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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  Excellent Vehicle - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ralph W. Cutter - November 19 - 9:00 am

  Quality, all the way around. No complaints. However, I do have a problem with the CD changer in the trunk. The radio shows there is no CD in the changer when there is. Cant get it to work. Mercedes says it will be hefty charge to fix! Other than that the car is unbeatable. I have only had oil changes and routine mait. done in 6 years. Mercedes knows how to build a quality automobile without question. This is my 4th Mercedes and without question not my last!

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  SL 500 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By F Scheckton - November 19 - 4:43 am

  Geat body style and excellent handling. It would be helpful if the trunk were an inch wider and deeper to accomodate two golf bags. Averaging 21.5 mpg. Negatives: Command system reliability. Navagation and sound system occasionally malfunctions. Sound system not up to par for a $100,000 vehicle. No fade control on sound system.

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  German Toy - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By John - November 18 - 5:06 pm

  My wife and I picked up her 230 from the factory in Stuttgart and I was immediately looking forward to getting over that first 1000 miles so I could really see what this baby could do. Well, I wasnt disappointed. It handles superbly on the Autobahn and is as quiet at 130mph as it as at 30mph. Considered a BMW, Audi, or Volvo, but were happy with the choice we made.

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  The Best Luxury Coupe! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By mykelsang4lyf - November 17 - 5:00 pm

  The standard features for this car are amazing. Basically the options for the other models of Mercedes are standard on this model. Navigation, Bi-Xenon headlights, etc. The performance from this is phenomenal. Mercedes has stepped up with not only performance, but they also topped the world of automotive technology. I would not trade this car for anything else.

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  My 1st MB (C300 Sport) - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jiamin - November 16 - 11:13 pm

  Bought it yesterday and only put 30 miles on it. My previous four new cars are all Japanese and never thought about a european car because of reliability concern. Consumer report recommendes it so I get it. Gethered a few premium compact car ratings side by side. C300 has the highest overall score, especially the noise level rating. Excellent quality inside out. Back seat passenger can easily talk to the multimedia person. Time will tell me if its reliable.

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  2007 ML500 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FredinMD - November 15 - 11:46 pm

  Purchase based on one criteria: Im 65" and fit comfortably. With the seat all the way back, I can barely reach the gas. My previous vehicles were Suburbans/Denalis but GM lowered to roof line so my line of sight was the sun visor! ML500 exceeds my expectations. I was concerned about comments re: navigation; it has some Teutonic quirks, kind of like a Siemens cell phone I had, but its great and I like that it recalculates the route when you choose to deviate rather than chastise you to turn around, like some systems do. If BMW hadnt reduced drivers cabin space length in 07 for the sake of the ridiculously little 3rd row seats, probably would have gone with X5, but I couldnt be happier.

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  C230 what A car! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jh007d - November 14 - 2:03 am

  I recently bought C230. And, this is one of the kind. For the price, I actually get more than I paid for.

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  The Greatest Car I Have Ever Owned - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Damian Zuri - November 13 - 9:00 am

  I cant say enough about this car. The fit and finish are 2nd to none. I love the Burl Walnut wood. The manager explained the high strength low alloy steel that Mercedes is famous for. This gives the car a secure heavy feel for the road and is rated extremely high in crash tests. I drove the V-6 and was impressed with th 268 horsepower but fell in love with the V-8...wow! Air conditioned/heated seats are a nice addition to the soft leather. This car was leased and I must say there is a good chance Ill buy this car when the lease is over.

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  Perfect car !!! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gottlieb - November 13 - 7:31 am

  2008 Bluetec E320 is the best everyday car! averaging 37 mpg highway, 30 mpg combine, plenty of power, handling is excellent, best interior design, comfortable in long driving, perfect ergonomic design, perfect car.

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  Love everything about it. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Nina - November 12 - 7:50 pm

  I went in the dealership planning to trade in my MB for the E350 until I spotted the CLS550 in the showroom. I didnt bother checking out the E350. Im so happy I got the CLS550. The car handles the road very well. Everyone stares at the car when youre on the road. Its a beauty! Its sporty and classy at the same time.