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 a love/hate thing - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Love it/Hate it - March 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car b/c I love hatchbacks and Mercedes. I love the drive, feel and performance of this car. BUT, I have had problems similar to other owners: tape deck replaced, fuel pump/tank replaced, front differential replaced, squeaky sunroof. The service is excellent but thats Id prefer to not know my service rep on a first name basis. I will definitly buy another MB, but will consider turning this one in at the end of the warranty.

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  AMG for <$60k - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By N Blando - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Benz and AMG for less than 60k. Fabulous car. Best of both worlds. Engine has much more HP potential! Buy a pulley!

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  Dealers and Corp should listen to custom - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By ac crenshaw - March 18 - 10:00 am

  The overall performance of the car is excellent. The issue that I have is one of service. I had a problem with service at an Atlanta Dealer, wrote the corporate customer service folks and copied Mr. Halata of MBUSA and got a response which in essence just "blew me off." After owning at least 5 MB over the last 10 years I find that the dealers have become extremely proud of these cars to the extent that they are becoming arrogant. Sales without the necessary support staff means that this will be my last MB for a while. People do business with people who show them that they care. MBUSA has shown me that they "NO LONGER CARE."

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  The Best - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By jkayz - March 16 - 3:50 pm

  A G-Class ( Gelaendewagen) is simply the best SUV there is. Forget the Hummer, Range\Land Rover, Land Cruiser etc. This vehicle will get you out of anything. Ask the US military why they are switching from the Hummer to the G-class...

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  Canadian Militarys Finest - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By TJ - March 16 - 11:06 am

  Our second G. My wife wanted one of the last ones to make it to North America. She loves it and places me second place in our home. Great ride and commands the road. The new 2006 being built in Alabama does not deserve the G CLASS name!! It is an embarassment to us G lovers!! (maybe Pacifica 2 would be more appropriate!)

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  Love the ML, hate the expenses - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By flaML320CDI - March 16 - 10:00 am

  Great car, not much to whine about. Exterior still looks great with regular care & good wax. However, at 3.5 yrs (no abusive driving) 78,000 miles transmission had to be replaced (no repair options) @ over $7,500. Changing headlight bulb $150 vs. $50 for local mechanic. Basic oil changes @ dealer $150+ on A maint, usually $500+ on B maint. Like a inkjet printer, it appears most of the profits come after the sale. Saved $$$$ with local tire store vs. dealer, oil changes also at the Jiffy Lube (just more than usual for Mobil 1).

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  Best Mercedes Ive Owned! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MB4U - March 16 - 10:00 am

  Hello, The First Mercedes I had was a Silver 1998 Mercedes Benz E-Class. I thought it was a very nice car. So, I went out and bought a Black 2002 Mercedes Benz S-Class. I was the first one at that dealer to have the 2002. It was a very nice car, but reliable-not. So I went back and forth between BMW X5 and 5 series and Lexus LS and GX. I had all of those. So in 2008 I bought the E- Class. It was amazing! The greatest Mercedes Ive ever had. Now I am going out to buy my wife a ML or GL. Thanks MB

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  Wonderful Car - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve - March 16 - 10:00 am

  My 4th Mercedes. I love it. Made the mistake of trading my 08 in on a 2011 BMW 535i. It was a dog! Traded back to 2011 Mercedes E550 Sport. No comparison. E550 more luxurious, just as sporty, better styling, much more comfortable, motor is much smoother, and transmission shifts much much smoother.

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  JUNK! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ken from York, Pa - March 15 - 12:00 pm

  Pretty, prestigious, totally unreliable! We made the mistake of keeping this heap beyond its warranty period. At 48,001 miles the rear brakes failed ($500), and the sensor for the front brakes failed with 1/2 pad wear left. We also made the mistake of trying to take it on a trip. Car died after 300 miles. Had to be towed. Never own one of these heaps beyond the warranty period. All service had been done correctly and on time.

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  Liking it! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By AC - March 15 - 7:50 am

  I bought a used 2003 with low miles and just love the way it handles the road, especially in the rain. The sound system and climate controls are superb.