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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  Mighty machine - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By willy fox - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Never had a Benz before, but now would probably not buy anything else again. A finely built, with quality and engineering through and through.

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  Perfect balance ! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JFC - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Great balance between ride & handling with a refined powertrain & solid feel; 4 cyl. very quick & refined with good mileage; abundance of safety & comfort features. Dont buy a BMW 325 or Infiniti G 35 until you check this car out. The dealership & great service is an added plus.

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  My last Mercedes - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Aphra - August 23 - 9:36 pm

  This is my third and last Mercedes. Since buying it in 2003 I have replaced the transmission, radiator, electrical system, plus 3-sets of tires, 4 sets of brakes. In 2008, I spent $4700 on car repairs alone! I wish I had sold this car years ago! My other two cars were trouble free but they were diesels. Its a pretty car from the exterior but the interior has not worn well

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  The best or nothing? - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By hank55 - August 23 - 2:26 pm

  My glamorous E 320 @ 38k miles start to show rust bubbles all over the body and cracks around the passenger air bag on the dashbord, the wood finish on the center console is peeling out, the turn signal is loose from the base, I must say that this car is garage kept and no winters what so ever! so when I call MB they request pictures of the car, no problem, then Mary call me and refuse my claim saying that the car was too old to help me, I explain that I have a ML with more miles and no rust and there are more cars like mine around the globe with the same problems and how MB help them out again the anwer was no and also the supervisor said no!

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  SWEET, FUN, POWERFUL AND CLASSY - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By VANCHRISTIAN - August 23 - 10:00 am

  GREAT POWER AND RIDE...IN A CLASS BY ITSELF...i HATE WHEN THEY TRY TO COMPARE TO ANYONE ELSE, AS THERE IS NO OTHER CAR WHICH EVEN COMES CLOSE IN ITS CATEGORY

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  Rocket on wheels! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By farsai - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Handles very well...and is a blast to press the accelerator and let it rip... Many features… I think the new body style is much sleeker than the previous… Loves the instrument panel>>>back to “Classic” Mercedes style!

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  Rock Solid with Slick Design - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jmatheson - August 21 - 9:43 pm

  The exterior design and the Mercedes brand are what first drew my attention. This is an aggressive, muscular wedge of a car with thoughtful Mercedes design cues throughout. Ive loved the safety features and its a blast to drive. I expect this car to last me a while. I chose the brilliant silver exterior with black leather interior. Although the smallest Mercedes, it has all the looks of the bigger Benz. Just a few complaints. Lack of a CD player is astonishing in this day and age. Lots of brake dust on front rotors. Front cupholder is a little overwrought. But, Im picking at details. This car has class and character. I get more comments about this car than any other Ive driven.

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  Not as good as it looks - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By papichulo - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Beautiful looking car. BUT, DO NOT PURCHASE NAVIGATION SYSTEM!!! My car has approx. 2,400 miles and has already been serviced overnight due to mechanical issues. The electronics or "toys" are not all that great.

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  excellent - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By canero - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I feel very secured,is a lot of fun,very reliable,comfortable,and I would like to keep this car for many years

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  What a car... - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Nyslickest - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Driven the CL55 AMG for a friend and it is a fun ride if you like the combination of luxury and speed!!!