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:

• 

  Welcome Improvements - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By SHG - June 16 - 2:40 pm

  Marked improvements in power, performance, fit and finish, and driving characteristics compared to my previously owned 2001 S600. Rear seat passengers enjoy the leg room and the creature comforts, massaging seats, side and rear window screens, and easy access.

• 

  The Essence of Bland Styling - 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Russ - June 16 - 12:03 pm

  This car is amazing in every single category except styling, both in and out. Buttery-Smooth Ride, Excellent Materials and Build, Long Cruising Range (Important for all the interstate driving I do), long list of safety equipment, luxurious cabin and ugly looks in and out. Simply the ugliest vehicle to ever lay eyes on in the world. I would have jumped on the 7-Series in an instant if not for the firm ride, and the A8 lacked the AMG Power I needed. I almost downgraded to a Ford Taurus SHO because of the looks.

• 

  cl500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By peter coury - June 16 - 2:00 am

  gorgeous, comfortable car with a few bad design features. there should be a cd player/disc changer in the dash, the automatic sealing windows have failed twice and needed repair. This is only a good ides if it works. At this price all features (multi-contour seats, distronic cruise control. etc,,,)should be standard. Stunning looks, fat comfort, love the keyless go although it could react a bit faster. Love the java interior with light wood. Overall Im lucky to own it.

• 

  every bit a benz - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By tjp441 - June 16 - 2:00 am

  great car , handles great , rides smooth with the right tires . and has classic lines , still a head turner after 5 years .feels like a tank but still very nimble . great on the highway

• 

  E500 - 5 yrs later - Id buy another - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SB from GA - June 13 - 8:30 am

  Bought the car new 5 years ago and now have 40k miles. Two minor problems fixed under warranty. What is amazing is the combination of performance, comfort and fuel economy. Highway is an easy 27mpg at 75 to 80 mph and yes, its the 500. Around town is 18mpg. So why the gas guzzler tax? Very comfortable and still looks virtually new. Main annoyance is noise from a pump for the brake system. Aside from that, quiet and dependable. Radio and in-dash CD player work and sound great, although the layout of the radio is a bit quirky at first.

• 

  The Best Used Car You Can Purchase - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By everettbarnes - June 13 - 8:20 am

  Bought this car used for 13.5K in 2010 with 60K miles. Surprisingly at this price point in 2010 other cars of different brands did not come equipped with side airbags (Chevy, Ford, etc.) excluding BMW which was more expensive and Asian cars which I wouldnt touch for fear of build quality. Even though this car is the entry level model of Mercedes build quality is unreal. When you shut the doors you feel like you are in a concert hall. Very good audio, hardly any rattles, incredibly solid and heavy door feel and overall what you expect from true German engineering. Next comes the drive.. Oh My Gosh. The supercharger kicks in at very low RPMs and the steering is tight and precise.

• 

  second time is even better - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lennyb - June 11 - 7:06 pm

  had a 2001 c240 but with awd this makes the car even better.

• 

  bestcarever - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By zaystev - June 11 - 10:00 am

  mercedes benz has been the best for years, mercedes benz is the best currently, always will be the best. ever since the 80s SEC coupes, amg has built the best translation of a modern muscle car. 130k is alot, but how else can you rocket 2 tons to 60mph in under 5 seconds? ricers beware, never step to the lord of the autobahn.

• 

  Smooth & Reliable - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By James Rice - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I traded A Rolls-Royce Silver Spur for this car, and it is better in every way with one exception: there are too many of them in Southern California! I am surprized to have an $82,000 anonymous car. That said, its a fabulous car and totally smooth and reliable. Its a great long distance cruiser and eats up the freeway miles. I have been to the dealer once for an oil change. The customer service that comes from the dealer is as excellent as the car itself.

• 

  Disappointed - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By EMD - June 11 - 10:00 am

  After driving a 2000 wagon for 4 years and loving it I ordered a "new" 2004 wagon only to find the interior passenger room much smaller,the second row of seats are not as roomy, knee room tighter,the headroom seems to be lower, the 3rd row jump seat lost 5 inches head room due to the spare under the seat. I did not accept the car. I have been driving a Mercedes for over 40 years.