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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  Poor mans C55 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By James - May 6 - 8:46 am

  I am truely impressed by my 2006 Mercedes C350 Sport sedan. I had to wait about 2 months to get this car because at that time of release, there were no 6 speed manual available. I got mine fully loaded except for the heated front seats. Total came out to about $44,375 before taxes. For a car this size, the ride is very comfortable. The 6 speed is very easy to shift, the clutch is very soft. It is very hard to stall in this car. Acceleration is very quick. You can get to highway speeds in less than 6 seconds. The bi-xenon lights are very bright which I think are the best out there. The interior fit and finish is top notch. There are no rattles so far. The seats are very supportive.

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  Sweet Luxury - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Docmartin9 - May 5 - 8:43 pm

  The engine and transmission are fantastic. The power is smooth, ample and desceptive. The car is so quiet you dont realize how fast you are going untill you look at the speedo. The ride is smooth as silk but a bit detached. BMW550 handles way better but the interior was too plastic and cheap looking for $70K. You also have to deal with the idrive. This is luxury with muscle.

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  E500 AMG Sport - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By J. David Zubas - May 5 - 12:20 am

  This is my first Mercedes and what a delight so far. I bought the E500 with the AMG Sport package (larger tires, special alloy wheels, E55 body panels, dual exhausts extensions, etc). The sport package really sets off the looks by giving it a bit more aggressive look while improving the handling of the car. It is very smooth and powerful for a car with just over 300 HP. This is the first new car that I have owned that has not needed any oil added so far (over 8K miles) based on the electronic oil measuring system.

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  A++ Super Car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By 2000E430Sport - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I got my E430 Sport for my wife for Valentine. We had put over 6K miles on the vehicle without any issues. I love the interior and I still have heads turn as I drive for the weekend. The power of the V-8 is excellent. I wish it could respond faster in auto mode, I have to shift if I want to run a little faster hihi. The car is ROCK SOLID at 100+ MPH. Looking forward to more pleasure date with the car. Only oil is Mobil1 syntec, could be costly, but the end resolve is

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  C320 Wagon - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By FAH - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a nice treat to drive and own. It pampers and cossets you with all its gadgetry and convenience features. Drop your foot on the gas and the propulsion is downright amazing, if ESP does not intrude on your launch. The back seat has been a sore spot among friends - smaller than a 300TE by quite a bit. The engine seems more responsive than in our CLK 320, although its the same engine.

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  Perfect Ride - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kst823 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  We bought the car used from a MB Dealer in Boston, MA. After I drove the BMW 325i & 330i, I decided that comfort style & quiteness make-up for the less power. We love it.

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  Not Impressed - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Underwhelmed - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car as a present to myself. Who knew I would be so underwhelmed by the experience. Too many minor repairs in the first few months (purge valve, wind noise because stuff around door jam not secure, and rear sun shade worked only when it wanted to). These things were fixed and now Im experiencing other prblems! The back of the passenger seat fell off, the driver side door handle broke off (no unusual use!!!), and the gear shift moves when you change gears. And dont get me started about the squeaking brakes. UGH!!!!

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  I love my 2004 C230 Kompressor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Seattleguy - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd Mercedes and Im loving this one more than my 300E. From the C230s stylish looks to its quick and efficient kompressor engine, this car is a dream. Its fun to drive and it is built very safety oriented. The finish work is superb. While on vacation on Maui last week, I rented a Ford Escape. I couldnt wait to get back in my C230!

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  C 240 Review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By blazing1120 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  The car has a terrific ride, fantastic manumatic feature, pretty good amount of interior space, and Tele-aid feature leaves you almost worry free when you need assistance for your car. The interior presentation is simple but very bland for a car this price. The CD- changer should be in-dash, not in the glovebox, and the mirrors are a joke for this size of a car.

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  Teutonic Elegance.....but will it last? - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Don Levison - May 3 - 1:13 pm

  My wife and I both love the car. Although a utilitarian vehicle, we sometimes think were driving a sports car. The interior comfort, ride and handling cant be beat. Our car was described by Mercedes technicians and sales reps as "bullet proof". Mechanically, it has been, but if only they had kept the electronics simple and more reliable. The car regularly flashes inappropriate warning lights on the dash, emits "beeps" while driving with no known reason and the satellite radio has been erratic and unreliable. To check the oil level, you need to access the owners manual and go through a series of commands to reach the correct screen. Overall, a great car. We just hope it holds up.