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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  Great Road Trip Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bill K - December 18 - 10:00 am

  We were looking for a midsize wagon, the C-Class was the right size for our needs, the 05 changes to both interior (big improvement to the tach and speedo layout),and exterior (wheels and body work) make this one of the best looking wagons on the market. The ride is comfortable, but firm enough for good handling and control at speed through turns.

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  Its All About "Sport" - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Matson - December 18 - 7:36 am

  This car is very sharp. Styling is sleek and eye catching. Compliments are fairly common. The interior is very comfortable up front and provides excellent opportunity for the best driving position. The back seats are fine for 2 small to mid sized people. Thats the way a "C" class is designed. If you want more in back get an "E". Trunk is amazingly spacious. One touch functions for windows and sunroof are a bonus as well as the rear power sunshade. Handles tight with very responsive braking. 201 HP is just enough to get by, but it would have been much better to put the Kompressor supercharger on the 6 cylinder for another 25 or so HP. Get all weather tires, Yokohama S- Drive.

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  Built like a tank, fast as a jet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jerrya - December 17 - 11:00 pm

  This is my first Mercedes, having been a BMW driver all my life. After the styling misdirection with BMW I looked for an alternative. What a find! I love this car! It is comfortable for every day driving and when you want it.....it flies! Its hard to describe unless you actually have the opportunity to put your foot into it. I realize it is expensive but the thrill and the beauty of the car is worth the price of admission. The difference between this car and a BMW 545 sport in lease payment was less than $250 per month. It is the best $250 per month I have ever spent. The steering feel is not quite up to BMW standards but EVERYTHING else is head and shoulders above it.

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  Great lines - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By william craft - December 17 - 1:43 pm

  Best looking small SUV out there. Price is very reasonable. Smooth ride found in E class. I love the true dual exhaust.

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  The perfect blend of sport and luxury - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Wis Ed - December 15 - 3:10 am

  Driven in comfort mode, regardless of speed, this car is a paragon of luxury: amazing seats, comfortable ride, near total silence. Flick the dynamic switch to sport plus and you get a fire breathing, curve slicing rocket that is as fast and swift handling as any road car has a right to be, the near silence replaced by an excellent engine tune that is loud enough not to be annoying! The car simply seems to hover over the pavement regardless how abruptly or hard its driven. There is no squat, nose dive or lean. The engine is powerful and responsive at any speed, the transmission seems to divine the right gear for seamless, effortless thrust! Fuel economy is very good for the level of performance, I have been achieving exactly the EPA estimates. The interior is simply superb, excellent materials and fit and finish. After you drive a car with dynamic seat bolsters everything seems a little less special. Even the rear seats are a very nice place to be. The command system is a huge improvement over the previous version of the system and works amazingly with the dual screen dash which offers HD level graphics. The additional AMG modes for both the screens and the heads up display add another layer of wow factor. The standard Burmester audio is excellent and fully appreciated given the almost anechoic chamber level quietness that the quiet comfort package provides. Definitely a home run from Mercedes Benz-AMG.

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  Good Car, many problems - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kermit780 - December 15 - 2:00 am

  We have owned our E300TD for almost five years now. It is overall a good car, but there were so many problems that were unnecessary. At 9,000 the cupholder lid would not stay up and had to be replaced. To this day even the replacement does not work. We have had this vehicle serviced eight times for glowplug related issues, usually them failing. The sunroof stopped operating, the rear window came off track. There are other issues, but not enough time or space. The interior has no perks or electronic gadgets. When you pay that much for a car is a CD player too much to ask for, without paying $800 for the factory CD changer.

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  A great alternative to a SUV - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CMatos - December 15 - 2:00 am

  We recently added twins to the family. Something reasonably comfortable and efficient was called for. Minivans were absolutely out of the question and SUVs, well, they dont handle all that well after all, do they? The E320 Estate seemed the perfect solution. We havent been let down.

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  Fun to drive - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By HansP - December 15 - 2:00 am

  A car that will run 152 mph, gets 33 mpg highway, great looks, and a Mercedes to boot. Look no further than the C230. One drive and my wife and I were hooked. Driving a big SUV took the fun out of driving. This car is a blast.

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  Best Luxury Roadster/Boulevardier - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By roadster - December 13 - 9:53 pm

  Pro: Best car I ever owned. Real head turner. Myriad positive comments. Quiet, smooth ride. Solid body: no squeaks, rattles, groans, shakes, or shudders. Awesome, smooth power with great engine sound. I never brake for corners. Good trunk space. Cons: should come with all-season tires, not summer. Bose sound system mediocre: not much volume or bass. Lots of interior wood-trim not in-cluded and absurdly expensive on the aftermarket. No door- ding strips- standard on C class. Headlight and taillight trim rings are not included. Grille and louver fins painted grey instead of chrome plated. No chrome trim on bumpers. Wheels are painted instead of plated.

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  CL55 is Incredible! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By N$aneRacing - December 12 - 3:10 pm

  Excellent features, feel, handling, power and comfort. Nice body style in the Mercedes line up. I am very happy with this car overall and would rate it A+.