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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  R350 2007 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By John - July 3 - 1:03 am

  The automobile is a fine ride overall. The BlueTooth ranks with BMWs. It works great, not like Acuras that frequently disconnected mid-sentence. Sleek look and well designed cabin.

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  Not buying MB again any time soon - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Stew L - July 2 - 7:03 am

  We have 2000 E430 and have about 60,000 miles on it. So far, we had to spend over $9,000 on repairs ranging from A/C to differential leaks! It is a well designed and good looking car but the MBs quality is sub-par. Unless MB improves the quality, we wont be touching another MB for a long long time.

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  Get a good Pre-Purchase inspection - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By pjo - June 23 - 10:00 am

  Excellent gas mileage for a car this large (an honest 28mpg plus on the road). Good power, quiet, Only had one problem so far; a stuck relay kept the smog pump on after I shut off the engine which burned up the pump. A $1000 repair that wasnt necessary. Bad design here--- Overall i you get a good one, I think its an excellent second choice for a family. Its a better used buy then a C class. I wouldnt use it as a daily driver, though. Also, get a good, honest independent mechanic. These cars will send you to the poorhouse quick if youre not careful.

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  Poor reliability - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By qualitypro - June 19 - 3:53 pm

  After owning a CLK-350 for 2 months, my average maintenance is $600 per month. Two manufacturing defects, beyond the warranty cost $600 each to fix. A noise from the A/C compressor clutch (bracket?) was repaited,Secondlt, a month later, the Tire Pressure warning came on. I reprressurized 4 times. Rgen the dash indicator turned red for tires. Next the dash said SRS malfunction. The dealer says wiring under the sets is defecrive and seats need to be removed, etc. This follows an experience with a 320E which was disastrous, window falling, etc. Last Mercedes.

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  My best SUV - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By felipe rodriges - June 19 - 2:00 am

  My best suv i ever had was the mercedes benz m-class. Exellent performance and fun to drive. Very powerful V6 3.7 liters fills like V8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Good Car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bill - June 13 - 9:10 pm

  Not looking for MB, but wife convinced me to test one. I was hooked! Drove and handled nicely, quiet, and plenty of power with decent mileage (24-25 mpg). Would have liked better acceleration and responsiveness when I push the peddle down, but still good for a V-6 and relatively heavy car. I have about 150,000 miles on it and it still runs and handles great. I have not put much money into repairs other than basic stuff. Harmonic balancer went bad, but MB fixed it under a recall (no cost to me). Complaints are wiper motor going bad, interior wearing out, LCD display/dash lights going out, and the body is beginning to rust around the wheel wells and sun roof. I would by a MB again!

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  This is a Great SUV-It is NOT an E-Class! - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jcollum68 - June 13 - 7:16 pm

  Leased this vehicle for my wife. I drive a BMW 550i which I much prefer. I always laugh reading other reviews on here and people complain it isnt sporty. It is an SUV, of course it is not sporty! The ride is phenominal and at 80 mph you can whisper to someone in the backseat. Great fuel economy, my wife only drives around town and gets 21 mpg! Good acceleration, just no low end torque, but come on, it is way fast enough for 99.9% of the people buying it. Fit and finish is amazing, nice materials. One year later, my wife still cant figure out the Navigation, so is it confusing or is it her (hmm). Steering is too light for my tastes. Overall, a great vehicle-it is what it is!

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  Cool but unreliable ride - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Joe Huflin - June 13 - 4:53 pm

  This car has all you would expect for its money, and then the roof rattles some, the tire pressure monitors keep tripping and failing, the battery is flat after a 2 week business trip. Should not happen for this kind of money. No space for a cell phone, cupholders are a joke, and you forget all that when you hit the throttle and slide over the freeways, but then it all comes back at a traffice light. Great ride, classy car, but I am cured for life trying to put money on the table to buy such a set of wheels new, ever. I am soar but still OK, will enjoy it a few months more, but never buy this car new. What a shame for a handmade Mercedes, I lost a lot of faith in MB.

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  Go baby - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By barry zeldes - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Had a few problems at first. The car was designed over the heads of the people who fix them. But when it was fixed. Its a really great car. I have owned 60 cars in my 53 years on earth and they did a good job the only one I would rather have is a sl 55

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  Great Fun - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Welshy - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Great fun to drive, six speed gears are very close in ratio, sticks to corners like glue, looks good and turns heads.