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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  Safe, Incredible in Snow, Low MPG - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dave - July 31 - 1:16 am

  Wonderful SUV. Built like a tank. 4-wheel drive is insane: went up in the mountains last new year, did not use snow chains because did not need to! I did not even know I was driving in snow, the truck is so stable! Watched other drivers in luxury SUVs struggling in snow as I was simply cruising along. Problems: no audio controls on the steering wheel (which was addressed in 2006 model), steering wheel is not telescopic like BMW X5, MPG is really 11-12MPG, even in V6. Cassette is hidden inside the entertainment unit which makes it hard to connect IPOD via a cassette adopter. CD-changer should be in front not in the trunk.

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  My little run around SUV - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Donna Brazill - July 29 - 6:21 am

  I love the size of this vehicle! I spend thousands of miles on the road in my car each year and I feel safe and comfy in this car like SUV. My husband loves to drive it! Its diesel and I have (after 16k) miles been averaging 37-45 miles per gallon. The seats are still pretty firm and hard, and after 26k miles still not as comfy as I had hoped. The navigation system is not very intuitive and a bit cumbersome to operate...time consuming actually. I do not live in the city so once I go off a paved road its essentially useless to me. This is a huge problem in rural areas. Had I known this prior to purchase I would not have bought this car. You must be stopped to enter data which can be a problem if youre already lost in a dicey area! In rural areas where I frequently travel, the turn by turn directions are non-existent. Diesel engine is quite a bit noisier than Toureg Diesel I previously owned. I have not been able to get the voice command training working so I can accept calls or enter directions verbally. Overall, this is a nice car and perfect for my needs, very responsive on curvy roads and mountains. Not terribly sure footed in heavy snow. Lots of light, large windshield and sunroof. The rear seats lay down nicely for larger cargo area and perfect for taking dogs along. Nice visibility overall. I am kind of surprised that I need new brakes already as my other cars went many more miles before needing any attention.

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  Good but not as fun as BMW or Infiniti - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Scott - July 27 - 12:16 am

  I like the new C class design its gorgeous. Nice car but not as much fun as the BMW, Lexus IS 350, Audi A4 or Infiniti G37 coupe. I was disappointed by the slow performance for a V6 with 268HP it felt very slow. Seats not that comfortable either. At least MB got the design right now they have to add more power and torque like BMW and Infiniti and Lexus. These all have over 300HP engines and are much quicker and more sporty than MB C350. But the MB has the best looks and styling so if you want looks and status the new C class is tough to beat. If you want sports luxury get a BMW, Lexus or Infiniti.

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  Is this a German or American built car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Cssml500 - July 24 - 10:00 am

  When i took it for a test drive before buying was very impressed with the power and handeling. But after about a month since i bought it, started hearing squeaky sounds from the back. Cant even pinpoint where they are coming. It sounds like the hatch is going to fall of every time i hit a bump. I am embarrsed to let others drive with me and when i do, i try and put the music up to drown out the squeaks and rattles. It has just about 1800 miles. Cant imagine what it would be after few more thousand miles... If i could do it agian would have waited for the X5

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  jsm review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By jorgen - July 24 - 10:00 am

  Do not know reliability or depreciation on this car yet

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  Panzer - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ME - July 17 - 6:36 pm

  The CDI has become r fave car vs 300 hp CLK V8 coupe and ML SUV Roomy, comfortable almost 2 ton panzer should be safer in collision as mass & room inside to decelerate vitals before contacting int. surfaces. Get heated seats - great for sore back & xenons really lite your way. Trip computer reads 32.0 mpg 4 the last 16457 miles! I never reset it, but they do reset at the various required MB services (battery disconnected?) Torque is incredible, this is a 5 sp auto with inline 6 turbo, a bit of lag, but u get used to it. If you are looking for a diesel for your own homemade biofuel, get inline 6 as unlike the new V6 diesel (2007 and up) the MB mech says inline can run on it with mods. Has been very reliable

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  Super car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Marge Grimm - July 15 - 7:40 pm

  Reliable, very comfortable and a lot of engine performance.

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  1999 E320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Computer51 - July 12 - 2:00 am

  Best car Ive owned. Reliable, great looking, good handling. Could be a little better in performance area. Like the ride and comfort features. Really havent had any trouble with this car since I bought it. Would definately buy another one, this time the V8 model (E500)

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  M-Class Poor Reliability - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By smitty2 - July 6 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle looks reasonbly good, handles well, gets good fuel mileage, rides well, but is not reliable. Requires frequent service.

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  Best car I ever had - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By caygirl - July 5 - 2:20 pm

  I have had the BMW X5, and 325Ci and the Porsche Cayenne, and this is the best car I have had by far. It is practical, comfortable, and well appointed. My husband has the Mercedes S class and is happy to get in and drive it with our two kids in the back and nanny or other passenger in the third row. Everyone is happy and comfy. I strongly recommend this car if you need seating for more than 4. Fast too. Caveat: Parktronic is a must!