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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  Its ok, but a MERCEDEZ should be great. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Stephen Cheng - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Its nice. Its cheap (it is not as expensive as people think), yet you get the prestige of driving a mercedez. It has cool features, tele aid, memory seats, fuel economy, interior qualities and the sound system. However, have had some problems. ABS and ESP lights turn on constantly. Friends of mine with similar models have the same problems. Mercedez has not admitted the problem, but I think there could be a recall eventually, because of the reoccurrence. It has occasional braking noise. Not a problem just not smooth.

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  Good News / Bad News - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Michael Larkin - May 11 - 2:06 pm

  I have driven a Mercedes C class for the last 8 years and the cars are the best I have ever owned. This year I got the C300 sport because of how great it looked. Everything about the car is tremendous except the seats. They are possibly the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in - almost to the point that I can not drive the car. I am trying to resolve with the dealership and hope they will come through. Would hate to lose them as my number one brand.

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  E350 4-matic is a great all rounder - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sharvan - May 10 - 3:50 am

  I recently leased a silver E350 4- matic with the Premium pkg 1 and AMG sport appearance package and boy was it a great all rounder.It has great looks(courtesy AMG package), adequate performance(0 -60 in ~6 secs), and mileage(17-18MPG City), Advanced Tech features such as Voice activated Navigation, IPOD interface, Rain sensing wipers. Also the multi information display is right in front of you on the speedo which is a nice feature since you dont have to take your eyes off the road. I live in Colorado and wanted the 4-matic and i think that was a good decision. We had a couple of snow (spring)storms here and AWD worked just fine.The trick is to use the "C" setting for the transmission.

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  All Engine..Lackluster Steering - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By socalh2oskier - May 6 - 11:36 am

  This is an extremely fast car, with terrific brakes, a genuinely usable back seat, and decent trunk space (for a convertible). Unfortunately, the steering detracts markedly from the driving experience. Drive the new 3 series convertible, and you will wonder why anyone would pay almost double for the Mercedes, as the 3 series is loads more fun to drive. I had the 3 series, but traded it because of the minuscule trunk space and issues regarding run-flats. I like the AMG--but I have to admit-- reluctantly--that the 3 series was much more fun, at just over half the price, and it gets much better gas mileage. However, given the trunk space issue with the BMW, I am glad I made the switch.

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  2010 Mercedes E63 AMG - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gerry - May 6 - 10:46 am

  Just got a 2010 E63 AMG as an upgrade from my 2009 C63 AMG. This being my second AMG car, I have to say how impressed I am with AMG vehicles. The car has top notch quality, performance, and safety. I do miss the sound of the C63, but as far as driveability goes, Id have to say the E63 is a winner. I think "bad a**" pretty much sums up this 518 horsepower, 4.3 second 0-60 MPH, rubber burning machine.

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  Apps - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By Budd - May 3 - 8:13 pm

  All going well with purchase, BUT tried to download the Mercedes Benz Apps that comes with the 5 year mbrace Connect. Nothing. Mercedes and mbrace say theres no current fix. Of course, you cant check this out until after you buy the car and register it with mbrace. Dealership says, not our problem, mbrace says you arent paying for it, so well fix when/if we fix it. Two months and waiting. Mercedes shouldnt advertise it if theyre not going to back it up. Otherwise, a tad stiffer than the comfort mode would lead you to believe, but quiet with nice interior. It comes with a spare tire and jack. (I hate run flats.) +Seems about 3" higher than similar SUVs. It does, however, have limiting feature for the lift gate if youre parking it in a garage to prevent scraping from the overhead The Premium 1 package has the basics you need. Suggest the Parking Assist package just because having the surround view is a hoot.

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  My Magma Red CLK - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By clkoakbrook - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Overall the car is very good but very overpriced. I had an Acura CL-S before this car and have to say that the Acura is as good as the CLK and about $18,000 less expensive. Acuras V6 engine is only 10 hp shy of Mercedes V8. The CLK is a real head- turner and I get lots of compliments and looks from others.

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  Nice Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Baljeet - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Nice car to drive, esp. if it is your first Mercedes

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  GL Diesel: Great SUV Sluggish Performance - 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Eddie Brannon - April 30 - 8:21 am

  This is one of the finest SUVs available being beat only by Land Rover Range Rover Diesel which lists for about 25-30k more. The GLs acceleration is sluggish and is much less nimble than my X-5 diesel. The GL offers more space than the BMW and has excellent fuel economy given its size. The premium package excludes adaptive xenon headlights and 3 zone climate control which is ridiculous. The standard halogen lights are anemic at best so it is imperative to order any Mercedes with xenon lamps. Do not purchase a Mercedes without upgraded headlights! Another bad call by the manufacturer was not to include as a standard feature 3 zone climate in a vehicle with a third row. Make certain your GL has 3 zone climate control otherwise you can be certain the third row will be very uncomfortable in summer months or warmer climates. My car included the rear seat entertainment package. The operation of this package is by remote controls so is beyond my four year olds ability rendering it useless. Furthermore the rear monitors can only be operated from the rear seats. Skip this package an I-pad is a much better choice. There is only one USB port in this car. Mercedes seems to lag behind its US competitors in amenities and technology. The car has many attributes and is the most practical SUV currently being marketed. Until something better in its class comes to market this still is a hard car to beat.

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  Im back - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lawman1967 - April 28 - 2:04 pm

  I used to drive almost the exact same car, a 2009 C300 with premium 1 package. My new one is a certified 2011 C300 with premium 1 and multimedia (the only missing from my 09). Even the interior and exterior colors are the same. I am in this car because the 2012 C250 I bought and drove for 28,000 miles just had too many electrical glitches, until it reached the point that Mercedes-Benz bought it back. THe combination of ride, handling, comfort and company support when I ran into trouble was enough to keep me in a C class Mercedes, though I decided to go certified used this time. This car is exactly the same as I remember (fondly) my 2009 C300. Delightful.