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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  1998 C-280 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MDA - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car. Well built, reliable and overall solid performer for its class.

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  Excellent Luxury Sedan, a Classic! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By EOwner - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Rock solid car. Own a 1999 ML 320 also - what a difference. The M Class was in the shop every other month. This car has never been back yet. Ride, fuel economy, handling, are superb. 4Matic is worth the cost, even for a southern climate. Grips the road in rain or snow. Last year produced in this Model Series - W-210, hence many previous issues resolved (would not recommend any first or second year MB model). Glad I purchased this E-class- safe, superb, sleek - will keep it for years.

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  Love my Benz - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ittizzi - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Benz for over a year now and what a car! I had a few problems when I bought it but the dealership (RAB Motors, San Rafael) handled it hassle free! It has been dependable (more dependable than my friends BMWs) and fun to drive. The car has no blind spots, great turning radius and more power than I really need (I clocked 120 mph driving to LA). I would recommend Mercedes to anyone who wants their car to take care of them. This was my first and Ill never buy another make of car except Mercedes.

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  The 2nd Benz - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By CityBoy3 - August 10 - 2:00 am

  This CLK is the best one Ive ever driven, even though its my sisters she lets me drive it alot I love the way it hanldes the curves and I love flying through the corners, this make me wanna trade in my 1995 500SL. This CLK has a 302hp- V8 and I just love how it purs, anyone who says they dont like it doesnt know luxury.

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  Underappreciated Sports Sedan - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Quantum_Mechanic - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I find this is a nimble, solid, and fairly spirited sports sedan - not a position all of the automotive press takes on the C series. In fact when test driviung it seemed as good, albeit less powerful, than my brothers (much more expensive)02 BMW 330i. But I did find a review (Motor Trend?) where the reviewers liked the driving dynamics of the C-230 better that the well-liked Acura TSX. That made sense to me. I liked the 04s low and wide stance and was able to get an irresistable deal on a 6-spd. Its a great driver, but Ive only had it a few days so I cant comment on its reliability.

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  2001 ML55 AMG-- Silver rocket! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Daniel N. - August 9 - 9:20 am

  My wife and I had a 1998 E430 sport, great car, but decided to go with an SUV. It was either a Range Rover or a Benz. The Rover was a little out of our price range, so we went with the ML 55. If we were going to get an ML, I wanted the fast one. Gas mileage is about 18mpg, not great, but this is a very fun and cool SUV, not to mention it will spank every Rover Ive seen. Fast, fun to drive, and I got slotted and cross drilled rotors and brake pads off ebay for $345 and only spent two hours doing them myself! No weak brakes on this ML! Will buy another when it gets 90k miles on it. Bought it with 52k miles and no regrets. Great SUV!

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  Best in Class - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BombayMan - August 8 - 10:00 am

  Have driven BMW 3 series and Audi A4 and this one is class apart. And Im not even counting the heads it turns...

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  Luxury Ride - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gretchan - August 7 - 7:13 am

  This car is like riding on a cloud. The ride is very smooth and luxurious. It is easy to drive and easy to maneuver. I average between 26-28 MPG on the highway. If you are looking for luxury, look no further than the Mercedes C280. I also recommend getting the 4-matic. It is great in the snow.

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  C280 Still at the head of its Class - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - August 6 - 5:23 pm

  From day 1, this car has been fun to drive, is great on long trips, and its fuel efficiency is surprising. Ample back seat room and good traction continually remind me that purchasing this vehicle was a smart move!

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  Great New Engine ! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bill - August 6 - 6:16 am

  Im no stranger to performance cars,but i must say this new E 320 blutec is more fun to drive than my 06 911. The rush of power and creamy smooth ride low noise decibels, getting almost 40MPG! I was going for a S550 and test drove this E blutec and WOW.