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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  BMW Defector - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Chuck - October 11 - 12:36 pm

  I am used to the subperb handling of the BMW 3 series but always wanted to try the Benz. I am pleasantly surprised that the handling of this vehicle feels equal to, if not better than the BMW. The style and feeling of prestige far outweighs what I felt when driving the BMW. Wow! I thought I was Mr. It for years when I turned heads with my Beamer. But with this Benz, I actually have people stopping me and complimenting the vehicle with enthusiasim. That just makes me feel that every penny spent was worth it. I like the sense of vehicle control when I take exits off of highways the vehicle hugs the highway. The anti lock breaks are great.

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  I Guess I am not a Bimmer Guy Anymore - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ximon - October 10 - 10:16 am

  Like every few years, it was time for me to upgrade my ride to the newest 330Ci BMW. (20 year 3 series BMW driver) Not this time After I hear the price and did a over all comparo with my new C350 MB; I can tell you guys that I made one of the best choices of my life. I am not even looking back. My MB gives me so much more features and options that would be extra in a BMW. Performance is not bad at all either Also, my experience at the MB dealership was so much better than at the new Snobby BMW dealer here in big D. I still cant believe I am writing a review praising the goodness of my former rival. I am so glad that I finally found "The Ultimate Driving Machine" after 20 years.

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  The Performance is Surprising - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By ramon - October 10 - 10:06 am

  I had mixed feeling when I first saw this "thing". At some angles, it looked good and the front looked so-so. We were in the showroom looking for a CLS but it was the introductory party so they had several model available for testing. I couldnt believe how much easier it was to drive around the backroads of MD. It was confidence- inspiring. More so than my CLK430. It turns out that it has AWD which gave it the more neutral handling. The clincher was the legroom in the 3rd row. Ive sat in the last row of SUVs and theyre only fit for children. I did not feel any claustrophobia whatsoever. The bonus is I can go to Home Depot and haul some stuff with the back seats folded.

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  good - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By charlespig - October 10 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive but the lexus LS is better. Plan to trade it in for the LS

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  great suv - 2014 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By YangXing - October 8 - 1:21 am

  overall, a great suv.

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  Excellent over-all - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By NickP - October 6 - 4:33 pm

  Car has excellent ride and handling with 6.5 sec. 0-60 time. Does not get the cops attention but going 90+ feels like doing 40. Comfort for 4, excellent sound system. Very good brakes, spacious trunk. Mileage is consistently in the mid 20s highway running at 80.

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  2003 MB S55AMG - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By jprcars - October 5 - 10:00 am

  The best car i ever saw.very good comfort.very fast and slick.

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  Great all round SUV - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By P.G.P. - October 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my third ML, owned a 2000 430, a 2002 500 and now just took delivery of my 03 ML500 with the Inspiration Pkg. Handling and performance is fantastic but to make it even better I changed the springs to lower the vehicle ~1 1/2" - it really improves the cornering performance and still leaves a little travel for minor off- roading.

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  mb 230 k - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By valon - October 5 - 10:00 am

  In last 3 months im having the best fun driving,car is great to drive and im just wishing for some more sunshine in myc so i can open sunroof and cruse aroun.No problems at all.

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  First 1000 kms....great - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Herbert - October 4 - 11:36 pm

  This is my third C-class, so I knew exactly what to expect from the very beginning. The vehicle is much more refined, quieter and more confortable that previously owned C230K coupe and C240. Engine performance is superb with the 3.0 litre V6, pick-up is great at any speed as transmission selects the proper ratio every time. Fuel consumption is 7-8% better than the C240 but 10% more than C230K. Quite acceptable with a range of 800 kms. Now for the transmission: pick-up is immediate and fast in S mode, but the system takes a second or so to find second gear before taking off from a stop in Comfort mode. Yes the car really takes off in second gear.