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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  Good car for the price. - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By c.s. - June 7 - 8:20 pm

  A very good car. Fun to drive. Average gas mileage. Rides a bit rough. Overall a good car for the price.

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  SL500 convertible - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Frank J. Fiore - June 7 - 2:46 am

  I have owned Mercedes for over 20 years and this model has got to be the best one yet. The handling is superb, along with its sleek lines. I would recommend this car to anyone who can acquire it. This is a fun car to drive and is very dependable. Both my brothers in law have also purchsed one on my recommendation.

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  CLS- best car I have ever owned. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By smile28 - June 5 - 3:30 am

  But also the priciest. I got the AMG package with the SL65 wheels and design package. Piano black interior dash with white seats. I paid a pretty penny for this car, but love it. For the money, I could have gotten a S550 with AMG package/ panoramic roof, but this car is more exclusive and so much prettier. perhaps I should have opted for the IWC version.

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  Big, But Refined - 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By scottque - June 4 - 7:09 pm

  Ordered the 450 in February and took delivery in April, convenience 2 and heavily optioned but skipped the off-road stuff, automatic cruise, panoramic roof, and lane-assist. Would have ordered the diesel but dealers steered me clear given biodiesel content in Illinois - no complaints with the V-8; sounds great. This is not, however, a car that cries to be driven fast - big (which is why I bought it), heavy vehicle. Awesome for interstate cruising or tooling around town. Very quiet; smooth ride, although I hate the numb electronic steering. Great styling inside and out. Command system works fine for me, extremely comfortable, lots of convenience features. As good as advertised.

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  C Coupe after a year - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By The Phoenix - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I waited a year before writing a review. Purchased the C Coupe over BMW 3 and Acura CL. Car came loaded except for navigation system. 18,000 miles later, it is still a lot of fun. Extremely solid for a small car. Performance is wonderfully tight. I love the gas milage (18K per year adds up). The supercharged engine is provides more than sufficient power while saving MPG. The steering wheel controls are very convienient. Plenty of cargo room. I fit 2 patio chairs and a table in the hatch. The Bose stereo is a must. It can handle a Doors CD turned up to an 11. A great coupe for the price point.

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  My Baby Got Back - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By TMac - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Was pretty sceptical about buying this baby at first, but I just couldnt pass off on owning a benz at such a low-low price.

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  One of the Best - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kesean70 - June 4 - 2:46 am

  I must say this one of the best cars I have driven in awhile. Ive had several cars over the years and this one is in the top 3 that Ive owned.

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  Superlative car but real mileage is poor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By mstrebe - June 3 - 10:20 pm

  The CLK500 cabrio is a fantastic car. No compromises with this car--it doesnt even really need four doors because you can drop to top with the keyfob so backseat passengers can comfortably enter standing up. I use it to get my kids and their carseats in more easily than seating them in our SUV. Performance is fantastic. 0-60 in under 6. Ive done 135 in it and theres litterally no difference in handling between that and 65. Braking is astonishingly short. Great car for family guys who want a sports car or tall people--drivers up to 67". One warning though: The real mileage youll get in this car is about 16.5 mpg.

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  Back in a Benz - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By abofla1 - June 3 - 7:53 am

  After leaving the silver star in 2007, I went to a BMW 528I and then a Cadillac SRX. I have owned and leased 5 Mercedes since 1997 and I missed not just the brand but the service from the dealership. My 2011 C300 Sport Sedan is fun to drive, comfortable and quite good on gas averaging about 27 on the highway. Ive had it 3 weeks and after comparing it to a few vehicles like the BMW,Lexus, Infiniti and Cadillac, I decided to go back to Mercedes. The japanese manufacturers offer a little more bang for your buck, but I have all the features that I need in the P1 package. Its sharp,nimble and so far, an all around great vehicle.

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  BENZIE 210 - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dalworth55cars - June 1 - 11:33 pm

  I really enjoy this superb and silky smooth car. All aspects of the car has been positive. The car handles nicely and feels quite substancial. My only complaints are typical to many other Benzs of similar years both earlier and later. This car turns heads and is deserving of all the attention that it recieves. Mercedes really stepped up the look on the car. To date this is the best looking E-Class. The 2003 chassis doesnt look as beefy, beefy looks good for a mans car. The 1996 is a heavy and stiff car. This tank is built for the road and it superbly holds the road in all weather conditions. This is close to car heaven. That is so far.