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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  Sorry Caddy and Lincoln, 40K mile update. - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kkear3 - February 15 - 2:48 pm

  Trouble in paradise! The local dealer performed the 40K mile service which included the replacement of many filters and fluids but I had to go back at a later date for the required transmission service. After spending a total of $700 for both services, the service adviser tells me the 4matic transfer case is leaking and worse yet-it is a common problem on ALL MBs with all wheel drive. Fortunately, warrantee covered what could have been a very expensive repair. This is the first problem of any sort with the car.

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  S 550 Fun car, but be careful - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By DON - February 15 - 12:13 pm

  First week: Brakes squeak. Driving the car is fun. Design is great.. Interior - wow, I love it. I get lots of people looking at the car. Youll love it, but not the overall quality, which in my old 2006 was miserable. Buy it. Enjoy it. And dont worry about the quality, just dont keep it longer than the warranty. Thats why I only lease them.

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  Do not buy the 98-99 model! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Crazy4U - February 14 - 5:10 pm

  This car is awful! Bought it at 82k and now has 115. At 85 had to change oxygen sensors. 100$ each. So $400. Engine coolant started leaking at 88k, had to change the radiator. 120. This car is just awful. Good comfort.

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  S430 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Avi Wazana - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I had nothing but problems from day 1. While it is one of the best looking cars out there, I had component problems regularly. Breaks were replaced twice inside 15,000 miles, computer board replaced, electrical problems, noise and loose parts creating noise in the cabin, bas sensors not allowing to put the car in gear and much more... The car suffers from many problems caused by cheap or poor quality components used in the build. I hope MBZ will fix their problems for the future - for now I can not wait to finish my lease and get into a reliable Lexus !!!

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  Great SUV - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By mvenki - February 14 - 1:46 am

  I drove 250mi so far, it is very smooth and great acceleration. My wife likes that soft squishy brakes very much as she hated the 2004 MLs truck like feel on the brakes. I know the car critics review that soft feel as negative (may be used to truck based SUVs?), but I feel softer brakes really helps and relaxes your legs especailly on busy trafic lights, because you dont have to stand on it. My Kids love the rear seat entertainment and it looks like airline biz class seats.

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  New 2007 550 CLS - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Brian - February 13 - 10:30 pm

  I have ordered the new 550 CLS for August delivery. The 550 engine is expected to put out about 400 horse power against the existing 500 CLSs 302hp. the electric brakes have been scrapped in favor of the old style hydraulics.

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  Simply the Best - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Benzo Boy - February 13 - 5:00 pm

  I replaced my 1989 300E (with 220K miles) with this silver beauty. Clasic looks, straighforward interior. Solid, safe, and secure. A blast to drive, and the BOSE stereo is awesome.

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  Sexy Mercedes for the Family Guy - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Jim Radcliffe - February 11 - 2:59 am

  I love this car. When I first saw one pull along side in a traffic jam back in 2002 it took my breath away. A year later I bought one, and loved it. I sold the car a few years later after being downsized (I already had an S500 that I kept), but I missed it terribly and thought it was a bad decision to let it go. So when I had the chance to buy my current one (2006 CL500 with AMG trim), with extremely low miles, I jumped at the chance. Im a fanatic about my car and keep it garaged, only drive it locally, and keep it clayed , polished, waxed and super clean. So much so that last weekend I entered the car in the Street category at the 2016 Concours dElegance at Chateau Elan north of Atlanta. I had my super clean S500 entered as well, and it was sitting right next to it on the fairway. The crowds absolutely loved the CL500, especially the older guys. I always called the car a 2 door S class, because thats what it was/is. The styling is epic, and loved by everyone. People who want an SL sports model but hesitate because it is too small love the CL. It is a big 2 door coupe, and super fun to drive. Mercedes equipped the car with a really throaty sounding exhaust system. I love to go into the north Georgia mountains in the fall, roll the windows down, put the 7 speed transmission into manual shift control, and go through the windy roads shifting, turning, and listening to the mellow tones of the exhaust sounds. This is a very comfortable, very fun, eye turning drive. I dont expect to ever sell the car!

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  I fell in love with this coupe. - 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rocketking - February 9 - 11:39 pm

  The 2012 E350 is everything a Mercedes coupe should be and what youd expect it to be. It strikes the perfect balance of sporty agility without compromising luxury or ride ability. Its nimble, without being stiff. The exterior is aggressive and sporty, but once you add the AMG appearance package, it becomes just breath-taking for those that are enthusiasts of the 2 door genre. The engine is completely new from 2011 and pumps out 302 hp, while at the same time also IMPROVING its fuel efficiency. Technologically speaking, the E350 has everything one could want. Make no mistake, you are fully aware the entire time that you are driving a Mercedes... and youll be very thankful that you are.

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  Excellent SUV - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By wmriii - February 9 - 12:33 am

  This is a great SUV. My family has had a Suburban for the past 14 years and it was time to downsize a bit. GL drives like a car, is extremely comfortable and has about every extra that we need. There are a few minor changes I would like to see. First, the windshield is at an angle which reflects the dash. Very distracting and third row seat dificult to get in. Should have automatic second ro fold up. Other than those minor issues and one major problem with parktronic (below) which was eventually fixed, this is one of the best cars we have owned and we hve owned most of them.