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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  Silver Monster - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By jeld - May 23 - 1:00 am

  We love our silver monster, its like a bad tempered pet

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  Surprised - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ralph - May 19 - 1:53 am

  My wife fell in love with this car during the test drive. I really thought the Lexus ls460 was the car for us but this car is a lot more fun to drive. I like power so we stepped up to the e550 sports edition with the p2 package. Basically this car has almost all the same features as the ls and a lot more pop if power is your thing. I did the specs, interior room is only slightly less than the larger luxury sedans, except for trunk space. Before you buy,check this one out, you might be pleasantly surprised. Oh, one more thing that really sold us was Mercedes reputation and attention to safety features, eleven air bags. maybe some others cars have it but they certainly dont advertise it.

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  RClass gets the nod from this bimmerfile - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By DRW - May 13 - 11:10 pm

  My wife and I love our X5 but with two kids (3 and 4)we were busting at the seams. We drove a Honda minivan first and then the R350 on a whim -- in our view, the R offers 85% of minivan functionality but feels 250% more refined. So, we snaped one up on an manufacturer subsidized lease, (monthly pmts less than a Honda!) and immediately packed up the family for a trip to the NC mountains where we drove 40 miles up and down hills with switchbacks that would have made me sweat even in my BMW 330i. The R inspired confidence and never lost composure even when late braking on decreasing radius turns going down a steep grade! To me, this represents a level of active safety that few can match.

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  This is not your parents car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steven Kendrick - May 11 - 10:00 am

  When this car is in warranty, everybody smiles and loves you. When this car is out of warranty, you find out the previous smiles were the after the laughs. This car had issues under warranty and the dealer was happy to fix them and get you on your way. The NAv/Radio started to go but since it had not passed the point of no return, they would not replace it. I could tell other things started to go before the car got out of warranty and it was not until I crossed that warranty mileage marker all hell broke loose. At that point, Murphys Law took affect. The good side: the car drove like a dream, in the daylight. Go rent the movie "It Takes Two" (1988) when the guy builds his dream car.

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  CDI is way to go - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By losarkos - May 9 - 3:56 am

  The CDI at 34 mpg on my last 3600 mile road trip cant be beat. I do miss a middle armrest but the distronic seats make up for it. The car is fast. I do find the Harmon Kardon radio a tad less bass capable than I like

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  Mercedes ML after one year - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By David - May 9 - 12:56 am

  The ML 350 compares favorably with my old BMW X5 in comfort and design with the following exceptions: Not as sporty a ride as the X5. BMWs just drive more like sporting cars to me than Mercedes. Lack of low-end acceleration. The X5 and ML that I had are both 6-cyl models. I havent compared acceleration times but the Merc doesnt seem as quick. The new 6-sp transmission on the ML has a whine to it that can be annoying. The radio controls embedded within the nav screen on the ML are not intuitive. Poor positioning of the cruise control stalk. Ill be happy with the ML but not as happy as w/the X5. Cant wait for the reported development of the BMW X6!

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  Four-years this month - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Oxford15 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  My wife (principle driver) loves this car; Im less enthused, but its been much more reliable than what Consumers Report would lead one to believe. Other than regular maintenance and recalls, weve had: replace the cassette deck; adjustment of door latches x2; front brake pad replacement (27K); drivers power window switch replaced. Could be better for a car at 40K miles; but could have been a lot worse.

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  Good But Not Great - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Reasonable Man - May 7 - 2:00 am

  S500 Sport. Forearms will grow because it takes real strength to guide car thru turns at low end. Best enjoyed at over 60 mph. Awesome acceleration at high end. Beautiful but uninspiring driver around town. Needs to be quicker. Plush interior, cavernous backseat. Nav system is not intuitive. Average sound system.

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  Quietest Diesel Yet! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Diesel Lover - May 6 - 12:43 pm

  The look is very similar to the Chrysler Pacifica. The diesel engine is quiet, but the 7 speed transmission can be a little slushy and stumbled changing gears during easy acceleration (needed a reprogram). Everything seems to be tied to the computer, from the radio to the taillights. Needs to be able to readily accept a trailer hitch and harness. Some of the driver controls need better ergonomics such as the seat adjustment, clock, radio. AND there are counterintuitive RED lights to indicate a climate control function is operating. Bluetooth should be standard in a car of this class. Parktronic is essential due to poor sightlines.

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  great car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By amf - May 1 - 2:00 am

  This is a fabulous car to drive. Lots of fun. Gets a lot of attention. Had a problem with the trunk latch a couple of times, but the dealer was very responsive and took care of it. Other than that, just a really fun car.