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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  Ml 350 ??? - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By R2r - August 8 - 6:00 am

  Bought this Suv new. after 4 years with 25000 miles i replaced front and rear brake pads and rotor and 4 tires.After 6 yrs with 35000 miles need a pair of ball joints and door assembly.

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  "WOW" - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Joe - August 7 - 2:06 pm

  I purchased this car a couple of days ago. One word..."WOW." Performance was very surprising. The acceleration was great and is easy to handle. Very smooth. The sleek look for me is part of the appeal.

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  Design Problem - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Jolly Roger - August 7 - 5:06 am

  Excellent ride with better than expected fuel economy. 22Mpg @ 80/85 MPH. Problem is attempting to parallel park. There is no way to see the front end when parking, you just have to guess how close you are to anything that might be in front of you. Difficult to find a vechicle in stock with Parkatronic, unless you want a black interior.

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  Know Lemon. Every One of Them. Stay Far Away! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Scott Espenshade - August 3 - 6:41 pm

  Mercedes is well aware of all the ABC failures on their SL500s & SL550s, but are still allowed to sell them in the United States. There is a VERY dangerous problem if you are driving at the time of the failure. Imagine a shock suddenly coming off a vehicle at 65 MPH?!? Not imagine that EACH AND EVERYONE of the vehicle sold that year fail. 100% FAIL. Sound like a class action lawsuit? You would think so, but some how Mercedes Benz is able to still push lemons out the door. This is not just plain greed, it is a complete lack of value for human life! I have completely lost all respect for Mercedes Benz.

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  wraps you in luxury and safety - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dennis Bielski - August 3 - 4:02 pm

  ride, fit, finish, is great!!! Cost of general mantenance is high, but a necessary evil . Dealership reps. sales, ect are very personable and answer all questions

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  Jackrabbit Mercedes Coupe - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MJ - August 3 - 12:50 am

  Has multiple features found on more expensive models. Large sliding roof is unique. Kompressor (supercharger) make 189 HP seem like 300 when it kicks in. A wonderful small hatchback. Sad that MB discontinued the model for 2006.

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  No Luxury Car! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Elizabeth - August 2 - 12:06 pm

  This was my first MB purchase, and I bought it for the "reliability" and craftsmanship - HA! At 26K, needed to replace all 4 tires (get rid of Dunlop!), had leaking rear differential and the low-range light kept flashing. At 52k, entire front end had to be rebuilt (just off warranty, thank you very much), needed new front brake rotors and brake pads all around, front headlight "leaking". At 72K, had to replace radiator (cracked extrusion joint), and rear differential again had to be fixed. I cant wait to get rid of this crappy car.

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  Take the family in style - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dan flynn - August 2 - 2:36 am

  My E350 wagon was just broken in and it is such a smooth and refined family vehicle. The suspension is stiff, however the ride remains composed and luxurious. The car handles so well you forget the car weighs over 4000 lbs and it is actually fun to drive for a station wagon. Its not fast, however it has plenty of power for easy around town and highway driving. The drivers seat is so comfortable and piloting this Benz is truly a pleasure and a big step up from my previous Audi A6 Avant. It also gets decent 25 mpg while crusing at about 75-80 mph.(much better than EPAs 21 mpg estimate)

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  The best car Ive ever had - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Loniese Lee - August 1 - 7:30 am

  I have been so iumpressed with my C280. Its fun to drive, it handles well in the rain and snow because it has the traction control. The seating maybe a little cramped but you still can ride 4 adults in comfort. The trunk space is exceptional for a small car because the backseats fold down to give more room.

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  07 CLK 550 Convertible - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By LES - July 29 - 1:13 pm

  I am amazed at the acceleration of the new CLK 550. The overall fit and finish is truly outstanding. The top goes down within 20 seconds and the sound proofing when it is up is very quiet. This is my first MB, I have been driving Audis for the past six years, including the 4.2 A6. The acceleration of the MB leaves the Audi in the dust. I look for any excuse to take the car out for a spin. It has been an awesome driving experince.