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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  Didnt know I was Buying a Chrysler! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bug - March 28 - 2:00 am

  My ML320 has been great mechanically but a disaster with the electronic systems. I have had problems with power windows, seats (both sides), sterio, cd player, overhead trip computer, gas gauge, heated seats, rear wipers, ac adapters and third row seats. Service has been great (Im on a first name basis with them). MB extended my warrantee but its not enough. It is in the shop too often, it takes 2 weeks for an appointment and then I have to wait for parts. Too many problems! I thought I was buying the best. How disappointing to find that I bought a very expensive Chrysler!

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  Mercedes CLK 320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jean - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This car has been everything would would expect from a Mercedes

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  Mercedes CLK 320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jean - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This car has been everything would would expect from a Mercedes

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  My S55 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By zeistgott - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Fine Car, needs a better Nav system. other than that a very cool car

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  Great car!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tim - March 28 - 12:16 am

  This car is amazing in every way. This car has great stability, the steering is very comunative. It responds very good on emergency handling. The ride is comfortable on long trips and it gets good mileage. The bi- xenon lights make the car looks like a beast (in a good way) when you look at it. The trunk is good but not like my wifes E320(great car also). And it also brakes good

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  Best car I ever owned - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Mark L - March 27 - 2:20 pm

  I picked up my car on 1/12/2009. I have been a Mercedes owner for about 10 years. This by far is the best Mercedes ever built. It runs fantastic, it is tight and floats on air type of ride. The car itself was well worth the money I paid and getting a 2010 so early was great as I have a big jump before depreciation sets in.

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  Oh, the Electrical Woes. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Brian F. - March 27 - 4:36 am

  What a great car to look at! Fun to drive, except when you have to get a loaner when the radio wont work. Or like the time there was a sparking wire making the drivers seat dangerous. Or the time the windshield wipers stopped working. Or the time the left headlamp would not light each time it was switched on. Or the time I had it in the shop when the right headlamp would not light when it switched on (the whole component had to be rebuilt). Other than that, the car is a pleasure to drive. But since it is a glorified Chrysler now, expect it to be in the shop quite often to fix annoying problems. Buy a Benz, see the world in a loaner car!

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  Outstanding - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By JOE - March 26 - 11:40 pm

  The comfort and convenience is exemplary. Best seats of any vehicle that Ive owned. The vehicle was as steady as my SLK 55 AMG at higher speeds.

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  Nice and responsive vehicle - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By STEWART - March 24 - 1:36 pm

  So far so good. If you don’t mind going to the gas pump often, then you will enjoy the ML 500. Style and comfort is very good, the upgraded sound system and navigation is a must have. Lots of room for what ever you decide to put back there. The power hatch is the only thing that seems to be a concern at times. It will not shut all the way at times, so becomes a little bit challenging. Overall is expensive but let’s not forget its Mercedes Benz.

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  c230 1999 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Klarent Ngjelo - March 24 - 7:06 am

  I had this for 3years no big problem just I ve changed flex disc , break light switch, oil every 5000 mile ,gas premium 91,wiper motor stoped working but was easy to fixed by my self ,I have cleaned mas sensor . Its a good car.