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 first Benz - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CW04 - September 2 - 10:16 am

  Got the C300 Sport, 4matic, Premium 2, Multimedia, Panoramic Roof and Ipod integration kit. Excellent vehicle. Handles great, interior is good quality and fits like a glove when youre in the drivers seat. I live in Cleveland, OH and the 4matic works great in the snow, ice and rain. Highly recommend getting the winter mats from Mercedes-Benz, they really cover the flooring well and do their job during the winter months.

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  A little disappointed - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Nathan B. - September 2 - 12:03 am

  We searched forever for the perfect family convertible and wanted the class that Mercedes could offer. This was my first Mercedes purchase. This car is only driven on the weekends and only has about 1500 miles since purchase four months ago. Within 500 miles we developed a huge rattle under the car. Took it in and it was fixed right away. A bolt was missing from the exhaust system (never installed according to the dealer). Now at 1500 miles we have to have something in the front steering replaced because it has a leak. The part is 4-5 weeks out and we have to bring the car back in again. As far as driving it; I love it. It is a beautiful car and drives nice (when its not in the shop).

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  This isnt a car, its a work of art - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Mike - September 1 - 1:50 pm

  I get just as much pleasure looking at this car as I do driving it. It is without a doubt, the most beautiful car on the road today. Bar none. When I am driving , it makes me feel that Im the king of the world. The fit and finish, both interior and exterior, leave little room for improvement. It is a 4 door sports car with ample room, at least for my family and me. If you want to be the envy of every other driver on the road, buy this car.

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  Exceptional automobile - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pbris - September 1 - 3:00 am

  Having owned numerous luxury cars, I can say without exception this car is everything a luxury car should be. It sets the standard for others to follow.

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  c230 kompressor coupe - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By abbyprice - August 31 - 7:10 pm

  I love my little ride. It handles so well and looks wonderful. It is by far, my favorite car ever. It is so easy to get around in.

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  Not the Benz I used to know - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sam mira - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This is one example where "they dont make them like they used to." Mercedes has clearly discredited their name and reputation with this SUV. Clearly not assembled in Germany; more likely in a Chrysler plant. Reliability and maintenance costs clearly the biggest draw-back to this car. Resale value is also very poor as not many people interested in buying these cars back, including the Mercedes dealerships. My recommendation is buy a Lexus.

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  Expensive Fun - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sport shifter - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this E430 Sport with 32k miles. Overall its a great car with a few minor problems that are somewhat a headache. All repairs were covered under warranty. Digital instruments cluster replaced due to faulty LEDs, dashboard cracked around the passenger air bags (very common problem)and window motor side replaced. This is our third Benz and I have come to realized that the Benz cars are not the trouble- free car everyone who doesnt own one think. But still a great German engineering at a substantial cost. But when you own a Benz, everytime you get in your car, your always getting inside a Benz.

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  E 320--Nearly Perfect - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Donald Aultman - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This our fourth Merecedes: 1980 450 SL, 1981 300SD, 1990 300E, and a 2004 E320. Drove the SD 10 years, 200,000 miles. My wife totaled the 300E in six months, when an 18 wheeler pushed her into a bridge on I75. But she walked away whole, only a red nose from an airbag.We have owned Jaguar, Lincoln, and Cadilac. My wife, now very safety conscious, drives a beautiful 2000 Volvo S80. These are fine vehicles, but none, including the Mercedes, compare with the 2004 E320. For my driving taste, my 04 E320 Mrcedes is the nearly perfect machine, by far the finest car I have ever owned.

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  Best quality for the money! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Grillo - August 30 - 2:00 am

  For less than 40 K you can buy reliability, luxury and sophistication! GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!

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  The best ever - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Guil - August 29 - 4:10 pm

  The S550 is a great looking vehicle, The best car I have ever owned! Its smooth and gets pretty good gas mileage. It has room in the back and front! Great technology. I like the parking sensors