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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  Exceeds expectations - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dave Roberts - August 29 - 9:16 am

  I have previously owned BMW ILs and decided to cross the street to Mercedes.The vehicle may not be as tight around the corners but it has a much better ride, the controls are easy to understand, and both the interior and exterior are flawless. I am looking forward to the winter months for a change with the AWD! It even has a compass!

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  Luxury Car Experienced Owner - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ana - August 28 - 4:53 pm

  This was my second MB (C320 first), after owning 4 BMWs (740, 328, M3, 325), 1 Lexus (GS), and a RRover. Ive always loved BMWs because they are fun to drive, but this MB has the cornering, performance and stability I loved in my BMWs plus the gorgeous design, interior comfort and luxury that BMW has been sorely lacking. The car is spacious, both in length and width. The commands are well positioned (seat adjust. on doors) and there are plenty of compartments. Fuel efficiency is fairly superior to an engine of its size. As a woman driver, this car provides m invaluable safety peace of mind; if breakdown occurs, unlimited roadside assistance is a push of a button away.

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  Wonderful Car! - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SweetLew - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought my E420 on December 26, 2002 with 18,106 miles on it. I have had NO Trouble Whatsoever. Everything works and works well. The car was like new inside and out and with 24,300 on the clock, it still is. I feel for those that got a bad one. On the other hand, I can hardly imagine a better car if you got a good one, as I did. I can hardly believe the soldity and smoothness of this machine. I would simply urge anyone in the market for one to scrutinize the car extensively BEFORE purchasing it.

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  2+ years and I still like it a lot - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Lauri Miller - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Overall Im very happy with my ML 320. Im getting good mileage, 17 mpg in the city and better on the highway if I could drive slower. The problem is the faster it goes, the smoother the ride. It almost seems to float down the highway. Problems were brakes wear out too fast, power steering fluid leaked out from a bad clamp and radio kept cutting out and took weeks to diagnose.

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  Better than my Range Rover - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By asasimone - August 28 - 3:26 am

  When I had to look for an SUV to replace my 05 Range Rover, I wanted something smaller and hopefully with a bit better fuel economy. I had already leased a BMW X5 and didnt really love it-it was very heavy and "trucky". The Lexus R was sort of cheap feeling and I believe if you buy a Lexus or Infiniti, you are paying for the badge not the quality. I thought I would miss the luxury of the Rover, but from the moment I p/u my car I have not looked back. It handles beautifully, feels more like a car, much better mileage already w/o breaking in. The only thing better on the Rover was the navigation.

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  Love it! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Oilcan - August 27 - 6:53 pm

  I have been reading comments about this vehicle for almost a year now. Finally pulled the trigger and I am very happy that I did. This SUV is fantastic! Excellent performance, great feel on the road, comfortable and fun to drive. I do not drive it everyday, so gas mileage was not as big of an issue. When I get on the road, I wanted all the power that the V-8 has to offer. 7 speed transmission is flawless. Opted for the ML500, Alabaster White exterior, Mac interior, P2, and Ipod intergration.

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  Theres nothing like owning one! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Cheryl - August 27 - 10:56 am

  This is my second C-Class. My first (2001 C240) was so phenomenal that I hesitated trading it for this one. I can honestly say that this car is an improvement over my old one! Naturally it is more powerful (almost too powerful!) and it commands your attention.

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  What A Vehicle - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By allanmwhag - August 26 - 12:48 am

  This is the best car that I have ever owned. Beautiful exterior and interior. The car can drive itself, but I much prefer to have fun driving it myself. The handling ism outstanding. Talk about the quiet inside. The only complaint that I have is the voice recognition. I have to repeat myself several times, but it may be me. Recently stopped by state trooper (not speeding) but for not displaying front license plate. I could not ruin the front grill with the plate. The car is a "head turner" and I get a lot of "thumbs-up" on the road.

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  Great ML350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Brad - August 25 - 1:53 pm

  My wife drives this car day in and day out and just loves it. Previously had a 2001 ML320, this car is a huge improvement in ride and overall quality.

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  This is an Amazing Car - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By avatar1 - August 24 - 3:23 am

  I have owned many cars over my lifetime and I have not had a car as quality crafted, as well thought out, as sensuously feeling and as nice looking as this new C300 model. I owned an S500 in 2000 and a Porsche Cayenne, so I am used to quality cars. This car is better. Its quiet (big deal to me) and its fast enough. Its not as fast as others in this price range, but its not a high priority to have super fast pick-up. The electronics are the best I have seen and I shopped for a year. My small list of complaints is that it doesnt have a place for sunglasses and the iPod contents are visible on the dash screen, not on the console screen, it should be. Test drive this car, fantastic!