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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  They Made It Even Better - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By TS - November 3 - 5:16 pm

  The addition of 50 HP has made a huge difference in this car. I owned an 05 SL500, and the second you touch the gas pedal, you can feel the difference. This car moves, and handles perfectly. There have been slight alterations in the body style -- mostly to the front grill -- and the interior feels roomier. It remains a car for the ages.

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  Sheer Delight - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JDSeattle - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I traded a beloved BMW-540i for this car and have not had a moments regret. I love the handling, tight chassis, ergomonics in the cabin, but most of all the smooth power the V-8 pours out on command. Everything is refined about this car, even in the way it delivers almost unlimited power.

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  MY CAR - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JEANNETTE - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE MY MERCEDES..C240..THE ONLY THING I WISH I HAD IS A CD PLAYER ACTUALLY INSTALLED AS PART IF THE RADIO. THIS IS MY SECOND MERCEDES AND NOW LOOKING FOR MY THIRD FOR 2004..I AM SPOILED..I HAVE DROVE ALL THE CARS ON THE MARKET...AND THE SECOND TIME I WENT BACK TO A MERCEDES..THIS THIRD TIME, I WONT EVEN WASTE MY TIME...IT WILL BE A MERCEDES..!! THANK YOU..JEANNETTE

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  Better than a Porsche C4 S - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Charles Day - November 3 - 10:00 am

  After owning and driving C4 Porsches, this SL55 AMG is the best. It has the torque of the Porsche Turbo and the fun of a convertible without the inconveniences of removing the hard top. While the Porsche intimidated my wife, the SL 55 AMG is wife friendly. The stability management system was comparable to the Porsche. The parking assist, navigation system, and high performance sound system was superior.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By azmike - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Without reservation this is the best car I have owned. The styling is fantastic and everything feels classy. Looked at Jag, Lexus SC and magazie previews of new cadillac--no comparision in my judgment.

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  Best SUV ever! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By RBL - November 1 - 10:00 am

  I ordered this car with all available options. Towing my horses on highways and hills is effortless and I have NEVER gotten less than 20mpg. I find the nav system very accurate but data entry is a pain. The Airmatic suspension makes a HUGE difference in the ride and handling quality over lesser-equipped M Class cars. There have been zero defects, so my only expense has been to replace the tires and 3 maintenance stops. An outstanding vehicle made in the USA!

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  Finally...a Mercedes With BMW/Audi Handling - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Michael C - November 1 - 9:09 am

  This is my second Mercedes, with the last one being an E550. Ive long admired Mercedes for quiet, comfort, and engineering, and in some instances, performance (such as that E550). None, however, have been road handling champs. Even this models big brother, the C63, is notoriously tail happy. That has now changed. Put this thing into Sport+ mode and it will stick to anything, and in wet or dry conditions. Want the more traditional Mercedes ride? Comfort mode is just the ticket. More than any car Ive driven, the difference between these are akin to driving 2 different cars. The interior is simply superb with respect to materials, just as you would expect from Mercedes. Theres been a fair amount of criticism of the stuck on nav display, and I confess that I had my doubts about it - prior to actually seeing the car. In practice it is far less obtrusive than it appears in photos, where the typical shot suggests that it might be in the line of sight of an average driver. That is definitely not the case. I am only 58", and it causes no problem whatever. In addition, the quality of the display itself is excellent. Would I rather have, say, a pop up type of display? Sure, but in the end its nothing more than a minor, inconsequential factor. One more small complaint...the transmission can seem to get a bit confused at times. At least one professional review made a point of this. I dont notice the problem until I get into stop and go traffic, when it seems to anticipate a shift into a higher gear just as Im lifting my foot to brake. Im fortunate not to drive often in such conditions, but its worth noting for those who do. And finally, a word about the performance. This car will move fast when asked, pure and simple. Mercedes claims 0-60 times at 4.9 seconds, I believe. That is pessimistic. Ive timed it on numerous occasions at 4.5. Perhaps equally importantly, acceleration from 60 to 80 mph seems to take no time at all - and it sounds good getting there. My one comment is that the exhaust note is not as satisfying as that of the older E550. Thats not a complaint...nothing sounds like a big V-8. My wife has said that I now have a cheetah rather than a lion. I find the analogy to be apt. In summary, this is simply the best all around car that Ive owned in over 40 years of driving. Its the rarest of all cars - a seriously comfortable daily driver that turns into a beast (a well-behaved one) at the touch of a button.

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  High Standards - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jdash - October 31 - 7:06 pm

  Car has luxury look and feel, even after 6 years. Runs smooth, tracks well, and remains quiet and comfortable. Great car with lots of class!

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  Mercedes C230 Hatchback - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mike in California - October 30 - 12:36 pm

  I bought my 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 with 11,000 miles on it and have put 20,000 on it already. It is an awesome car. Its fast, fun to drive, and I have never been treated better at a car delaership. Services on the car has been free because of its warranty. I see no reason to go back to Acura or Honda. This car beats front wheel drive cars and is a truly safe vehicle on the road. It has lots of automation to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. This is the best car that I have ever owned!

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  Great Car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By HN - October 29 - 7:40 pm

  This is my first E as well, and I absolutely love this car. It has plenty of room but handles like a smaller car, and the interior and exterior design are perfect. Highway mileage is terrific, but stop and go city mileage is not so terrific, but acceptable. This is an all around great car.