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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  Fantastic Car! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RDorris - January 26 - 3:30 pm

  Have had this car for 3 weeks, and can say I am thrilled with everything about it. It has a drive quality unlike any other vehicle I have ever owned and that includes 3 Lexus. The interior is extremely well designed and luxurious, standard sound system rocks, and the quiet soundproof cabin combined with the smooth, and I mean smooth, drive makes this car unbeatable. I test drove the Lexus IS250, nice car, not as solid as the MB and the BMW325--no comparison. Theres nothing about this car you wont love. It gets compliments everywhere I go, I have the black/stone. I cant say enough good about this car. No manufacturer can compare to the Mercedes in buttery smooth, solid, quiet ride.

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  Love my Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By sdctony - January 26 - 10:00 am

  The car is everything I had hoped for in my first convertible. Riding in this car with the top down is the greatest feeling.

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  My ML - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bill dante - January 24 - 1:33 pm

  From day one I was very happy with the ML. Rain,snow or shine the car has performed to my fullest expectations. My next car will be the Mercedes ML

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  Great Ride - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob - January 22 - 12:20 am

  Comfortable ride, steering is a little loose but this is not a sport model. We bought this car as a turned-in- lease with 41K miles, we paid a third of the sticker price new, it is a certified used which extends the warranty to 100K. Overall I like this car, however I would never pay $60K for this car new, it just is not worth it, for $20,000 its great!

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  Best S Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Jerry li - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the best S class ever ! I love it

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  Better MPG than you think - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Robert Robinson - January 20 - 3:43 am

  I fell in love with my first SL as a twelve year old, when I saw the most beautiful champagne 450SL in a showroom for seventeen thousand dollars. As midlife approached I was able to afford a used 1999 SL500. I have driven over 50,000 trouble free miles and have consistently averaged over 20 miles per gallon. I believe the 129 model(90-01) is the least expensive to own from the perspective of a Mercedes-Benz mechanic.

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  Concern w/Transfer Case & future quality - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Henry W - January 19 - 3:13 am

  Overall I like my C-280. I gave low quality rating b/c of my Transfer Case issue after only 3 yrs. Pros: Handles well in the snow, 27 mpg highway average, looks expensive Cons: Passenger head rest and rear view mirror rattles. To fix I have to keep head rest lowered when seat isnt in use and every so often have to adjust the mirror. Mile marker only does whole #s so cant tell when gone 1/2 mile. CD changer fills glove compartment. At 90K miles, the Transfer Case began making rubbing noise on tight turns. Would have been $500+ repair w/o CPO warranty.

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  Awesome - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By asiafish - January 18 - 3:46 pm

  Fast, fuel efficient, stylish and supremely comfortable. This is my second C class (previous 2001 C240) and is by far the nicest car I could find with 30+ MPG highway.

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  Still alive - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Still alive - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I just replaced my 2003 ML500 with a used 2005 ML500 for one reason only...it fully prtected me, my and dog during a high speed T-bone accident which resulted in a rollover one and half times with a 180 degree spin on its roof. We all walked away with seat belt bruises which demonstrated the cockpit safety and protection worked well. The 45 MPH crash resulted ion less than 6 inches of body depression at impact. I was almost blind sided but had the instant acceleration to prevent her from hitting my door directly. We had many fine road trips on our 112,000 mile journey with it, reliable and well serviced. I"m happy we found a replacement to keep us safe and on the road.

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  A Bird in the hand is ... - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steebie - January 18 - 8:03 am

  Ive owned S class and E and CL class Mercedes over the years, including a 2008 E Class Sport and this new 2009 E Class Sport. The pricing of the 2009 E Class is like having a "Bird in the hand and two in the bush." A great deal can be had right now, say $10,000 off sticker; how does that sound? Now youre getting a outstanding sedan at a price you cant beat. Yes, theres a new body style E Class coming out in July, but how can you pass up the 2009? Comparing my 2009 to my 2008, there have been significant improvements, including AMG package free with the no charge Sport option, 18 inch wheels, and shift paddles on the steering wheel. The Command system with NAV is much improved.