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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  A Tiger on the Road - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sgbmedia - March 22 - 2:28 pm

  I bought my 2005 C230K at 67,000 mi for $13,000 three years ago and just turned 165,000 mi and am very pleased with it. I drive between Phoenix, Los Angeles and Las Vegas weekly and it has really never let me down. Plenty of kick from the supercharged 1.8L 4 cyl engine and the slap shift auto trans is great although it tends to over rev when putting it through extreme shifts at 70mph+.

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  Not worth the extra cost of owning a BluTech - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By solarwinds - March 19 - 2:09 pm

  I have owned 3 MB diesel sedans and they were great fast efficient low maintenance bullet proof especially the 1998 E300 a rocket and 29 mpg ave :) MB with the help of the EPA has put the diesel line up in MB a liability to dive not a durable 500K mile car... For one you have to purchase 35.00 a BluTech fluid every oil change... at 7 gallons a pop... Perhaps you could put any DEF from a chain store at 12 a gallon... Why the need for an expensive exhaust system how much will it cost to replace? On the EClass a Diesel comes with RFT because of the blue tank. So a guy who drives say 50 to 200 miles a day must rely on RFT and have no spare... to make room for a Urea tank... S350 has a spare

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  325 Vs. 230 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ken From Cal. - March 19 - 12:16 pm

  This is my 2nd MB, the 1st 92E300. My wife owns a 00 BMW 323 since birth. And before I purchased the C230, I test drove the new 06 BMW 325. The cockpit is very ergo for my wife & I, shes 5 00" and Im 510". In Automatic mode, from the start, the take off studders, however, in manual mode, the power is in your hands and I feel a smoother acceleration. Two driving modes, "cold" & "summer". When "cold" is engage, the car feels extra stable and driving feels safe. I didnt feel this w/ the 325.

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  i love my car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By shopurgurl - March 19 - 2:00 am

  never have i wanted to NOT replace or upgrade...I LOVE this car..cant imagine what could be better besides the gas gussling

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  Its hard to beat an s class MB - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By ting - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned a number of S Class MB over a 25 yr span. As much as I love driving my current S430, I must say Im frustrated with the little things that are constantly going wrong. Loud stearing, clock issues, SRS sensors, saggy sunroof cables, etc. But everytime Im in a loaner and return to the wonderful drive and feel of the S class, Im reminded of why I keep buying them. Buy the extended warrenty!!!

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  Great Drive - Poor Electronics - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ButtonTex - March 19 - 2:00 am

  The E500 is a fun car to drive and it lives up to all the superlatives. However, the audio, phone, and electronic systems are extremely poor and unreliable. The audio system has a mind of its own, the integrated phone system spent more time in the shop than in use, and false warning indications have been common. As a result, I will never buy another MB.

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  Beautiful but a little fragile - 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By adm77450 - March 15 - 4:58 am

  Overall very pleased with the CLS. Looks to kill. Really makes a statement. However, does not handle rough roads very well especially with the AMG tire and rim package. Glad I bought the road hazard coverage.

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  Fuel System Nightmare - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By D &L - March 14 - 10:00 am

  We love this car BUT, it has had serious fuel system problems. The fuel injector pump has been replaced at 50K and 90K miles. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere when it went out at 90K. A long walk with no cell service in the area.Thank God for the 100K extended warranty we bought or we would have been out over $3K each time. Our previous diesel a 1982 240D ran over 300K miles with no problems. We wanted one of the new CDI diesels but now we are not so sure.

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  A gas guzzler, but oh its so sweet! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By fusiondave - March 13 - 10:16 pm

  Just had it for about 3 weeks now, and its so sweet to drive! The exterior styling is gorgeous & although it is a big car, it doesnt look like it. Gas mileage is averaging about 15MPG, but hey, I guess I knew what I was getting into from the getgo. The V8 engine is very quiet, and it seems to be more than adequate to be able to handle the 7000lb weight without any problem. Compared to the X5 I used to drive, its a little mushy in handling, but it still a joy. The 3rd row seat is great for my kids (the real reason for my purchase). The seats are comfortable all around, and theres plenty of interior space.

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  Its my Wifes Car...But I always want the keys! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By amickey - March 13 - 11:49 am

  As the title says I love this crossover. We bought for my wife trading up from a Camry for the MB build quality, cache, edgy looks, vast options list, performance, & impeccable safety. I, on the other hand, love the sportiness, muscular lines, AMG styling & wheels and MB build. Another importance for us was that this crossover stands out in a crowd of blobbed aero shaped vehicle that really are just miniature wannabe of their bigger brethren. Class doesnt mean following the herd.