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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  SURE BEATS WALKING - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By socalwx - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I THINK THE REVIEW BY EDMUNDS MISSES THE POINT, ITS NOT ABOUT GETTING THE CAR ALL LOADED UP WITH A BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT HAVING THE CHOICE TO PICK OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE IN A GREAT LITTLE CAR. MINE CAME IN WELL UNDER 30 WITH TAXES, I SMILE EVERY TIME I SEE THE CAR. I STILL CANT HANDLE THE FACT THAT ITS MINE. I LOVE THE WAY IT DRIVES AND THAT ITS NOT SOME BIG HACKIN SUV, THAT HAS AN OWNER TO MATCH. YEAH WELL I JUST GOT MY SOUND IN AND THE CDS ARE KICKIN ON MY BOSE :) SO I AM HAPPY. OUT

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  You gotta love what you drive - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FLOYDinLA - December 19 - 4:53 am

  I used to drive a Corolla so when my wife and I planned to look for a second car we did a little research. I was opting for the new 3 series from BMW, but the minute we saw the ML, wow! Everytime I get close to the car, I cant help but stare at it. Gas mileage... who cares about gas mileage? It doesnt even matter, it was just too fun to drive. The looks, its #1, no complaints. Build quality, you cant compare to anything. Everytime I get in and out of my car only one thing comes to mind "YOU GOTTA LOVE WHAT YOU DRIVE."

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  Fabulous - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dipu - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Just GRRRRRREAT. I love everything about this SUV. I got a great bargin on a 2003 MB ML320.

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  15 going on 30--A future classic - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By dadconsult - December 13 - 10:21 pm

  I picked up my 99 CLK 430 for a song...and at 131,000 miles it runs and drives like new. The interior is flawless, leather seats show no wear and tear whatsoever. Power to spare, which is very evident when pulling onto an interstate vs my prior car, a V6 Accord. However, the Accords ride was far better, the trade-off of a drivers car. It is, however, much quieter and despite being 9 years older, feels more solid and well-built (its German-built, mine has AMG trim) than the Accord. Now the rest of the story--its a salvage car, was in an accident that took out the drivers side front fender and bumper. Was repaired and cannot tell it was ever touched, no consequences are evident.

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  Best of the best - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C Ramey - December 10 - 5:23 pm

  This little car feels like a very big car. The size is perfect for me - male 240 pounds. Im getting 30 mpg on the highway (at 60 mph), and it rides and handles like a much more expensive vehicle. I couldnt be happier with this car - it is the best automobile Ive ever owned.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dave - December 10 - 1:20 pm

  Had the vehicle now for 5 months and its everything we expected. The sporty package makes the difference for us. The vehicle hugs the road especially on turns. I have recommended this vehicle to everyone. I have read all the previous problems with the transmission, but I got the vehicle anyways and to this day, not one problem.

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  New buyer /older car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Chaz - December 10 - 1:03 pm

  Went from an 89 430 to a 99 420s in late September. Am astonished by all the features and how beautifully this 10 year old car was built. Although I find the brake pedal a bit soft and it travels a little too far...was told by a mechanic that this is normal? Changed the almost worn back brake pads and the pedal now feels closer to normal. Will also bleed the line for trapped air bubbles. May put a little extra air in the tires to see if it improves cornering/handling. Undoing the negative lead on the battery will render the radio inoperable (anti theft feature) and you will have to get the "code" from Mercedes. Must read the owners manual to understand how everything works.

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  Awesome - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By GMoney - December 8 - 2:00 am

  5 Months, and not a single problem! The only problem is all the stares I get driving my G-mobile down the strip! Quality is immaculate, and the rarity superb. I love this car!

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  A pleasure to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By C R Cox - December 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my second CLK, I purchased a CLK 320 in March 00 and was very happy with the veh. I traded the 320 for CLK 430 in June02 The 430 is so much more responsive and powerful. Ive own other sports cars in the past and I would place the 430 at the head of the class. It affords me a level of expected quality and pestige that only MB can coupled with the fun of driving a true sports car.

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  2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Coupe - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By chamby - December 8 - 2:00 am

  I dont have many miles on the car yet, but so far Im impressed by the quiteness, solid feel of the ride and controls, and the maneuverability provided by rack and pinion steering with rear wheel drive. Ive driven the larger S Class Mercedes and this C230 gives you the same substantial feel of quality. I suggest you get the leather interior because the cloth interior design cheapens its appearance (looks like the cloth in a Tercel or Neon. UGHHH!). To us, it didnt matter if the badge said Mercedes or Daewoo, we realized it was well-built, good- looking, functional car that was also enjoyable to drive. A lot of car for the price.