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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  Great Car with horrible Build Quality - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By babo21 - February 16 - 10:00 am

  smooth V6, good handling, looks luxurious and the name Mercedes However, it is seriously overpriced, i bought mine for 4 grand under MSRP. No in dash CD, CD changer cost $800 becuz stupid fiber optic cable. horrendous build quality.. one of the speaker went out on first day..electronic key failure on second day.. kinda scared whats up next..

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  Almost Perfect - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Carolyn Volatile - February 16 - 6:33 am

  The cup holder still a joke and it could use more power, but other than that, a thrill to drive. Great handling, styling and reliability

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  Selling this car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Amy - February 14 - 4:20 am

  I got this car two years ago and loved it. But after 6 months everthing started to fall apart. My sunroof doesnt work. And the dealership said it would cost around $1000 to fix. My engine has had so much work done and has taken 5 weeks total. And it still needs more work. And the exhaust needs work too. This car is a money pit!

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  Is this a LEMON? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By NomoreBenz - February 11 - 10:00 am

  After saving $63,000 and waiting 3 months for delivery, Im not happy at all. At delivery, both seat backs was loose, AC auto makes loud noise in operation, engine noise is excessive, at low cruising car bucks and launches when accelerating, sun roof electronics are not functioning as designed, there is a shuttering sound coming from the out side of car at speeds over 60. All this and I only had the car 6 weeks! What happened to Quality insurance and delivery inspections. Im taking this car back to dealer calming I got a LEMON!!!!!

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  Nice Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By gkstone39 - February 10 - 11:33 pm

  Terrific all around vehicle. Very reliable, as I never had to bring it in for service other than regular scheduled service.

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  G-500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Zielke6 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I view the G wagon as a fun to drive head turing everyday vehicle.

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  C230 & C240 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By delbell49 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  On the whole my c240 is an exceptional ride in comparison to its predecessor the c230. The New C has a tighter suspention, better acceleration, and traction controll which helps a great deal in the rain and snow.I have put about 10,000 miles on my c240 and have experienced no problems.

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  Best Car I have ever owned - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By fletcher - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is unbelieveable!! When I was looking at purchasing a new car, I test drove this SL65, a Viper, and a maserati spyder. This car, to me, was head and shoulders above all others. Unbelievable acceleration, wonderful sound, and unparalleled luxury. Seats are very supportive, yet comfortable. If you can find one, buy it.

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  It is a good car..but expensive to keep - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve Ho - February 6 - 12:26 am

  I bought it as a certified pre-owned. the dealer was great..deliver the car to my wifes office..Fed Exp overnight a spare key as soon as my wife it on 2nd day..my local MB dealer pick up and return it for service..need road side assistance three times..the good side they showed up in an hour everytime. great services again. drive and ride great last 3 years. Cost to keep it is not cheap at all. my last invoice to replace 2 sensors and a few small things came to $2000. In last 3 services, nothing under $500. Engine noise increase in last 6 months. Dealer say it is normal.

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  Amazing - 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By NewBenzOwner - January 30 - 10:53 pm

  Amazing car all around...perfect mix of performance, comfort, convenience and luxury. Drives like no other car, with endless smooth V12 power on tap right under your right foot. Truly an amazing thoroughbred.