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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  Joes Review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Hubert Thomas - June 22 - 3:53 pm

  Excellent handling. Great performance from 200 hp. Excellent dash and instruments. 7 speed: super. Performs better than my C320 did as a result of the 7 speed. Super brakes and good positioning of the brake above the floor.

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  best and worst - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By swm - June 20 - 4:53 pm

  This is the best of 14 new Mercedes that I have owned, and the worst as far as problems, has something to do with my servicing dealer (not the same as seller) When you fill out a poor satisifaction report on a dealer they are informed of you name. Beware!!! they will get even, through no loaner available or excess charges, This may be my last mercedes because of them

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  GL 320 vs. Buick Enclave - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By rrtker - June 20 - 1:36 pm

  I purchased an Acrtic White GL320 on 10/31/07. I love the vehicle and overall the fuel economy of the diesel is meeting my expectations. Now that I own both the MB and an 08 Enclave I can honestly say that GM has a winner on its hands. The MB certainly has some enticing things including the diesel offering, a firmer ride, etc. But dollar for dollar the Buick is pretty hard to beat. If they would simply upgrade the quality of some of their plastics and the fuel economy, I would be hard pressed to choose one over the other.

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  It should Fly - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By rick - June 19 - 12:06 am

  I have owned Ferrari, other AMG Mercedes, several SL500s, Corvettes, and I would divorce my wife before giving up this car for any reason. I cant wait to go to work in the morning to drive down the winding grade I live on top of, and going up is just as exhilarating. This is the best car I have ever owned. I also own the S550 and never drive it....why would I?

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  Objective - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Geek - June 18 - 2:33 pm

  Drives like a German Luxury Car should. Rock solid on the road, responsive steering, quiet. C-Class is not a large car and understanding that up front, not a negative. Trunk is large, 4Matic a huge plus in the winter. Fit and finish is superb and after 3 or 4 years of ownership you are still driving a Mercedes and not a used car.

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  Matts Review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mmmattnew - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Great Fun Ride, love the sound system and the feel behind the wheel. Could do better with suspension like BMW does, and the black paint can get spiderwebs which do not look good after awhile. You have to keep buffing.

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  Simply the best - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ch930c43 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Having taken delivery less than one month ago, this is, without doubt the finest 4 door performance sedan in the world today. the effortless power and handling just never ceases to amaze me. A recent 700 mile road trip turned into one of the finest motoring experiences I have had, with superlative comfort, exhilerating performance on tap, and total all round excellence. Driving is fun again! This car is definitely a future classic with superlative build quality and unrivalled appeal.

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  Leaky bucket - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By R.Scott - June 18 - 7:03 am

  Repair costs are high. the turbocharger went out before 75K and at a cost of 5,000 to replace. At the time there were no rebuild kits available. Had to replace the oil cooler from leaking, the manifolds seem to clog early. The after market warranty policies are not worth the paper, but that is another story.

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  Great way for 6 to travel in style! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Naushad - June 18 - 5:50 am

  If youre looking for a luxurious way to get around with family and friends, the Mercedes-Benz R500 is a great solution. Ive really enjoyed the quality feel and luxury appointments. I also own an S500 and much to my own surprise, Ive come to prefer driving the R500. We have lots of guests and family so the R500 is great for us. The car drives very well and gives you the feeling of a powerful SUV. The luxurious interior gives you the feeling of the S500. This car is the best of all worlds.

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  Not the Legendary Reliability of Yester Years - 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By kwbenzer - June 17 - 7:44 am

  Generally I loved to drive this car. Reasonable performance for a full-size sedan. However, its exceedingly thirsty. As always, the published fuel economy is way more optimistic than real world driving condition. A typical mix of city and highway gets about 450km out of a 100l tank. Do the math -- consumption is generally high teens per 100km. After just over 4 years of age, and about 52000 kilometers, the transmission failed. The cost of parts and labour to replace the entire transmission was over $14,000. So wheres the "legendary reliability, to quote Mercedes? Its a legend!