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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  E500 AMG Sport - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By J. David Zubas - May 5 - 12:20 am

  This is my first Mercedes and what a delight so far. I bought the E500 with the AMG Sport package (larger tires, special alloy wheels, E55 body panels, dual exhausts extensions, etc). The sport package really sets off the looks by giving it a bit more aggressive look while improving the handling of the car. It is very smooth and powerful for a car with just over 300 HP. This is the first new car that I have owned that has not needed any oil added so far (over 8K miles) based on the electronic oil measuring system.

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  A++ Super Car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By 2000E430Sport - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I got my E430 Sport for my wife for Valentine. We had put over 6K miles on the vehicle without any issues. I love the interior and I still have heads turn as I drive for the weekend. The power of the V-8 is excellent. I wish it could respond faster in auto mode, I have to shift if I want to run a little faster hihi. The car is ROCK SOLID at 100+ MPH. Looking forward to more pleasure date with the car. Only oil is Mobil1 syntec, could be costly, but the end resolve is

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  C320 Wagon - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By FAH - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a nice treat to drive and own. It pampers and cossets you with all its gadgetry and convenience features. Drop your foot on the gas and the propulsion is downright amazing, if ESP does not intrude on your launch. The back seat has been a sore spot among friends - smaller than a 300TE by quite a bit. The engine seems more responsive than in our CLK 320, although its the same engine.

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  I love my 2004 C230 Kompressor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Seattleguy - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd Mercedes and Im loving this one more than my 300E. From the C230s stylish looks to its quick and efficient kompressor engine, this car is a dream. Its fun to drive and it is built very safety oriented. The finish work is superb. While on vacation on Maui last week, I rented a Ford Escape. I couldnt wait to get back in my C230!

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  Teutonic Elegance.....but will it last? - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Don Levison - May 3 - 1:13 pm

  My wife and I both love the car. Although a utilitarian vehicle, we sometimes think were driving a sports car. The interior comfort, ride and handling cant be beat. Our car was described by Mercedes technicians and sales reps as "bullet proof". Mechanically, it has been, but if only they had kept the electronics simple and more reliable. The car regularly flashes inappropriate warning lights on the dash, emits "beeps" while driving with no known reason and the satellite radio has been erratic and unreliable. To check the oil level, you need to access the owners manual and go through a series of commands to reach the correct screen. Overall, a great car. We just hope it holds up.

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  Tough to beat! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Brisbourne - May 3 - 10:00 am

  OK, not quite the build quality that youve been led to believe, but the ownership bargain of a lifetime! After 10000 miles, the performance comes on strong, and the whole driving experience improves. Noticeably better when driven hard Trunk is surprisingly useful as long as you pack soft. Without the options, (heated seats, etc) a little cheap inside with obvious missing switches on the otherwise nice black ash console. Pay the money for the multicontour seats...they make a substantial difference in comfort over long distances. Verdict? I have a 2004 500CLK on order!!

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  I love my Benz - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By jtmgrmom - May 3 - 10:00 am

  Having owned a couple of Benzs before, this one was still a treat. My 98 wasnt so fun, but 2000 was an improvement. A drivers car, the handling is supurb as long as you keep good tires on it. And they wear out quickly. Otherwise, a great car.

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  C320 wagon - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Newby MB Owner - May 3 - 10:00 am

  Our MB C320 wagon is a wonderful car. It has plenty of power, is loaded with safety features,and can swallow tons of luggage. Build quality is typical MB: no squeaks, no rattles, and little body flex. Material quality is excellent. And the car handles very well, with great brakes and admirable cornering.

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  Luxury vs. Sport model - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By shaggydog199 - May 3 - 3:14 am

  The car is great but our hardest decision was Luxury vs. Sport. While the Sport seems most popular, this is why we decided on the Luxury. 1. We keep cars for 100,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first. The Luxury is a more traditional look so we thought it would last longer. 2. The ride is stiff, maybe a little too stiff in the Sport. 3. The tires are different sizes on the Sport so cant be rotated. 4. The ground effects stuff on the sport looks alittle edgy, and we dont have curb cutouts in our hood so we have to jump an angled curb. Looks like the ground effects stuff is a little closer to the ground. 5. This one is really shallow! Like seeing the star from inside

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  Drives like a dream - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MN - May 2 - 8:46 pm

  Recently bought this car and it is a dream to drive it. Really smooth! Have the automatic transmission, which lets you select between sports style or comfort. If you select sprt style it is a more agressive engine! More fun to drive!