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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  CLK500 CAB - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ELVAS - February 14 - 12:26 pm

  I have been a master Mercedes-Benz technician for 38 years. I have my own shop & know where every problem MB has. This is the best built, fun to drive, head turning, MB I have seen since the 71 280SE cabro. It is the Designo version & the leather/paint combo is a joy to look at. I know all of the complaints about MB, & if anyone should be mad at them its me. But this is a car they can truly be proud of. There is no way Lexus, BMW, or the others can match the beauty & Soul this car has. Mercedes...keep up the good work!

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  5 Star E320 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DCMan - February 13 - 10:00 am

  This car just keeps constantly amazing me. It does everything so well. I was a little skeptical about the V6....wondering if it would have enough power for me.....but it brings a childish grin to my face whenever I punch her.....on a recent cross state jaunt.....she averaged 25 mpg while cruising between 85-90 mph.......amazing.....

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  S550 coupe - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Richard Harutiunian - February 13 - 12:11 am

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  Newly sold on Mercedes Benz - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benz Believer - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I drove the Acura TL, G35 and the Honda Accord V6. I really liked the 04 TL overall and the G35 for its performance but neither really turned me on. I was about to settle on the TL when I saw this almost new 230 sports sedan. I immediately fell in love with its looks, handling, fit and finish; everything. Even though my father owned and loved 2 I never considered a Mercedes. I guess I just thought they were out of my price range and no fun to boot. I was wrong, though I bought used, a new 04 or 05 was not priced badly. This car beats the 2 Saab Turbos I owned hands down. I love this car, its performance, the looks...everything!

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  Glad To Own It! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Don - February 4 - 8:06 am

  I have owned Volvos my whole life and have decided to switch due in part to constant repairs on the last one. I am happy to have switched and every mile has been a delight. The car has that Mercedes solidity that is unmatched in any other car on the road as well as an engine that is velvety smooth at any speed. The 5 speed auto is well mated to the engine which makes great sound and tug under hard acceleration. The interior preserves the lovely Teutonic ambiance of the older Benzes with great seats for long trips and very logical controls. This car was built for driving and has been very reliable. I love this car!

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  maximus - 2016 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By angelo lup - February 2 - 9:53 am

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  Excellent - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By TeamWenz - February 1 - 11:03 pm

  There is a reason this is one of the best cars sold on the planet. Incredible luxury combined with decent economy. It just eats up the road. Just had it serviced at the dealership $220 in total. Not bad for 10,000 intervals.

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  Sweet CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By granite - January 30 - 9:40 pm

  This is the vehicle that blows away all the old dirty diesel tales. Its quiet, burns clean and with all the torque available, absolutely hauls the mail. Add to those qualities the fact that I get almost 38 mpg on the highway (Reno to Phoenix on one tank)...the fuel efficiency increases with high average speeds (75-85)...and about 30 mpg in town. If youre on the highway a lot...you gotta go for the 6CD changer and Sirius system (whens the IPOD dock coming?!)...COMAND is cool. Im never leaving this car.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Eric Jones - January 29 - 6:22 pm

  A great value for the money. Safe and reliable with classic lines. You cant beat it. The best money on a car Ive ever spent!

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  New c300 - 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Larry stradal - January 27 - 6:38 pm

  Great looking car with very nice interior