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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  Excellent! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By D Strickel - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Very solid, nice power for engine size. Comfortable and very fun to drive! Useful luxury features such as steering wheel controls, dual zone temp, teleaid, nice stereo. Handling is awsome, car feels very adaptable to different driving situations. Amazing reactions from people on the street for a car under $100k.

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  Different paradigm of diesel technology - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CM - February 1 - 10:06 pm

  This car is in no way similar to the diesels my dad drove; gone are the days of turning off the air conditioning to get up the hills on the freeway. The harder you push this diesel the more refined it sounds. It seems to have a deep well of power and torque that never stops pleasing. I love this car!

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  The E-Class - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gloria Martin - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my E-Class Sedan. When we drive through neighborhnoods with new homes people wave at us because in our Benz - they can tell that we really do belong there. If I park in front of a business and go in, I am shown much more respect than when we drove our Buick or Ford. I feel important when I drive our car. My only regret is that we cant afford the S-Class, Yet! Or that we may never be able to afford the Saloon!

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  CLK 430 Cab - Excellent Auto - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By KFarrND - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 430 for almost 3 years and it has driven better than any car I have ever owned. Only problem I have had is one electrical failure with the top, and the ground effects on the front grill. Its too easy to hit those concrete parking barriers. But the car handles flawlessly, has plenty of power for street driving and feels extremely solid for a convertible. Even at 34,000 miles this car still runs like its brand new.

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  Sweet Machine! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bill - February 1 - 5:40 am

  The ML 350 is deserving of all the accolades it has received so far. This SUV rides like a dream! It is quiet and comfortable with plenty of power. The stereo has theatre like sound that makes you hate to wanna turn it off. If you want a great ride at an affordable price, the ML 350 should be at the top of your list.

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  My C280 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benzmeister - February 1 - 1:43 am

  Bought this car certified pre-owned in 2001. Since then no major problems until 2009. I had to replace a crankcase sensor and shifter assembly. Not bad after 8 years or ownership. Great performance, looks and reliability, smooth running and quiet engine. Going to hang on to this car for as long as I can. I change the engine oil twice a year. Had tranny fluid changed at 70K miles, contrary to MB lifetime tranny fluid. Still driving on original brake pads. Ive owned many cars over the years and this C280 is the best by far

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  Excellent ride - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By chris - January 31 - 7:33 pm

  Looked at MDX: too small, too ugly exterior. Suburban Z71: looked good with too cheap materials interior for a 50K car. Then we decided to buy the 07 SUV of the year: The Mercedes GL450. The body doesnt look as sexy as the X5 we have, but for the big 3rd row seat, the cargo space, it cant get any better than this. Fit and finish of the exterior and interior is excellent, beautiful. Thats all I can say. I also test drove the Audi Q7. I like the look and the exclusive status of Audis, but the materials they used is nothing close to Mercedes or BMWs. With a comparable V8 engine, Audi wants $60k plus. Thats why you dont see many people driving Audis.

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  Great car, great price - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RMICHAUD - January 30 - 8:06 pm

  Owning The C230 Sport has been a great experience, I dont believe weve been happier with an automobile. The maintenace cost has only been a set of tires, which was a little disappointing, I thought the Michelins Pilots could have at least made 30k miles. The handling is outstanding.

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  Perfection - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By myclk500 - January 28 - 10:00 am

  The fastest and most powerful vehicle I have ever driven, the car just feels like it wants more no matter how much you give it.

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  A Fun-to-drive MB? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By empty99 - January 28 - 10:00 am

  It was refreshing to test drive this little Benz, after owning 2 MBs (190E 2.6/300E) that it can be made both solid, stable and fun at the same time: Quick ratio steering but well damped, great solid body, wonderful peppy 4 cyl engine (this thing gets down and boogey, even to this Boxster owner), nicely done interior, far superior to those of Audi A4/BMW 3/Lexus IS300/Infi G35 etc...and overall driving finesse unmatched by any of the above brands. It IS the car to drive home AFTER experiencing all others, for it calms your nerve and surrounds you in well- engineered safety features and still a heck of fun to drive when you want to.