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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  One Great SUV - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mr. ML - July 13 - 12:26 pm

  The 1998 ML320 was a ground-breaking vehicle when it was first introduced and I had to have one. The early production models did have a few minor annoyances(transfer case, various squeeks and rattles) but reliability was never a concern. Overall this is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. I highly recommend it to anyone in the market for a rugged yet elegant SUV.

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  Some disappointments. No regrets - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Fawzi - July 9 - 3:56 am

  The biggest disappointment is with lack of traction. You get on it with traction control off, and the tires spin. With ATC on, the car responds by actually coming to a halt right after take off. You nurse the pedal, and start wondering if you should have saved a few $K and bought a SL600. The convenience features controls are very inconvenient as one goes through the menues to change settings, etc. Also a few electrical problems with the convenience package: Drivers seat wont retract on exit. Car wont start easily if left parked for 2 or more days. "1-" or "2 Malfunctions, Convenience Functions Unavailable" is often displayed with no indications of the problem. Then corrects itself

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  Very cool car, crummy seat - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By BarFly - July 5 - 4:20 am

  One of Americas best looking cars! But beware the seat bolsters. I test drove this car a long time before buying. Thought the seats were wonderful because of that "tucked in" feeling. However, those bolsters pinch my back (Im 511", 210 lbs). Painfully annoying and I bought this car for extended touring! Had a shop rebuild drivers seat - got some relief. I wish I had the 2010 E-Class seats with the adjustable bolsters. I mean, who drives a CLK hard enough to need aggresive bolsters? Having said all this, I love this car. Plenty of room for extended trips. Very quiet with top up, cozy during the winter. Fast. Cool. Beautiful exterior. Shopped Porsche, Audi, BMW. The CLK won.

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  Multifunctional - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Pim Boekestyn - June 28 - 5:56 pm

  Bought new in 2002. I use my ML55 for towing, luxury driving, shopping, delivery, anything you can think off and have so far driven 175000 km trouble free. At times I drive it hard and I just love it, It definitely is a keeper. Engine is like a sewing machine. never a wrong beat.

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  MY CONVERTIBLE - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By RICHARD GLASS - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I AGREE WITH THE POOR VISABILITY OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. NEEDS WORK FRONT PLASTIC BUMPER IS A DISGRACE. FALLS OFF ALL THE TIME. BUT THE CAR HAS A GREAT LOOK AND FEEL. WHATS WITH THE CUP HOLDER? IT BROKE DAY ONE AND NEVER REALLY WORKED.

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  Not bad at all! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By coolman - June 21 - 9:03 am

  I have owned this car for 10 years now and i am still trusting it. It had some minor problem but so has every car. The only problem is the interior parts are not very durable. Little things like the door panel, handle, seat panel etc. Otherwise, it is a very reliable car. In fact, it is more reliable than my newer BMW 7 series. I will get another Benz because of the reliable engine and trans and the comfort, not sure if it will be an SUV but might consider the E class. the m class is pretty worth it for the price and re sell is not bad at all.

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  LUXURY 2-SEATER: Convertible limousine - 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By geomeller - June 20 - 10:00 am

  German solid engineering at its best. This model superseeded in 1990 the classic 106, which only lacked the power top. My car is Sport version, It seems bulky, in spite of its modest dimensions. It is more of a luxury convertible 2 seater limousine then a nimble sports car. Seats are better then most American cars. Everything works with monotonous regularity - it is not an exciting car to drive, but to be seen in!

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  Great ride - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By DLD - June 20 - 10:00 am

  This car has been fun. Great on the road. Integrated phone and voice commands make you wonder how you lived without them. The convertible is extremely quiet, you can have a discussion at a whisper at highway speeds with the hardtop down. Small problems and Mercedes less than perfect service are the major shortcoming.

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  My first MBZ - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By LISA JAMES - June 16 - 8:03 pm

  I love this car. It’s my first Mercedes Benz. I had a 2001 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, and words cannot even describe the difference. Im in love, and so glad I waited. I never liked the previous body style, but this one is sleek, smooth, and beautiful. So many heads are turning when I glide by people. Dont see many on the street in Los Angeles though.

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  2015 Crew Van - 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By SilverFire General Manager - June 16 - 8:43 am

  I have owned 3 Sprinter vans previously (cargo, passenger, & now the crew) in all roof and wheel base configurations. Sprinters vans have been significantly superior to the first generation Ford Transit Connect I owned (limited cargo capacity, paltry power on grades, unstable in high wind, and had non existent towing capacity (underpowered Ford Focus engine). I am a commercial van user and participate in lots of trade shows. I require significant cargo room and cargo doors for constant loading & unloading freight. I prefer the standard roof option over the high roof models, due to high wind instability experienced traveling cross country on multiple occasions with all Sprinter roof van roof options. I prefer the crew or passenger model increased visibility the cargo versions do not offer, despite having backup camera option on all models (recommend). The fact is the 170 wheel base is more difficult to maneuver at trade shows and park than the 144 wheelbase option, and has more interior cabin road noise. I have had significant reliability issues with starting my 4 cylinder engine since purchase. My dealership implied no codes existed with the 2015 BlueTec 4 cylinder, when scanned. I took photos of the "Return to Workshop" display code to verify code light issue. At 39,000 miles, the dealership states MB has finally sent service notes confirming BlueTec 4 cylinder starting issues. The torque converter, water pump are scheduled to be replaced, and the flywheel needs to be re-polished to address the documented starting issues at relatively low mileage. Fortunately I opted for the extended warranty package at time of purchase. Due to the high number of complaints and complexity of each new Sprinter model introduced moving forward, I highly recommend full service warranties, if purchasing a Sprinter van. Repair costs on Sprinter vans are extensive and expensive. Big picture: I prefer diesel cargo vans and the Sprinter is much more comfortable than other brands I have tried with long distance driving and personal lower back issues. The cargo capacity and power has been adequate on grades and long pulls to date. I currently have a new product offering that requires greater vertical clearance than with my existing standard roof option permits. I am now going to have to evaluate returning to a high roof Sprinter or larger Ford Transit diesel cargo van. I prefer not to trailer if possible, although I currently am trailering a small additional product trailer (due to height restrictions of current standard Sprinter roof cargo door configuration). Trailering requires reduced highway speeds in many States and additional wear and tear on engine & transmission, so I am currently considering returning to the longer 170 wheelbase option with extended roof height, to avoid trailering. Nothing is perfect, change is constant, so you adapt. The taller roof option means you slow down in high wind and longer wheel base with more cargo capacity means requiring more braking distance and slower speeds. Safe Driving!