most likely the final owner.

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  Very Solid Stiff Ride - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Anthony Gucciardo - May 2 - 10:00 am

  After having a 2002 C 240, I decided to upgrade to the 04 E320. I am rarely ever in the shop. With the C Class I was there Twice a week and finally had the car bought back under the lemon law. The E320 is a stiff Sold Ride with not enough power. The Styling is Very Classy but Plain. Its a nice looking car, but only when real clean and in nice colors. Gas Mileage is excellent and Naviagtion is a Life Saver. Handles excellent. I think I would have been 100% Satisfied if I got the E- 500. If I had the power, I could not say anything bad. I will be upgrading to the E500 in 16 Months. I woudl recommend this car to anyone looking for the finest 4 Door Sedan Made.