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:

• 

  E320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mrjohnv - August 3 - 12:24 pm

  I purchased my E320 in April of 2011 so Ive owned mine now for about 14 Months. I purchased this car out of Necessity since our business sucked since 10 & 11 and I didnt want a car payment. I purchased this car from my mom and yes, I knew that she dose not take care of a car but I took it becase they sold it to me for 4 K. I didnt know it at the time but this car was in sad shape and it took 3 grand to get it back so it was no deal and I still have to paint it but you know what, If a car can take what my mom did to that car Mercedes is one hell of a car maker! This car is comfortable, trouble free and still looks good for a 12 year old car. I will keep it for two or three more years!

• 

  My favorite vehicle in 35 years - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Denver commuter - July 31 - 12:36 pm

  I bought my 04 ML350 in june 05 with 18,000 miles on it. I commute about 50 miles per day. Ive taken it on about 6 long-distance road trips too. 107,000 miles as of March 10 It is the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever owned. Poor MPG (avg. 17.5). Wears out tires every 25,000 mi. Best mechanical reliability Ive ever had, despite chronic "clunking" tranny on downshift from day one. I spent $1500 and many dealer visits trying to get that fixed to no avail. Interior plastic skirts around front seats broke early on from pressure of sitting. Coating on all dark exterior metal rapidly deteriorated. I would buy another one if they still made them.

• 

  mmm - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ben Hartner - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I love the vehicle.needs a little work on the inside.

• 

  Almost 1 year old and still in love! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By David - July 27 - 6:13 am

  I am one of those crazies who trades every year. This vehicle may finally be the one that passes the year mark for me. Perfect ride, perfect power. Still one of the freshest looks out there in the sea of bland auto designs. No, I still havent gotten use to the minivan stigma, but boy once they ride in it, the critics convert quickly. Interesting that other makers are rushing this look to market. Cant wait to see what MB does at mid-cycle to freshen the front end.

• 

  Much improved over 2000 year - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Rob Schlein - July 24 - 2:36 am

  Had an ML in 1999 and 2000. 1999 was noisy, and 2000 had many electrical problems. However, I needed the space so I tried the 2002 after I heard it was much more reliable. It has been! Great car.

• 

  Hummer of a car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By G A Zeller - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This is a"second" car ...just presonal transportation around town. I always liked the flexibility of a hatchback.Considering that this is the least expensive Mercedes it doesnt lack for features or quality. The need for premium gas is offset by rather decent mileage. And ...its a lot of fun to drive !

• 

  16 years later still a good car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jurrell - July 22 - 10:41 am

  we have never had the car in the shop, for major problems, just o2 sensors replaced a few times and a few other maintenance parts, still drives well and has held up well 146k miles or so and you still take it on a 6 or 8 hour trip without worrying about anything bad happening to it

• 

  Vrroooom! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By New Merc Owners - July 20 - 12:43 pm

  Traded in an FX45 and initially missed the vroom but in R class there is lots of room so who needs the v (as in velocity). With that said this car holds up well on the highway, and I was doing the passing and not being passed. The interior is luxurious compared to others in this class and as a six footer I can even sit comfortably in the back seat. So far so good - also the wife loves the way it looks and everytime I park it I get another comment on my ride - -

• 

  No More Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By One Time Texan - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive been pleased in general with my decision to purchase the C240. I love how the car handles and the smoothness of the ride. I would not be a second time buyer with Mercedes though. Had a terrible experience with Pete Mankins Mercedes in Texarkana, TX. Complained more than once to Mercedes Benz Corporation and have never received any response. Always that "independently owned" phrase from Mercedes Benz customer service. Never plan to purchase another Mercedes product due to the treatment from the company. Will stay with Honda from now on. Have owned 4 and will continue doing business with Honda.

• 

  83K disappointment - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By pradeep N - July 14 - 10:00 am

  excessive wind noise at 60mph, tyre noise at 70mph. Dealer & MBUSA says the car comes like that. probably design fault. Dealer says all S500 sound like that. Recommend test drive Audi A8L and BMW b4 purchasing MB S500. cannot compare to Audi A8L which is silent at any speed. cruise control stalk gets in the way. steering buttons annoying. soft front seats with poor support.