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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  Best Car I have Ever Owned! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By 350guy - June 17 - 8:30 am

  I am writing this on the 5th anniversary of the day I took delivery (11/2/07) of my 2008 E350. The car has 102,150 miles today, averaging 20,000+ for 5 years. Absolutely remarkable car in every respect. Outside of normal maintenance items, only one repair for $198 in 5 years. I would get another one but this one feels almost new. Smooth as silk on SCal freeways, quiet, great handling, looks like new, engine positively purrs. I cant believe how well it has done over time. Follow the maintenance took the letter, drive it smoothly, park out of the sun and the result is simply amazing. I will buy another for sure. Can not imagine parting some day...

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  A Real Beauty on Wheels - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By P Vaughn - June 16 - 7:33 pm

  Had a few minor kinks, but they were taken care very well by my dealership. Fun, a great ride and is a very beautiful car. Awesome handling. At first the dash was a little bit intimidating but I got use to it and is really very well thought out. Back seat is a little too small,oh well... I recomend the rubber floor mats for the winter which helps w/ my black on black interior.

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  Great Drive - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By E320Lanka - June 16 - 5:00 pm

  Having used the E240, which had an acceleration delay, I decided to get myself an E320. The performance of this car is astonishing. Cornering is a dream at speeds over 100Kph. Fuel economy is not the best although I can’t complain for 3.2L Engine. Stability at high speeds is great supported with a well engineered breaking system. The Bi-Xenon lamps light up the neighborhood which makes night driving extremely comfortable and safe. I highly recommend this extremely reliable and comfortable car

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  2002 Ml320 is fantastic!!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By razor - June 16 - 10:00 am

  Merc has really improved ML320 from 2002 onwards. Its now what a Merc should be

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  Quality? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mercedes quality? - June 16 - 10:00 am

  Got it instead of a loaded Passat. Fell in love with the handling, the pick up, and how quiet it is. Now that I have had it for almost 6 months, the true mass market to America is rearing its ugly head. Mercedes cannot seem to get the rattles fixed, the A/C is spazzing out, the sunroof shade sticks and sounds like a shotgun going off when the spring pulls it away, and the cupholder is already jamming up. This is a great car performance wise (quick, great cornering, and quiet), but not worth the 31k that I spent. I am probably going to sell it now before the 2003s come out,so I can get the best bang for my buck.

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  A true sport/luxury convertible - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By matt - June 16 - 12:30 am

  Love my certified C430 cabriolet! It is a beautiful black opal, black clot top and ash interior. The Bose sound system is 2nd to none and build quality is excellent. I do believe this is an instant collectible and will only increase in value over the years. The big 4.3 litre V-8 gets over 25mpg on road trips and the comfort is superior to any other convertible out there. When the top is up you would think you where in a hardtop coupe. Probably the most beautiful car I have ever owned. If you are looking for a high quality dependable used convertible, I would strongly suggest one of these!

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  Its a Mercedes! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By David - June 15 - 10:56 pm

  Its a Mercedes. Whats not to like? Love the side/rear views. I dont love the front, but the S-class interior, amazing sunroof, power everything, and extremely pliable ride quality more than outweigh the taffy-pull minivan front end. The V8 is strong and the 7- speed transmission is so smooth you cant feel the upshifts. Occasionally you feel a downshift if making a "rolling stop" but I learned that sometimes this phenomenon is due to hill start assist applying the break when youre rolling a stop sign if on a hill. Interesting...user error, not clunky transmission.

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  great suv - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By mike - June 15 - 6:06 pm

  smooth ride ,handling , 3rd row power fold seats.engine power is smooth

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  Nightmare warranty issues - 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By 06mustang - June 15 - 1:13 am

  Ive always loved MB, and so have many friends and family. After selling my favorite car ever, a SEL280 that I helped get back on the road with my own hands, I decided to jump on the C250 when I needed a new commuter. From the first drive off the lot, the car pulled strongly to the right. Ive owned and driven many types of cars/trucks. Ive never experienced one this bad, and it was a MB and brand new. Unfortunately, the nightmare became reality when I went from one dealership to another and racked up more miles driving to dealerships in teh LA area just trying to get it fixed under warranty. Not enough space allowed by edmunds to detail.

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  MB styling at its best - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By John Li - June 14 - 6:43 am

  In terms of styling, I have never been a fan of MB. This CLS 550 has changed my perception. This great looking vehicle shines like a star among others whether they are MB or its competition. Interior layout and quality are classy and luxurious with the excpetion of the cup holders which interferes with the shift stick. The new 382 horsepower V8 engine is world class and more responsive than the 06 model. Power is instantly available when needed. The drive is silky smooth. Back seats are surprisingly spacious considering this is a coupe with 2 extra doors added. Definitely 1 of the best German automobiles available currently.