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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  It doesnt get any better than this - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jake - September 4 - 7:33 am

  This is the best roadster I have ever driven. Ive owned Lexus, Corvette, NSX, BMW, and most recently the 07 Jaguar. The SL 550 is vastly superior to them all. The SL has an incredible combination of sport and luxury. The interior is as nice or nicer than anything out there. The car handles superbly, and yet still has a very comfortable ride. The seats are among the best Ive ever seen. You can easily drive all day without killing your back. The only drawbacks to the SL are the price, poor mileage, and, inexcusably, a very mediocre stereo and outdated NAV. But the superior driving experience more than compensates for these shortfalls. Drive one, its worth the money.

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  Big disappointment - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Nailz - September 3 - 6:40 pm

  I bought this car as a Starmark certified vehicle from Mercedes. Almost immediately I noticed some issues: Two exterior plastic body pieces spontaneously broke, interior plastic parts seemed prone to breakage as well. Also, the breaks were very noisey and fluttery (dealer told me to live w/). Eventually, more serious (i.e. expensive) issues arose: fuel injectors became blocked, spark plugs fouled, coils needed replacement, power steering line ruptured... all within 21000 miles of purchase. Of the thousands of dollars in repair bills virtually nothing was covered by the Mercedes Starmark warranty. Shockingly poor quality, esp. from a company with such a premium reputation (and price tag)

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  Consumer - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By tuanh - September 2 - 10:00 am

  My vehicle was purchased after market. I thought that I inspected the vehicle well but found out later that the vehicle had a little defect. The aligment was set so off that the interior of its both rear tires worn out. The vehicle had only 9,500 miles on it even though the previous owner owned it for 18 months already. Its was so clean and drive pretty much normal, nobody would suspect something like that would happened, only a visual inspection under the vehicle would show.

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  We got what we paid for - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By KONA - September 2 - 10:00 am

  This truck is the third Mercedes-B in our family but its the first one that was made in USA. We were very concerned about the bad reputation so we researched some information on the X5 and Land Rover as well. We talked to the Land Rover dealers in VA and they told us that the truck was over-priced. And we agreed that we didnt like the shape of X5. ML 320 is the best pick for both of us. Its very nice, comfortable, safe and reliable. We dont have any problem so far.

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  Nice SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By John Lantvit - September 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned a Jeep Grand Cherokee,Chevy Tahoe,and now the best damn SUV on the market. Whats not to like now that the bugs are out of it. Quiet,smooth,comfortable,and I hope its as dependable as my C220 with 130,000 miles and very minor problems as compared to both my former SUVs. Time will tell.FOr now Im thrilled.I drove the X-5 and if you like driving your couch,buy one.

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  I am growing to love this car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By thom20818 - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I could not pass up purchasing a MB for under $30K. I was luke warm on the back end styling and really wanted more trunk space and 4 doors, HOWEVER, after owning the car for over a month it has really grown on me. It does so many things well that I have changed my mind on the styling and found that I can easily live with 2 doors. I had two minor cosmetic flaws which are being taken care of. Otherwise, the car is fun to drive, full of gadgets (I am still not finished reading the owners manual), and has real curbside appeal.

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  MB AMG First Timer - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Firsttimer - September 2 - 10:00 am

  Great automobile, the best balance of performance and luxury that I have experienced to date with an emphasis on performance. Outstanding brakes, suspension and drivetrain. Some minor ergonomic/design issues with interior controls such as cruise control and heated seats. Better quality and structure than BMW M3. So pleased that I am ordering a next generation SLK AMG for my wife!

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  Great Liitle Benz - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Skipper - September 1 - 5:03 am

  Bought this year with 74,000 mile on it. Extremely fun to drive, looks new inside & out, runs great. Its a classy, classic design and has recd many favorable comments.

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  Super value and lots of fun too - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bill McGonigal - August 30 - 8:40 pm

  This purchase was a no brainer. I previously owned a Hyundai Santa Fe and although happy with it I was ready to move up and experience the best. A peasure to drive, handles well in town and just cruises along at 65/75 on the interstates. Fuel mileage is very good, over 26 MPG on the open roads. Around town it can muster up 16/17.

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  A excellent car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Radames - August 29 - 10:10 am

  I bought the car in 2003 and Im very satisfied. The mileage is good, 28.1 on the highway, and 20.3 in city. The suspension is awesome. Stability and comfort at the same time. The sport package is excellent. The air suspesion is very comfortable. The seat are comfortable and the trunk is huge. Overall its great.