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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  Now Seeking Leagal Advice - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Erwin - February 4 - 7:10 pm

  This vehicle will be going into the shop for the fourth time. I have had numerous problems with this vehicle stalling and ideling rough. I have had issues with the window trim pain peeling off to the EGR Valve being repleced. This vehilce is now becoming a thorn in my side. I only want what I paid for a reliable vehicle which this is not. Save yourself time, money, and most importantly the saftey of your family think before you purchase this vehilce.

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  Tomms E-Class - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tomm Wells - February 4 - 3:56 pm

  This is my 4th Mercedes and the best so far. The increased horsepower is terrific. The 7-Speed Auto Trans allows me to get the same mileage as I did with my 2003 E300. People love riding in my car and always comment on the smooth ride.

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  Amazing Drive - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mani - February 4 - 12:13 am

  I have never gotten into a sedan and had this much fun driving it. This car combines luxury and sporty into the perfect blend. I would have never imagined paying this much for any car I would buy, but it is worth every cent. The 3 suspension settings give great control over your ride. The power is more than I will ever need (Got up to a 100 mph in a few sec. the other day without realizing it.) The fuel economy is pretty bad, but what do you expect from a car of this size with AWD and a V8. The transmission on this car is so smooth that I never know when it shifts gears. Finally, the luxury features are amazing. I highly recommend it, if you want to spend in this price range.

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  I have never hated a car I owned or leased before! - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Carol Rubenstein - February 3 - 5:11 am

  This is my first Mercedes. Where do I start with this dangerous and poorly designed car? 1. By putting the gear shifts from the center console (in most cars) to the wand, that used to be the windshield wipers, I have actually shifted the car accidentally into Neutral when it started to rain(thinking it was the wipers) while driving on the highway! Luckily it wasnt Reverse!!! 2. In the summer, when Ive gotten into the hot car, I have actually gotten BURN MARKS on my right arm, while placing it on the center console as I was about to select a radio station. They trimmed the console with REAL metal ...it felt like I had put my arm on a hot frypan! 3. The dashboard controls for defroster, A/C, temperature control etc. are all exactly in a line and feel the same...there are no indentations or separations. So when youre driving at night and you need the defroster, you cant feel which one it is...and even when you find it, you still HAVE TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD a second time, to look up at the screen, which is placed to the right of you.... just to make sure you have selected the correct control. 4. The drivers seat is not only uncomfortable, but I have been in physical therapy since July 2015 (a few months after I leased the car) and I am still in P.T. April 2017) because it has caused me nerve pain in my neck and right leg. I have to lift my right leg very high to get over the threshold as I get into the car, and then FALL into the seat and adjust myself. I realized that after the first few months the constant lifting and adjusting have been the cause of the nerve pain. 5. The power seat adjustment ( not the memory adjustment) that you generally find in most other cars,when you slip your left hand down along the side of your seat, to move forward and backward...has been moved to THE DOOR. Wow! I thought it was so clever...BUT this ergonomic design is dangerous! If you want to make a slight adjustment up or back,when youre wearing a thick coat or just want to move back a little, you must remember to do it while the door is closed. If you need to adjust it once the door has been opened, you must REACH OUT BY HOLDING ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL with your right hand and move the seat positions with your outreached left hand. I had the door swing back on my left ankle because I had already put my left foot out of the car...I got a CONTUSION under my skin for months from the door slamming onto my ankle! 6. Now we come to the gorgeous center console...the entertainment center (I thought it was beautiful when I was looking at the car in the dealers showroom). They designed two choices for you. One is a turning dial and the other is a "swipe" selector. Well, that "swipe" method CHANGES MY RADIO SELECTION whenever my handbag or arm slides over it (Example: as I am putting my bag down on the passenger seat). Frustrating and annoying! 7. The most concerning issue with this car happened twice... it SURGED as I was pulling up to a vertical parking space in front of a store. I stopped the car inches away from crashing threw the glass window of my pharmacy...I had driven my car onto the sidewalk! That happened in June two months after I got the car. It happened again in January, as it surged and nearly went up on the sidewalk at the school I volunteer at...both times I managed to apply the brake to stop it. I SPOKE TO THE MERCEDES MANAGEMENT TWICE...once to the service manager after my arm got burned July, the summer of 2015, and about month after that to my Mercedes salesman , about all these issues...I was told the manager would call me...he NEVER CALLED ME. I want to end my lease, butthe car salesman felt I had too much time left on my lease. I dont believe I can prove I am in P.T. because of the cars threshold. Has anyone else had any of these issues with this car??? UPDATE: September 23, 2016. I was told by my salesman that the Mercedes-Benz manager would call me shortly after I wrote the original review, but in all of these months Ive never gotten any contact at all. I guess Ive given up calling or talking to them, since I dont think I can prove that I have been in physical therapy since July 2015 because of the seat design and also having to lift my right leg over the threshold ( causing me to literally fall into the drivers seat). That repetitive motion, over the first few months, caused nerve pain from my lower back down to my right knee. All the other issues I listed are the same...I still have problems with all of them and Im actually afraid of this car ! I am hoping to get rid it when my lease is closer to 20 months old. I am thinking of several other car brands: maybe BMW or Acura. UPDATE: October 2017. Nothing has really changed, still in physical therapy...EXCEPT Ive gotten closer to finishing my lease. HURRAY!! I can hardly wait to get rid of this poorly designed "luxury" car!

