Mercedes-Benz Reviews & Ratings

Mercedes C280 4MATIC Review

By Justin Berkowitz
January 24, 2007 - 82,267 views

Now that Mercedes has released pictures of their new C-Class, I figured it was as good a time as any to sample the dead C. In Europe, the outgoing C-Class (W203 in Stuttgart speak) is beloved of German taxi drivers and penny-pinching poseurs with a little extra pomposity in their purse. Stateside, Merc’s three-pointed star shines more brightly; the C-Class’ price tag aspires to its second name-- despite suffering from a reprehensible rep for reliability. As I drove off in a 2007 C280 4Matic, I wanted to know what ground the new C had to cover to make its bones.

Mercedes C280 4MATIC Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 70 comments

Mercedes E320 BlueTec Review

By Jay Shoemaker
December 21, 2006 - 101,247 views

A few years ago, I found myself comfortably ensconced in the back seat of a German taxicab. I was luxuriating in what I thought was leather (it was MB Tex, the convincing faux hide) when the driver cranked-up the engine. Smoke and stench poured from the Mercedes’ diesel engine. I scoffed-- until the driver blew straight through 180kph on the autobahn to Munich. Even from the passenger seat, the torque was more intoxicating than the exhaust wafting in through the window. I was hooked.

Mercedes E320 BlueTec Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 97 comments

Mercedes E63 AMG Review

By Jay Shoemaker
November 7, 2006 - 92,014 views

OK, I admit it: I’ve consumed way too much AMG Kool Aid. I own multiple sets of the Mercedes tuner’s black license plate frames and key rings, an AMG logo-shirt, a cashmere V-neck sweater, half a dozen hats, a pair of driving shoes, a winter coat and a limited edition AMG watch. I would have more of their stuff, but recently I was introduced to a gentleman from Italy who spied the AMG logo on the back of my car and pronounced it, “Eye-Em-Gay,” and that sort of cooled me off. And then I drove the E63 AMG.

Mercedes E63 AMG Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 84 comments

Mercedes ML63 AMG Review

By Jay Shoemaker
November 2, 2006 - 67,472 views

I recently completed a Munich to Paris road trip in a BMW 335. When I returned to the US, I was retrospectively struck by the lack of high profile vehicles (pickup and SUV’s, not celebrity Ferraris or Leclerc battle tanks) on French and German roads. I suppose when gas costs nearly seven bucks a gallon, fuel efficiency is all. Personally, I don’t care for SUV’s; the few I have owned have taught me that being tall and overweight is no more fun for a vehicle than it is for a former supermodel. So when my Mercedes dealer suggested I have a look at the new ML63, I scoffed. And then went along for the ride.

Mercedes ML63 AMG Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 58 comments

Mercedes CL550 Review

By Jay Shoemaker
October 12, 2006 - 48,393 views

During my soujourn on the other side of the pond, I was delighted to score an early drive in the new CL550. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was somewhat blunted by the French Mercedes salesman’s incessant questioning. He kept interrupting my concentration to ask me how to adjust his seat massage system. Then, thanks to his oafish fiddling with the car's COMAND navigation system, I was distracted by a computerized frenchwoman ordering me to make a U-turn s’il possible. I contemplated pulling over sur le grand-rue to garrote both of my companions, but I couldn’t find a Parisian parking space of sufficient enormity to berth the German dreadnought. Tant pis pour moi.

Mercedes CL550 Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 28 comments

Mercedes CL65 AMG Review

By Sajeev Mehta
September 15, 2006 - 36,071 views

Albert Einstein posited that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared. The Mercedes Benz CL65 AMG provides a new definition: energy equals horsepower at the speed of light for squares. Relativity speaking, the big Merc’s top end is significantly less than the cosmic speed limit of 670,616,629.384 mph. Subjectively, that number feels about right. In fact, the CL 65 is Die Grosse Bang on wheels, an automotive event that warps the time space continuum to the point where I swear I wrote this review tomorrow.

Mercedes CL65 AMG Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 29 comments

Mercedes SL550 Review

By Robert Farago
September 7, 2006 - 46,638 views

You may have noticed this website tends to celebrate performance automobiles. While this predilection for dynamic distraction places us within the media mainstream, it doesn’t square with urban car culture. I'm sure you know that car owners who inflict double-dubs on their whips happily sacrifice ride and handling on the altar of, gulp, style. Even so, ladies and gentlemen, I’ve seen the light. Thanks to the Mercedes SL550, I now know middle aged white people can stunt and floss with the best (worst?) of them.

Mercedes SL550 Review podcast continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | Podcasts | Review Podcasts | 35 comments

Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet Review

By Jay Shoemaker
August 29, 2006 - 33,268 views

The Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet is like a woman with large, perfectly shaped breasts. No matter how much you try to talk about her other qualities, your attention keeps returning to one thing: the engine’s enormous peak output. The CLK holsters AMG’s first purpose-built powerplant, a normally aspirated mill good for 475 horsepower (507 in its less restricted sibilings). As usual, it’s assembled in Affalterbach by one satanic mechanic, whose name is stamped on a plate affixed to the engine block. In another nod to heritage, the “63” represents the engine’s displacement rounded up from 6.2-liters; homage to the legendary 300 SEL 6.3 produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1968-1972. That’s some heavy heritage.

Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 17 comments

Mercedes CLS550 Review

By Jay Shoemaker
August 10, 2006 - 49,365 views

Small changes can have a major impact. Remember Jennifer Grey, the female lead in the film “Dirty Dancing?” Her fine proboscis lent her an air of distinction. Then she had reductive rhinoplasty and dropped out of sight. Although Audi's Auto Union-inspired snout seems to be going for the reverse effect, Mercedes is wise to the law of incremental effect. In the case of the CLS550, small changes have transformed a wannabe into a gotta have.

Mercedes CLS550 Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 42 comments

Mercedes E550 Review

By Jay Shoemaker
August 1, 2006 - 33,100 views

The Mercedes E550 is like one of those gently aging character actors that everyone recognizes but no one can name.  I guess the fact that Mercedes put over a million of E-Class sedans on the road in the past four years may have a little something to do with it.  Either that or the brand’s reacting to Bimmer’s Bangling and their own S-Class blingery by maintaining the E’s arch conservatism.  While understandable, I’m not so sure that the mid-sized Merc's generic good looks and mild-mannered charisma are such a good thing…

Mercedes E550 Review continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Mercedes-Benz | 17 comments