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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  My Problems- Disappointments - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By purple1447 - July 10 - 6:30 am

  Just to share my story. I purchased a ML350 SUV in 2013. Nice looking vehicle and I was ready to enjoy. Well, here is what happened. First, I had a problem with the drivers seat. They fixed that after two tries. I did hate to complain, but the vehicle cost a lot of money. Second problem. I have a noise somewhere near the steering wheel and tires. It sound like a screw was loose and the vehicle could come apart, or at least the front part. I took the vehicle in, the man said it was ok. NO. NO. I went back a week later and they kept it for 12 days. They say it was a coupling near the steering whell and the bushing. Well, they fixed that too. Still, the problem is not completely fixed.

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  First SL - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By ec - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Modern look with classy lines. This 50th anniversary edition is true to the 1954 300SL in looks but a little light on performance. This car should be faster. Also, light knocking on acceleration is annoying. New 7 speed transmission is very smooth. Handling with 18 inch wheels is superb. Steering is a bit heavy at slow speeds and you can tell this is a heavy car. But at highway speeds, its a dream. If you have the money, this is the hardtop convertible to get.

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  Not what I was expecting - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jac - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Lots of electrical and electronic problems. Everytime the dealership repaired one problem they seemed to create (2). Example on 3rd attempt to get auto-up feature on window to stop dropping the window down, they pulled the door panel and found corrosion.Replaced window parts. Obviously the lost power to vital areas and scrambled all the memory features, mirror controls,etc. Back to the dealership for another week. Replaced windshield and damaged exterior and interior trim pieces. So many problems I dont remember them all.

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  the best choice - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By johnmb - July 3 - 8:47 am

  For a pre-owned SUV, there is probably no vehicle available for the money that provides the overall features including impressive fuel economy, style and useful utility. This 2007 includes all of todays competitor’s features that I wanted including Blue tooth, Navigation, Satellite and I-pod integration. It simply can’t be beat. Overall handling is great, it’s very smooth and quiet however the engine doesn’t have the ‘snap’ off the line that would make it superb. I don’t have much positive to say about the stalk style gear selector. It’s odd at best and in my opinion further compromises any sport feel to the interior working the controls. Also, you have to get used to putting it into Park with the only assurance being the ‘bing’ sound rather than any true visual reassurance that a shift lever shows. All in all, it’s a great car for a great value delivering a combination of desirable qualities.

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  Im Happy - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Doc1 - July 3 - 7:23 am

  Ive owned the following , LS400, (2) Q45s Qx4, 528e, Caddys and Lincolns. This my 7th S class Im very happy . it gets plenty of looks and so far in 8 months I put 15k miles on the car. Now Im starting to see little expensive things like transmission seals, control arms, and when we very cold days like below 28 degrees the pump for the suspension stop working.luv the sound system, but it sways a little at high speeds. Ive never driven any other car @ 130 mph. Gas mileage stinks in the city. Nevertheless I plan to buy another one when I can.

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  1st time - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By WE-R-1 - June 27 - 8:03 am

  An outstanding auto on the open road. Eye catching vehicle with a smooth and quiet ride, handles well, plenty of cabin room. Been in shop 4 times for power assist problems with trunk (on last trip, power assist doors went on blink as well). Scheduling another appointment- this time trunk will only open with valet key. Noisy front seats remedied after 3rd try with replacement of plastic seat guides. Cup holder design poor. Navigation system- too many key strokes and street info on CD is paltry. Still love the vehicle, but frustrated by the mutiple vists to repair items that I would not expect on a vehicle with less than 32000 miles- let alone a MB.

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  Its a truck - not a luxury SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By j.edwards - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle in spite of your review. I wanted a stiff rding, ruggedly built, durable vehicle with a military heritage. You may nit-pick, but its still an S-class interior. It cant go out of style because it never was in style. It will out climb an H-1 and do 130 on the road. Try that with any other SUV on the market. Yeah, youll be laughing in years to come, but it will be at yourselves for identifying this thing as a luxury SUV.

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  Squeak, Rattle and Buzz! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bummah - June 24 - 11:16 pm

  Squeaks, rattles, and buzzes like a 30 yr old Blazer. Surprisingly poor build quality and blatant cheapness in materials. At idle the fuel pump rattles and thumps so bad it makes the car sound like a diesel. Not like the old school MBZ!

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  Fun for the price tag - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By yongra - June 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my first MB. I had a great deal that I could not pass up. Now, after about a month. I dont regret it. I love the car. Handles well in corners, performance is above average. The supercharged engine really helps. When I need pick-up, it is there.

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  Could have better intial quality - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By axion - June 24 - 10:00 am

  Had to replace - gas tank (over spill) - Driver side seat belt (clicking noise) Rattling noise from center console.