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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  Panzerkampfwagen - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Shawnski - September 14 - 10:36 am

  Our lease was up on our 07 X3. We looked at the GLK, LR2, and Volvo XC60. None of them drove as percisely as the X3, however as this is my wifes vehicle comfort is more important than sportiness. The GLK by far was the most refined in terms of quietness and smooth ride. While the GLK is not quite as roomy as the X3 (backseat and cargo area) it has a very relaxed manor about it - while the X3 is always taut. Both have impeccable build quality - really outstanding, with an edge going to the GLK for a satisfying door shut, although the X3 has superior inside door handles. I recommend the GLK for its refined comfort in a tidy sized package. Aggressive drivers need not apply.

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  Great Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Remmy Martin - September 13 - 2:00 am

  The interior is amog the best I have ever seen.

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  Somewhere between Bad and Good - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bd - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This was my first MB and it wont be my last, but this 98 ML has tested me. The engine is flawless, as well as, the ride and handling (better than most cars). But, the minor things kill the excitement - electrical components: dash, windows, wipers. However, my service department is professional and courteous... always willing to help. Plus, the Starmark warranty is the best.

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  Bad E300D - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By TWH - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This car has had a new transmission and consumes enough oil that it has never made it to a recommended service without having to add or change oil. The radio, CD changer, dash glass, somputer and various other componets have been rplaced the car has been in the shop more that 30 days within it first two years. While the car has never let us down its one warning light after another and it never seems to stop.

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  Nice car but many little problems. - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Fred - September 8 - 12:10 am

  The dealership is excellent and does its best, but my car had a battery drain problem that left me stranded in airport parking lots several times after long trips from Europe and Asia. After many interventions and, as long as a week at the dealership at a time, to check it out, they changed the battery. I suspect once the battery gets old it will discharge again but I only have a few months left on the lease. The car also has had small problems that should not appear on a 55K plus car.

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  So far so good - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jm - September 2 - 12:13 pm

  While highly skeptical about quality/reliability when purchased for my wife, so far it has been almost flawless. No electrical problems. Cup holder replacement is it. Knock wood. She loves it, likes the size.

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  ML 320 2000 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Kar56 - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Love it all the way for comfort , style and performance. Feels solid

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  Drives great, but has some irritations - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kevin - September 1 - 2:57 am

  Update: 16k miles I am enjoying the car a lot. The engine, transmission and suspension are 1st class. MB fixed my complaints free under warranty: Gas door, sunroof. AC is still icy. I purchased this car because the reviews were so good, it has the latest tech (Its screen rocks) and I get 34.6 mgp to work. It is quiet and always finds the right gear. When pushed hard it is predictable and well composed. Irritating: sunglass storage will spit your glasses back out, pain to go between functions in infotainmet-really a pain, A/C is always icy, mix of quality and cheap materials, serious lack of useful storage. I opened the hood then could not close it, gas cover is pain to close, head rest started rattling after 4 weeks, there is a loud ding every time you open the door, the seat backs are cheap, the headliner is cheap, floor mats are cheap, the trunk lid is not balanced and does not close well, rear sun shade not opening all the way after 2 weeks, remote window open never works. All the little things kill this car for me. I had 2 Infinitis and never had so many problems in 15 years as I have had in 3 months.

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  Still a Tank; interior falling apart - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mags3333 - August 27 - 3:03 am

  Our ML320 is a tank. Its been serviced well & have had no reliability issues. But, the electrical problems. These repairs cost **$$$$** so we have lived with them. Odometer light went out, radio has to be manually turned off/on, gas mileage tracker quit working. Once, when it was parked out in the rain, it freaked out & the interior lights and whistles went off and flashed until we turned the car off. We park it in the garage now. A life saver in the snow - the four wheel drive was awesome (live in FL now - its awesome on soft beach sand). We need a third row, though. The children are going to kill or maim each other soon in that back seat. We are trading it in soon.

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  Sleek - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Mark - August 23 - 5:23 am

  Heads turn often. Awesome sleek new look. Great power and handling. The car has a legitimate 2 person adult rear seat. Very comfortable. Despite low profile, I have not noticed any vision impairment at all.