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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  WE WOULD LIKE IT OUR WAY - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By ntfire - November 18 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO NEED 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I AM OFF PAVEMENT AT LEAST 20%. 10% WITH DIFFERENTAILS LOCKED. THE CAR IS THE GOLD STANDARD OF SOLID, A PRICE TO PAY FOR THIS, WEIGHT. VEHICLE PROFILE IS UNITILITARIAN. LOTS OF DRAG IN HI SPEED. MBENZ OFFERS MANY MORE OPTIONS TO THEIR EU CUSTOMERS THAN USA, I AM NOT GETTING WHAT I REALLY WANT. LESS THAN 25% OF THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE IN EU ARE AVAILABLE IN USA. I OWN AN EU MODEL .I KNOW IN EUROPE A IT IS STILL QUITE A CAR. ONE DAY THEY WILL OFFER THE US THE CARS THE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE . THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OPINE.

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  My Last Mercedes - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By VWRattletrap - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This was the car that turned a certified car nut like myself into someone who just wants cheap transportation. I bought this car new and in the first year had over $10K of warranty work . . . I finally sold it after 12 months and bought a Volkswagen! A partial list: engine torn down to replace timing chains due to constant whine, transmission slip shifting, rattles, radio not connected at the factory, temperature sensor intermittent, damaged paint, and finally, the total arrogance of the factory zone reps!

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  2004 Mercedes Benz 230 Kompressor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rosemary Patrick - November 18 - 10:00 am

  The car is very nice and stylish. It is fun to drive with excellent handling. I would recommend. I didnt get full leather as the option was expensive, but the car comes with leather inserts so I dont think you can tell the difference. The black car is beautiful.

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  What they didnt tell me - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Eddie Huggins - November 17 - 2:56 am

  Car provides a good ride. The interior is comfortable but was not told that when it rains water get inside the car because there is no run-off or drainage system. After each rain, I must take a cloth and wipe the running board and the area under the doors and the sides, inside the car. $50K is a lot of money to spend for one to have to wipe the water out of the inside of the car each time it rains. When questioned was told "it is a design flaw" caused by the way the windows open and then close to seal for air tightness. Didnt they know about the "flaw"?

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  Very disappointed - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Vicki - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my first Benz and positively my last. The SUV in general was pretty good until a couple of months later after I purchased it (brand new) Its been a nightmare since then. Something had to be fixed every now and then,at least 3-4 times a year.When it was still under warranty,it wasnt a big deal. Then big things started breaking after the warranty expired. I can now say its a piece of junk. My 2 Lexus RX 330s and a Nissan pathfinder in the past had not been in the shop for repairs collectively as my ML was. Finally got rid of it and traded it for an Infiniti. Whew! what a relief.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Driven - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jefrazier - November 15 - 11:46 pm

  We purchased this vehicle over 3 years ago with reservations based on negative reviews from consumer reports. After purchasing and over 3 years of ownership, I can confidently say that this is the best car Ive ever owned or driven, especially for highway driving. Weve had a few issues..., new brake pads, and battery, but, overall the car has proven to be very reliable. The comfort level is like no other and Im almost certain, when the time comes, well be purchasing another one.

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  Mercedes C 220 Quirks - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bill giez - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Enjoyed the MB C-220 but the fuel guage problems, engine lights on,(Requires a new web harness),failing light bulbs, and expensive service are irritating. I do drive cars hard and at 160,000 it has held up well but the MB experience on the electrical side can be frustrating. Four cyclinder engine is good except for mountain driving.

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  Exterior design does it for ML350 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mike sab - November 8 - 1:46 pm

  Hands down rides much nicer than BMW X5. Needs leather standard on a vehicle of this caliber. Brakes are a little mushy if I had to complain at all.

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  Great Service - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Spendy - November 5 - 2:00 am

  The service at Bob Kings Autohaus has been SUPERIOR, lucky because I take it in on a regular basis for one thing or another. The computer chip/remote key went haywire after 2 1/2 years; the door handle had to be replaced; and Ive had to buy new tires twice already. I think I better dump it before the warranty runs out!

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  2004 CLK 500 Cabriolet - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By clontz - October 31 - 10:00 am

  The most fun, responsive car Ive driven. Have had no problems with vehicle since purchase. Only problem, it has only one small, short cup holder up front, otherwise, I love it!