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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  More fun than fun - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TanisGR - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I have never had a single problem. I was a bit disappointed by the slower acceleration (no outrunning cops in this thing!), but the interior is luxurious and beautiful, and features like GPS, voice-command, and three seperate buttons for 24/7 services (mechanical support, emergency, and personal assistant--which is there to get concert tickets/make reservations/recommend hotels & restaurants) are sweet. And its also a status symbol...driving a Mercedes means something to me and to my clients.

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  SL in Germany - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Klausi - March 16 - 2:00 am

  The last MB ever built with the old wellknown quality of mercedes !!! A good cruising car also a good sportcar.

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  Style and Class-The S class - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By betty from Florida - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Finest S class I have owned, and its been a great car, EXCEPT for the transmission problem. Had it rebuilt once, and acting up again, so now Ill trade it in. Too bad, otherwise Id be driving it another 5 years. Had my other s class Mercedes 10 years for one and 11 years for another. Great car otherwise.

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  Get ready for headaches!!! - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By steven e - March 16 - 2:00 am

  extremely frustrated . I have had annoying problems ever since buying. Passenger side mirror popped out when a child brushed with a knapsack. Had to have an entire new unit. new retaining clip would have worked. Pneumatic seat controls went with a $700 repair quote. Driving light bulb had to be replaced requiring a lift to get the car high enough to remove panels. Single windshield wiper is a royal pain. If there is not quite enough water on the window, the wiper skips across. A couple of hours of that will make you put a gun in your mouth!

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  Mercedes vs. BMW 3 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gaby - March 16 - 2:00 am

  230 comes std w/17" wheels, sports suspension, 8 airbags, leather-BMW does NOt! For 10K less you can get a reliable, safe, high quality car. A4- many mechanical problems, no steering wheel controls. Passat not only holds it value better, but better value overall than A4. New VolvoS40 too family/Jetta 1.8T like, Lexus/TSX glorified Toyota/HOndas w/higher price. Saab Not hold its value! Al trim nice changer if grew up w/wood interiors. Yes, BMW comes std w/Al trim now

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  Kevee - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Krystyna Z.Virkaitis - March 16 - 2:00 am

  It is "3S"- Solid - build,Safe - to drive,Strong - body. I like it very much and I feel I can depend on it on the road. Krystyna.

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  Front Legroom - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ferraro300 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  The E320 is a well made and fun to drive car. It has more power than its E class predecessors, and the electronics are excellent

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  The best selling Mercedes! - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By So.Cal_Benzo - March 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for 2 years and it is perfect! It is a heavy car, but with an excellent V6 engine pushing out 217hp with 229 lb/ft of torque this car really goes, especially on the freeway. The passing power of this car is superb! It is built for the German Autobahn and its like a beast on the Freeway!

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  hot - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By dannydyno - March 15 - 10:00 am

  the mercedes s 500 is the best car in the world

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  Lexus is so much better/bad radio - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By NOT NOT HAPPY - March 15 - 10:00 am

  Get a Lexus LS430 Ultra lux; you get way more than a stripped S500 OR S430. The transmission on the S-class stinks, and not smooth at all. To much engine and wind noise. Also, the BOSE sound system is bad, compared to the Mark Levinson. The radio is filled with annoying and constant static noise, whether on FM, AM, or WB. THey have replaced everything to solve the problem: HOPELESS. And the COMMAND GPS system: HOPELESS TO USE.