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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  NIce car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bill - June 8 - 1:23 am

  I had a 2003 E500 which seemed quicker than this car, I think for the money it should have more hp

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  Like no other - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By My Retirement Gift - June 7 - 8:16 pm

  I purchased this automobile as a retirement gift to myself as my old truck had finally croaked. Everything about this vehicle is a delight to own, handle and drive. From dealer servicing regardless of where I have managed to land to quality of repairs and frequency of service. Its comfortable on long rides, its quiet its fun. I would really purchase no other car given a choice.

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  E320 CDI Rocks - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By John - June 6 - 5:53 am

  Have owned BWM, Volkswagen, and Volvo vehicles. This MB is by far the best in terms of build qulity, ride, and engineering. This is my first diesel, so Im hoping for a huge improvement over my current SUV (16 mpg). The design is timeless and the car feels like it will go hundreds of thousands of miles.

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  Perfectly Balanced Sport Sedan - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Christina M - June 6 - 12:53 am

  This car by far outruns the other vehicles in its class. The horsepower that lacks in the beginning compensates at the end. The interior is classy and elegant, while the exterior is sporty and eye-catching. The gas mileage is the best you can get for the type of vehicle it is. Im overall very impressed with my car, and even though I leased it with the intent to trade it in for another Mercedes, I just might buy this at the end of my lease, its too good to be true.

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  Nice car, bad service = bad experience - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jeff - June 5 - 11:30 pm

  I have had my ML 350 for 6 months. In that time it has been in for service 5 times. When the car is not in the shop, it is a pleasure to drive, even in the 6 months of snow here in Alaska. If you are going to spend the money, make sure your dealership understands what "customer service" is. I failed to do so and now find myself wishing I had taken my money elsewhere.

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  Worst Car EVER - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fpc911 - June 5 - 5:23 pm

  Purchased this car new in March 2010. C300 sport 4matic non-NAV. I must admit I did not do my research before buying, and purchased the car because I have always wanted a new Mercedes. What a mistake. Car looks awesome sitting still. Very well built. WHAT IS WRONG: 1) the turn signal is about 4 inches lower than any other car. Cruise control stalk is where the turn signal stalk SHOULD BE. Also, you cant see the wiper control without stuffing your head under/behind the steering wheel to take a look. 2) the radio controls are useless. there is a cool dial on the center console but it sucks. 4 different ways to change the radio station.. and if the stupid looking visor

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  Happy but dissapointed - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By douglas - June 4 - 8:03 pm

  Its a great car, I love the look of it from the front and when I got inside and test drove I fell in love and I got a great deal. First brand new car I purchased and am glad I did. So I have owned mine now for 4 years and its still drives like a brand new car .

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  Best Car I Ever Won! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Prowlerdog - June 3 - 4:13 pm

  I won this car in a casino drawing in Laughlin, Nevada in December of 2005. The car was "new" (but already 2 model years old) but did have about 800 miles on it. I have really enjoyed this great surprise "gift" and drive it mostly on trips from my home in Bullhead City, AZ to Vegas, Southern CA and the Bay Area. Car does perform GREAT on the highway. with 28-31 MPG. City MPG 21-25. Supercharger is awesome for passing. City performance a bit sluggish. Interior pretty comfy, but I could see it would be a bit cramped for very large or tall people. Exterior styling on this model is beautiful and classic. Very few minor problems so far so I am quite pleased. Worth every penny I paid!

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  What a car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dave J - June 3 - 1:13 pm

  Just purchased a CPO Bluetec with 24K. Dealer experience was excellent. In two weeks have put on two thousand miles of primarily highway driving between 70 - 76 mph. Average MPG is slightly over 35. Systems are A-1; everything is intuitive. Extremely comfortable and supportive seats in MB Tex. Will check back in after first D service in 8 K miles.

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  Best car ever - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By bigbobtxs - June 2 - 8:43 am

  I previously owned a 2000 ML class, its the worst car i think i have ever had. But i decided to give Mercedes another shot. I bought this new GLK class being a little hesitant at first, criticizing every little flaw. I ended up buying it and I dont regret it one bit. Best car i have driven in ages.