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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  A Love/Hate Relationship - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sportbiker1 - February 10 - 7:38 pm

  The Sway Bar Rods go regularly. Fortunately, they go within a year so are covered under parts warranty. Fender liner fell off, CV boots replaced, heater door motor broke, signal switch broke, rear speakers rattled, drivers seat belt squeaked, rear set belts lock up at -25C, passenger seat bottom loose, rear door lock knobs come loose and the rod drops inside, headlight bulbs are $180 each!. Nothing serious mechanically though. Bit it is starting to rust at the same place on all 4 of the doors.

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  Stay away from the airmatic suspension - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By robert davis - February 10 - 8:26 am

  With 1500 miles on my new E class a red message came on the dash, "do not drive-stop the car now" The airmatic suspension failed and the car looked like a "low rider" I had the car towed and four days later it was repaired. The control module failed along with a few other things. This module is approx. $3000 , what a nice thought down the road. The brake pedal squeaked, the door trim is a light color with no door sill so it is always dirty, (replaced once), the wipers were noisy and chatter and Mercedes doesnt seem to know what to do. I had to put white lithium grease on them to stop the squeak. Noticed this when I went to pick up the car after four days in the shop. Stay away from MB .

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  Best E Class Yet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By krudolph - February 10 - 12:36 am

  This has been a great car. Nothing has gone wrong with it. It is fantastic in the snow. I average 16 to 17 mpg around town and 25 to 27 mpg on the highwaway. Not bad for a car that can go 0-60 in 5 to 6 seconds. Im going to get a 2007 model.

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  great engine horrid HVAC - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By radicalpumpboy - February 10 - 12:33 am

  The twin-cam straight six has always been a great engine, and the variable cam version has to rate as one of MBs best engines. It pulls like a V8 and roars when told to do so. The engine is also bullet proof, as is the transmission, brakes, and suspension. All work like new after 112k miles. BUT, the car is best suited to milder climates -- like San Fran -- because the HVAC is total crap. Ive lost heat in the winter and seldom had cold air in the summer, despite spending lots and lots of money on constant repairs. The locks are also a weak spot.

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  Huge improvement! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mh - February 9 - 7:23 pm

  I had a 2006 ML 350 with multiple problems. I was interested in a 2010 GL, but just couldnt justify the 85k sticker price with options. I took a 2010 ML350 for a drive and was very surprised at the improvements. The seats are unbelievable, and while everything looks similar to the 2006 model, there are improvements at every level. The ride was always great, especially on the highway, but the 2010 is even more comfortable. The fit and finish is better than any car I have ever owned (previous MB, BMW, etc...)

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  Bigger is Better - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Gerry R. - February 9 - 4:20 pm

  This SUV is rock solid yet handles very well for a full size vehicle. The interior is very comfortable and cabin noise is very minimal. If you need seating for 7 this is the flagship vehicle. Vastly superior to the Audi Q7, Burban, mini-vans or anything else for that matter. If you want people mover, the search is over. I came out of a 2006 GM product that thought the service center was its second home. Mercedes exudes quality and the dealership personnel treat you better. Quality does not cost, quality pays.

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  Great Ride - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Michael in Bothell - February 9 - 1:59 pm

  Classy car with great economy, comfort and dependability.

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  Disappointed in my first MB - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Leanne - February 9 - 10:00 am

  I had always wanted a Mercedes and was very excited when we bought this car brand new last year. Unfortunately, it hasnt been all that I had dreamed of. It is useless in snow/ice -- last year I learned that lesson the hard way with <1" of snow. Our other three vehicles (not MB) were fine with that tiny bit of snow, but not the MB. It also recently stopped dead in the middle of a busy road with me and my little boy in it. It has been at the dealership since last week and they cant get any error codes, so they have no idea whats wrong with it. I am very disappointed in this car and am thinking about selling it because I dont feel safe in it any longer. It only has 7500 miles on it!

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  Wheres the Beef? - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By 997C2S CAB - February 8 - 6:06 pm

  Ive owned many M-Bs since 1984. This is a very nice car, but after a month, I wish Id gotten the C350. I also have an 06 Porsche Carerra S Cab and just turned in an 07 E350. It has P1,P2,Nav,18s and Panoramic Roof. All that stuff works great, but the seats are not as comfortable as my E350 was. My two major gripes are the brakes and power. I do 70% freeway driving and at 65 mph, this motor has limited passing ability. Punch it and it makes a lot of noise, but takes an hour to get around a big rig, especially on an uphill grade. I guess it depends on what youre used to. Additionally, the car is underbraked. You really feel the brakes straining to bring the car down when needed.

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  Glad I was able to find this car - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Marcia - February 8 - 5:08 am

  This car stopped production in 2015. Too bad. I love the look and performance. Just the right size.