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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  My new 8 yr old ride - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Passing Buck - March 23 - 2:43 pm

  Traded my 04 Escalade ESV for this ML430 and some cash. Should have bought an M Class years ago. Much better engineering and build quality. More fun to drive, and more driver friendly and intuitive. Any bugs long since worked out, I think. Mileage is almost 17 city. Comfortable, and easier in & out. Smooth and quiet.

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  No words can describe it! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob - March 23 - 9:43 am

  Mercedes out did themselves. This car is amazing. Everything a man needs and more. It has a smooth ride, but also very good stability. I recommend the sport package. Its an awesome car. The performance is good and so is its fuel economy. The front seats are extremely comfortable. The trunk is enormous. Its cabin is very quiet, and it is the safest car on the road. Its a tank. I love the rims of the sport package, and the braking is excellent. It has saved my life a few times.

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  Excellent Car Ever Had - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By OZUser - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I received my new CLK320 two weeks ago after long waiting - it has been an excellent car to drive. This car replaced my 2000 3.5RL which was also a great car, never had any trouble. I like the combined sporty and comfort offered by new CLK – it is fun to drive, quite powerful yet it is very comfortable, apart from two doors, I can’t tell much different from my 3.5RL in term of comfort.

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  worst invest I am going back to Honda - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sc1298 - March 22 - 8:21 am

  I purchased the ML 320CD as an upgrade to my 1988 Honda which after 200 thousand miles no major problems, never expected a MCB SUV will give me gray hair, I have changed several parts that in a less cheaper care start going bad close to 10 years, CD player went bad, the door lock went bad on the driver side one week later the passenger side is gone, the tire pressure sensor same story, bulbs blow weekly, now oxygen sensor need changing , changed the inlet port motor and now the disel filter need to change, the care is loosing power esp on an incline, the engine light is forever on, and the list goes on and on, i have spent at $10,000. for the year in repairs plus service, I am fed up, angry

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  The Regal E500 Sedan - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mercedes Masterpiece - March 19 - 10:30 am

  I have driven 3 Mercedes, ML320, ML65, E320 4matic. The E500 is by far the best Mercedes I have ever owned. I love the luxury which the ML lacked. The reduction in wood on the doors is, in my opinion, a loss of style. The performance is okay. I will buy a Mercedes forever.

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  Godlike - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Ionut Dobra - March 17 - 7:26 pm

  If you want to feel that you are made from gods flesh and bone, buy the new S Class from MB. Its like driving an aliens limousine. Words cant describe the feeling you have when you get in the car,not mentioning the feeling you have while driving it. I think the new S Class is a milestone in the international car market. Its a "MUST HAVE"

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  Sont buy it - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By john01 - March 17 - 6:16 pm

  Got a 2007 CLK convertible. Good looking. Fun to drive. But, it has been in shop for 4 times for different problems, started at month 3. Today speakers stopped working. I remember the sale person asked me to buy extended warranty. I said MB is supposed to be a car with high quality. He said not true. I did not believe his word. Now I regret. No more MB.

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  My Second round - another Lemon - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By LSuriol - March 17 - 10:00 am

  Mechanical Problems Persist...Transmission noisy and unreliable, fuel pump goes so car stalls while driving on highway, interior peels...etc...

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  NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Never Never Again! - March 17 - 10:00 am

  Mercedes advertises as a luxury vehicle- they should also advertise as dont give a crap customer service!This car is way overpriced.Have been to several dealerships for warranty work and not one of them has ever done a good job.Its the same thing time after time. When I called Mercedes to complain they said that each dealer is independent and that they have no control!What a load of crap! Toyota,Nissan,Honda care-even BMW.We need to get the word out about Mercedes so people will quit buying and the company will be forced to comply with consumers needs.I tried to trade this car in-even with factory warranty no one wants it.Dont buy Mercedes!

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  Happy! Still Evaluating - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By tom fendley - March 17 - 10:00 am

  Our initial family drive was 1800 miles. We toured through valleys and mountains. Gas mileage was above 29 mpg. Interstate driving was great. Cruised at 75 for over 100 miles before a needed stop. I loved the ride.