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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  Just want to keep on driving - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Canoehead - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Im not a big fan of long drives. Driving is a chore. Not any more. I just want to keep on driving. I pretty much hate arriving at my destination. Ive driven lots of cars and I just cant believe how much better this car is over the Japanese competition. I cant imagine having more power. What is the use? The engine sound is wonderful. The fit and finish is fantastic everywhere. (look under the car!) Ive recently been in a top-of-the-line VW Passat and it just does not compare. This is such a fun car to drive and drive and drive.

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  First trip - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By jabbahop - May 20 - 5:00 pm

  I drove our new R350 1000 miles from the dealer in KY. I now know why the car is called a tourer. Quiet, smooth, comfortable - a great ride. It isnt a quick vehicle but has enough power. Nice surprises - the cruise control with two increments (up and down one mile per hour to tune speed) - intermittent wipers - ipod integration kit (though it would be nicer to be able to select a play list from the radio controls) - better gas mileage than I feared (22.5) Little annoyances - should have checked out the Xenon lights because on low beam, they dont have great illumination - black interior (and carpet) shows dirt, dust. Overall very happy with it and family loves the room!

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  Great car with some minor setbacks - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By joe41296 - May 19 - 8:45 am

  I love the look of the car, the more aggressive grille that comes with the 550 and the performance is exquisite. The 402 horsepower and 443 lb/ft of torque usually puts me at 60 in about 4.6 seconds. The car has a great ride quality and when in sport mode really feels like a Drivers car." When Driving the car there is a noticeable rattle the comes from the A pillar and is present even on fairly smooth roads. Convertibles are more prone to these types of issues however when driving a BMW 650i convertible this rattling was not present. Furthermore, there is a slight squeaking noise that seems to originate from the front axle or suspension and just occurs now and again and then goes away.

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  Excellent Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kevin - May 19 - 5:10 am

  I am loving this car more now than the day I bought it. I will probably keep this one until about 2010 or 2011 and then buy another one. Without a doubt, this is the best car I have ever owned.

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  I love this Car!!! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Ringmaster - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I simply love getting into this car every day. The only problem that I have had with it is warping of my rotors (The first three months I always had my foot Way in it) The accelleration is outstanding and it handles well for a 5k lb car. I love the throaty sound of the 4.3 litre V8. I would highly recomend this car to anyone.

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  Still fun - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By henry42 - May 17 - 10:00 am

  After owning an ML 320 since 98 this was such a big jump in power, smoothness and features.

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  Fabulous, FUN car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Con - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It has zip and my bike fits in the back...without a rack. Its a great car!

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  Excellent - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jaymax - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I drove mercedes all my life, I know every details about their products. I found the newly designed e 500 exceptionally good, very smooth ride, powerful, reliable and fun to drive.

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  My new car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By lks - May 17 - 10:00 am

  This is the most amazing car I have ever owned!

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  My 2014 E350 Coupe - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Robert - May 17 - 7:14 am

  This is my first Mercedes and I couldnt be happier! I purchased it CPO with 30K miles on it and it drives and looks like a brand new car. My E350 coupe is white with tan leather interior, the 2014s have the refreshed look so it looks like the newer models. The build and drive are simply exceptional. This car still looks like a $65,000.00 dollar although I paid 1/2 the price. I have owned it for about 2 months and I still smile every time I get behind the wheel, it corners very well and has really good pick-up but its more of a grand touring car with a ton of luxury features. If you are looking for a reliable, great looking and fun to drive coupe, the 2014 E350 should be on your short list....FYI; getting it 3 years old with about 30K miles on it will also save you about 50% off MSRP. I loveeeeeee my E350 coupe and I love every aspect of this car, I have zero concerns.