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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  I miss my BMW 750iL - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By motts71 - March 19 - 9:06 am

  I miss the quick warm ups, the handling, and the performance of my BMW. The Mercedes rear window defroster works very slowly, the car takes a long time to warm up. It is strictly a luxury car. I do like the fact that it has had fewer trips to the dealer than the BMW, but it is not as enjoyable to drive. Oh yes, the windshield washer tank keeps leaking so I always have a malfunction showing on the dash, and when that shows, you cannot access the other features of the cars computer.

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  Great Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Touchdown Tony - March 17 - 5:10 am

  I bought this as an expired lease vehicle with 27500 miles. Was concerned at first as Consumer Reports stated reliability problems. After 5 months and 6000 miles, I can say without reservation that I love this car. To put this comment in perspective, my last car was a 528i BMW that was always in the shop. While the BMW was nice, the Mercedes is much more refined. Feel like a grown-up driving this car versus a 50 year-old in a midlife crisis when driving the BMW. No problems what-so-ever. Fantastic mileage. Beautifully designed. However, a few quirks as loud cold starts till lifters get lubricated. Also, the Germans likely show their contempt for Americans by poor design of the cupholders.

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  the good/bad/ugly - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jaybird of nashville - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Car handles great on long and short drives. little things have gone wrong. EZ to fix pain to get done Ps radio antenna stinks.

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  2009 G-CLASS - 2009 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By BERGTOLD - March 13 - 5:00 am

  I bought the new G because i was tired of all the 09 vehicles looking alike. well the G is all I hoped it would be as well as fun to own and drive. its not for everyone but its the ideal vehicle for me. THE ONLY NEGATIVE- IT GETS TOO MUCH ATTENTION.

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  Looker - not driver! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Wayne - March 12 - 1:43 pm

  I have two boys, my partner and three dogs. we needed to upgrade from our 05 E-Wagon. It is too bad that with this larger wagon you lose touch with the road. It is very comfortable and spacious, nice to look at but not fun to drive. OK on the highway but take it onto a winding road and yuk! You are able to steEr out of an emergency but it does not hold the road. This is my 11th MB. A little bummed but will probabaly be back for a smaller one!

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  Hard Worker - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By deboese - March 12 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle is driven daily commute and hauls my bass boat. Delievered quality was good. Minimal maintenance has been needed. Except in snow, >9 in., vehicle goes with minimal fuss. It tries its best to keep you from doing stupid things. Driving position is generally good and seats supportive. However on long drives >6 hrs. could use more thigh support. length. More than adequate power to tow my 21 bassboat (~4200 Lbs. Combat Loaded). Heater/AC is acceptable but noisy at high fan speeds. Cheap interior plastics are a put down. Off Road activity has been acceptable but not rubicon capable. The lack of a full size spare tire is not good.

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  DISAPPOINTED E320 OWNER - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DISAPPOINTED OWNER - March 11 - 7:40 pm

  I purchased my E320 in 8/03 and drove about 15000 mi. My selection was based on appearance, test drive, competitors and MB reputation. So far I was in for 5 service visits for alarm short, stuck gas cap, battery short and at least 4 times for the transmission. All of the problems were addressed except for the transmission. In low speeds the car bucks and the transmission hangs up between gears. According to the dealer who was generally helpful, MB headquarters do not recognize a transmission problem as it is not a safety issue. Basically they do not know how to fix it. I guess that in Germany where they drive a stick, they do not care about US cars. My first auto, a 63 Tempest with 2 speed transaxle, had a smoother transmission.

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  5000 miles update - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Nelson from missouri - March 9 - 10:53 pm

  Well it time for an update on my ML550. I put on 6,000 miles and so far not much problem to report. I had to make one stop to the dealer to date and that was for a recall notice I receive to fix some hydraulic problem and tail light seal. The truck was drop off in the morning and i picked it up about three hours later. some noticeable comments: 1) there is a click noise in the cold when you first start the car. 2) With the window down a loud noise is heard when switching from park to drive or reverse. The dealer said this is normal and is due to the large solonoid. 3) The radio went off but no display came on. The radio came back on after the vichele was turn off and back again.

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  ok better ride in bmw - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mb90 - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Its little loud, it could use little more power.I belive other suv are to be look at out for the same price.

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  You cant go wrong. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Conradikal - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I am a police officer specializing in traffic reconstruction. I have seen many crashes involving all kinds of vehicle makes and model. NOTHING impressed me more than a Mercedes Benz. AMG elevated Mercedes to a higher level. Not only can an owner enjoy the safety Mercedes offers, AMG provides the horse power other manufacturers strive to achieve. It has four doors. In my opinion for its price range, it is the best value. Owning one truly gives me the best of both worlds. A car that is built like a tank that can run with Porsches and Corvettes. Not that I do, but knowing I can is good enough. It is a wolf in a sheeps cloak.