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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  Great entry level Benz - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Not Bad - January 7 - 4:46 pm

  This car handles well on the road. it can make any turn without any problem. A bit sluggish off the line but picks up in the later gears. I love the 7- speed automatic transmission and the sport-shift concept. Great interior design and it has a classy yet modern looking exterior. Get it with the AMG trim, it makes the car standout. A little disappointed in the amount of driver side leg room. I cant find a seat postion thats comfortable.

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  HIgh Mileage Review - Buyer Beware - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Paul L. - January 3 - 11:00 pm

  Im starting the seventh year of ownership of my E-class. So far Ive replaced: Front passenger seat belt buckle Both catalytic converters Front wheel bushings Instrument panel Rear Shocks Steering wheel switches Three audio speakers Both sun visors Car has 210K miles, I feel too much has gone wrong with the car for it being a MB. I also have an undiagnosed mystery noise in the back seat. Front end vibrates at high speed.

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  Dissappointed - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kim - January 3 - 4:40 am

  I purchased my car June 2007. Received a great deal! 6 months after purchase, I started experience strong fuel order. I took the car in about 3 times for this and on the third time, they finally figured it out when my husband took it in. Just last year, Dec. 2008, I took my car on a family vacation to Florida. It stopped on us 2 times in Florida. Each time it was taken to a dealer and everyone assured me they fixed the problem. My husband was 50 miles away from home, guess what? It stopped on him again. I have no confidence in the MB product and refuse to drive it outside of city limits in fear it will strand me somewhere. Need to get a new car. Its only 2 years old!!

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  Much better than the 2011 Model - 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By johnsmoke - December 31 - 6:38 pm

  Ive driven the 2013 C300 Luxury for 5000 miles. It is far better than the older 2011 with the increase in horsepower from 228 to 248 - it really moves now with the 7-speed. My gas mileage is 21mpg around town and has reached 30 mpg on highway trips (~65 mph). The exterior is neater and interior comfortable - it is well made and solid. It has the mBrace system, with Sirius radio, Bluetooth capability, and navigation (which works unexpectedly well). I accepted a rear camera, that works well but not something I would have normally purchased. Not too happy with the stop-start ECO feature, but it has worked flawlessly so far (it can be turned off, but must be turned off each trip).

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  Disappointment - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Disapointment - December 28 - 11:13 pm

  I purchased my c220 12/01 with 42,000 miles. the trouble started at around 80,000 miles. busted head gasket, transmission slipping, cruise control failed, fuel gauge failed, power antenna failed, constant brake light lamp replacement, interior dome light assembly replaced, windshield wipers work when car is near high voltage power lines & when using the turn signals, I cannot turn them off, have had to remove the fuse to stop this embarrising act.

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  I hate this car! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sillygirl - December 26 - 8:03 am

  We bought this car with 34000 miles on it. It was great the first two years. Minor things going wrong only. After that many little things went and each part was very expensive. Check engine light was on almost always usually sensors but all the time it drove me crazy. The SUV was very comfy and had all the bells and whistles but not worth the hassle of needing to be fixed all the time. I am getting rid of it tomorrow and it will not be missed.We have a leak in the front that no one can figure out where it comes from too.

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  great car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fun car - December 25 - 10:13 pm

  i bought the car a year ago i put close to 3 thousand miles an not a problem an the car still runs great

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  Zoom Zoom... not just for Mazda - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By alexatlanta - December 25 - 12:16 pm

  My ML550 has the power to scare squirrels on trees a quarter mile away. I love the take off speed. The stereo is very rich and nice. I never dreamed that satellite radio would be so addictive. The seats are seductive in their contours. While the nav has quite a few limits, such as the joystick and the lack of new roads, it serves it purpose well and has a much nicer voice than the 2006 edition. While road noise is more pronounced then the E class, it is much quieter in the ML than in many other cars. The car is just fun to drive. I really like at lights when someone pulls the other lane expecting to blow past the bloated SUV only to be mistaken.

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  C300 Sport 4 Matic - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By TT - December 21 - 1:23 pm

  This is a nice car. It looks good and handles great. Good power and a smooth transmission. The interior of this car is laid out well, but it is too small. Disappointed in the size and space in the rear seats. Trunk is too small as well. I wish I would have purchased the Audi A5 or A6, maybe a BMW 330 for a little more interior room and about the same price.

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  Never Again - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Colorado Dave - December 19 - 10:00 am

  The C240 is severely underpowered, and I experienced two serious electrical problems in a 9-month span. In hot weather (90+ degrees), the car struggled to even move from a dead stop, such as a traffic light. Once you got it moving, it wasnt bad. Ive since stepped up to the C320, and the difference is phenomenal.