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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  Why did I wait so long? - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Floridadriver - December 8 - 7:10 pm

  After waiting to compare the new BMW 545 to the E500 and other also rans, I went with the E500 and have not been disappointed. No quality issues with mine. Very few nits to pick on. Performance is OUTSTANDING, unless the 5.8 sec 0-60 isnt good enough for you (go E55). The three position suspension is very handy - dials in the three settings I like (cruising, everyday, and attack). The 7 speed is a joy, and the comfort/style is timeless. The headlights are great, always eliciting delight from passengers. Seats (adaptive) are spectacular. Seat/steering wheel adjustments combine for the best ergonomic setting possibilities Ive seen in a vehicle.

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  Tricky cars. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Omar Diaz Aguilar - December 8 - 12:54 pm

  Parts are very expensive. Check carfax and maintenance records or you will regret buying an used car. Edmunds sucks on costumer service. They never Send me the 100 dollar visa card for using Edmunds. Never replied to my emails or phone calls.

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  Good:But Lexus is just as good. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kiknchikn - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Overall, the car is fun to drive and very comfortable. Performance is good and interior design is not bad. The front is very attractive but the rear I dont like as much. Looks too much like a box from behind.

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  C32 Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Norm C32 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Impressive power from the supercharged V6 mated to automatic transmission with Speedshift. The handling is the best match for the street and track but with quality that passengers that pass through its 4-door will not find uncomfortable. Interior has a nice heavy weighted feeling to the controls which give it a rich quality which other drivers found very substantial. I am very please overall with the C32.

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  Sleeper - you wont see another - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Chuck - December 8 - 2:53 am

  This is the ultimate hauler. I use it for my daily commuter car and weekend trips with family and dog. Why get an SUV when this does it all. Looked at the Porsche SUV - but it had less room and was not as fast. Handles fantastically, but no too jarring unless the handling set on hardest setting. The best part is I will probably never see another one going the other way on the road.

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  1 year, 10,000 miles, and very satisfied - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By autoaficion - December 7 - 6:24 am

  Ive just spent a year and 10,000 miles with my C300 Luxury, and I am happy to report that I am very satisfied. Instead of aiming for the sportiest model in the range, I decided to buy the Luxury model and dont regret that choice at all - this is an excellent small luxury car with enough sportiness to make it fun to drive without being a tiresome daily driver. With the premium 1 package and media package, it has everything I could want. The only downside: the friends and acquaintances who judge me for buying a Mercedes ("its pretentious"). In the past, I always chose something more value-priced and was not content long term. This car has what it takes to merit long-term ownership.

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  Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By smith - December 7 - 6:03 am

  From the moment I drove my ML350 off of the car lot I felt like I was just behind the wheel and the Mercedes drove me home. The SUV handled like a sports car and hugged the road. I parked the car in my garage and I didnt want to get out. Much better than my wifes BMW X5. Im truly impressed.

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  This thing flies - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Adam C. - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Initial pickup not like BMW or CLK 430, but once moving over 60 this car rocks (hint - dont use overdrive).

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  Belief. - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gte455q - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable car... Enough power...great suspension...great convenience system...elegant...this C280 has everything that a car could have with the best reliability. Mercedes warrenty and custonmer service cares my car more than I do. Best service!!

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  E55: great muscle sedan - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By m-b - December 7 - 2:00 am

  fun and practical. A real sleeper at a stoplight. and burnouts in an automatic are always fun