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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  Heave Ho It must Go - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By John Greenhill - April 17 - 9:16 pm

  Bought it brand new, first Benz! Platinum Blue, beautiful to look at.....if you drove by the dealership...cause that is where it was most of the time. Horrible reliability, bordering on lemon! Never again, the dream is over!

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  E55 Rare to find Only 2000 w210s Total - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By 4Everomeo - April 16 - 9:36 pm

  I love this car. If you find one in good condition, with low mileage. Purchase and you will understand. At least test drive it! 0-60 in 4.9 and plenty of room for the kids and groceries. High forged pistons and AMG engine quality. Much better then Mercedes Benz alone. Buy a car with 100k miles, and your buying an AMG motor that will last almost twice as long. Unbelievable gas mileage, computer states exactly 24mpg on the highway at 75mph!!! An aggressive yet subtle styling. Very wide 275/45 rear tires. Even the elderly notice these! Took it to the dealer once after it was cleaned up, and was very very happy to see a few sales people line up to the window to look at my then 6year old car

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  350 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By res - April 11 - 2:00 am

  nice ride, a few maintenance issues no real complaints

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  Well, If You Must Know.... - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dwild - April 10 - 4:44 pm

  I bought the 99 MB E320, with 98,000 miles on it. I have owned this vehicle for over 6 years. Had to replace the AC / $1500.00, replaced the belt / $700.00..routine oil changes / every 4-5 months / $98.00 per service, need motor mounts, need electric work on brake lights, paint is severely peeled on top, front and back hood / paint job: $1500. But, as for the driving of the car? Well, I now have $219800 miles on it. It still drives smoothly, very powerful, very safe, handles extremely well. Yeah, it needs some cosmetic work, but, this is the most reliable, safest car that I have ever driven! I believe that with continued routine maintenance, I could drive it another 220,000 miles..easy

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  Whadabout da paint chips! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jason James - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this car for about 4 months now but this car is great. I love the way it looks from the outside, but the interior could be better. The V8 is just right for me, but that doesnt mean that the E320 is weak and slow. I love this car. But am I the only person that notices how easily this car gets paint chips? This is my biggest problem with the car. I think the older models had more durable paint.

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  Its been real good - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Brian S - March 27 - 10:00 pm

  The car is coming up on seven years old. In those years it has been quite reliable. The supercharged engine gets 32-35 MPG on the highway, but still has great pick up when you need to punch up acceleration. City MPG suffers a bit in stop & go traffic. I am 6 1" and find there is plenty of leg and head room. The hatch is great - too bad Americans do not favor this handy body style.

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  g500 solid and safe - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By f40chuck - March 21 - 10:00 am

  solid and safe feeling truck.great visability makes parking easy.strong motor and outstanding brakes.overall is a tight solid and safe vehicle.

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  JUST ABOUT BEST MONEY CAN BUY - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By LETCHAW - March 21 - 10:00 am

  TRADED IN A 2004 MB 500. THAT CAR WAS A DELIGHT TO OWN, BUT NOW WITH THE CL500S IT FEELS LIKE I AM FLOATING ON A SOFT CLOUD INTO HEAVEN. WISH I COULD HAVE HAD PARKTRONIC WITH IT, BUT DEALERS INVENTORY DID NOT HAVE ANY IN STOCK. AND I WANTED IT NOW, NOT LATER!

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  Mind of its own? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mark4091 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Weve only had our 320E for 5 months, (2400mi) and do not like the way the transmission downshifts at low speeds. Its as though someones putting on the breaks. Its a really odd feeling. Also, there is a hesitation starting off in forward or reverse. You have to make sure the "coast is clear" before entering traffic. The engine is louder than we anticipated. We really like the car, but these issues take the joy out of owning a Mercedes. Whats with all the break dust on the wheels? Seems like Im washing them every other day.

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  C230 is Better Than The C240 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mcurrie682 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a C240 first in 2003 and then realized the features of the C240 2004 and traded.