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  Great Ride But Fix Pull To Right - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ajay - February 2 - 10:00 am

  CONS - Car pulls to right. Dealer & MB have checked alignment and tires several times and still no fix after a year. Advise if you have similar problem via edmunds.com review or e- mail to ajt38ca@yahoo.ca. Similar sunroof noise problem fixed by dealer by removing roof liner & installing foam sheet and silicon. Brakes spongy & non-linear in feel. PROS - Good looking especially in Paprika with lots of looks from others; fantastic interior ambience with panorama roof & top quality leather ; excellent interior materials, fit & finish. Both better than A4 or X-Type. GENERAL - Ride is firm. OK if you are sporty driver, not if more comfort oriented.

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  Piece of Junk - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By disappointedguy - February 1 - 11:06 am

  I bought it from my sister with very low mileage and extremely well maintained. Now I refer to this poorly built SUV as a "Piece of Junk!" It is plauged with problems. I have had interior parts falling off and breaking, sun roof deflectors broke and looking at the cheap plastic used in the build really disappointed me. Then the brake fluid drum breaks. Makes funny noises when driving and recently jerks badly when stopping at a light. Now a paint sealant or something seems to be peeling off at the back and dealer wants $500 a pop since I have run out of warranty! If anybody is intrested in filing a law suit, please count me in!

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  King of the SUV world - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Joe Mathai - February 1 - 2:33 am

  My new ML500 is in one word, AWESOME. Its roomy, incredibly fast and stops on a dime. I did have a squeaky, rear hatch latch that was promptly fixed by the dealer. The ML 500 costs less than a smaller, slower BMW X5 which does not offer TeleAid or remote mechanical telemetry, standard on the Benz. I feel safe and secure driving the ML500 which feels just like the S500 in terms of ride quality. Its a true Benz and turns heads everywhere

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  Love My Car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By sharon - January 31 - 3:10 am

  Ive only driven my car a few times and I am in Love. Its fun to drive, the maneuverability is great, the ride is comfortable, the look turns heads, Ive got a couple of thumbs-up from other drivers. The size is perfect for me. I just turned over my leased ML 350, which I totally loved, I find this easier to drive and more fun. I got the 20" wheels and find the ride just as nice as the 19" wheel, I test drove both, and felt the 20s were great and I think they look better .

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  Still fast and a headturner after 4 yrs. - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ernest C - January 31 - 2:10 am

  After leasing my 2005 E500, I decided to keep it. And I dont regret it. I love this car! Its black with chrome wheels and gets a lot of attention. I have not had any major problems. Other than the scheduled maintenance, I took it in for an AC glitch. I love the luxury equipments that came standard. From the GPS and satellite to the pulsating seats and xenon headlamps. And this bad boy gets excellent gas mileage. I averaged 29.6 mpg on the highway last month, on a trip to San Francisco. City epa averages around 18- 20 mpg. Ill be keeping this till the next E Class comes out.

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  Love it - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Michael Wolfe - January 31 - 1:01 am