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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  Proceed with caution - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By good info. - January 23 - 10:00 am

  This is a wonderful machine in terms of handling. It is eye pleasing and driving fatigue on long trips is zero. But, it is an electrical NIGHTMARE. Dont waste your money underwriting mercedez R&D. I know the company knows of the drastic electrical problems yet they keep offering the cars for sell without warning. This is not like the Mercedez of old. Hey...who owns this company these days...certainly not a company that cares about the consumer. In 16 months my car has been in the shop more than 10 times for major electrical problems. I think more consumers arent complaining because they are embarassed to tell that a car with this reputation is soo poor.

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  430 great - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By AL - January 22 - 12:26 pm

  This is a great car especially in snow ice and rain. I would highly recomend it to everyone. It is great at high speeds, low speeds tuirning, and parking.

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  Objective Review - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Rocket Man - January 22 - 5:10 am

  Its an excellent car with great performance during extreme weather conditions. This car cuts through snow very nicely.

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  CLS Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By don - January 20 - 3:53 pm

  This is the best looking Mercedes in a long, long time. The exterior has beautiful sleek lines and is a "hottie". The interior up front is very nice. The instrument panel is basically an "E" class cluster with some added extras. The back seat is for two people only and if you are tall, you will be bumping your head on top. For a fun and great looking car, its great.

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  Think the C240 is for you? - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By uxtonyxu - January 20 - 1:00 pm

  After six years of strickly driving sports cars, I decided to buy the Mercedes-Benz C240. Its not a sports car, but it;s the only alternative I would recommend to one. Do not buy one without the warranty. Upon purchase, the the transmission went with in 100 miles. Thanks to the warranty I recieved a new one free of charge. Other than that I am 110% satisfied.

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  After 1 year - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Geek - January 19 - 4:53 am

  I purchased a CPO 280 instead of a new C class, cost was not the issue thought the 2007 drove better. After 1 year and 15,000 I really like everything about this car. Ride is superb in all weather and it holds the road perfectly. Quiet, comfort, very good MPG and zero problems.

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  ML IS GREAT - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By janoo - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Hi, I Recently purchased a 2003 ML320. I have to say that this is a geat vehicle. I always dreamed of buying an SUV, but I never thought that Mercedes would fit the bill. I feel like I am gliding in air when I drive this car. All I can say is pure fun and enjoyment. My 3 year old sun loves the 3rd row seats and will not sit anywhere else in the SUV.

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  Great car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By AmyS - January 19 - 2:00 am

  To start, I am a Mercedes loyalist. When I was forced to buy a new car, I considered the BMW 3 series, volvo S60, and the Audi A4. I am really glad I chose this car. Its fun to drive, great to ride in, has great handling, performance, etc. Long trips are fun; short trips are fun.

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  Over Priced Neon - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dave Proia - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Noisey! Sunroof constantly squeaks dealer unable to eliminate. Drivers seat squeaks. This is the noisest car Ive owned since my 1980 Citation. Stereo system sub-par. Cant hear rear speakers (mounted in lower door trim) Way over priced

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  The big foreign conglamorate? - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By azndude80 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Mercedes-Benz has always been a symbol of money, German pryde, and quality. However, I start to question this by the day. The new E500 has a decent engine, but I tought it shoudl be better. The inovative interior designs only leaves room for an error, especially the glove compartment. The breaks are little stiff. Evea Toyota Camry has smoother breaks and steering wheel. The exterior is gorgeous except the rims. It looks a tad tacky, which I loath in a Luxery Vehicle. Well at least my S500 is excellent. Tchhh, Mercedes look at what you have done. There was a technology bug with the SRS, could have been fatel if we werent responsible.