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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  Lookinjg for Number 2 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Hillbilly in Tenn - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Well, I just rolled my wifes down a hill a month ago and were looking for the next one. I rolled one time on a 40- 50 ft railroad embankment and drove it out on its own power the next day. I was completely unharmed. I will continue driving the exact same 320 in "as-is" condition around town as a testiment to the safety of this vehicle

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  Great car BAD nav - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Xero - April 21 - 6:26 pm

  First time owning a MB and comming from a long line of Infinitis I love this SUV. Handles great w/ the Air suspension. But next to my partners M35 the NAV on my MB is the worst Ive seen yet. It cant find half the things your looking for and then it sometimes puts you in the wrong area. It seems Germans know how to make a fine ride but when it comes to technology, the Japanese have the upper hand. Id love to see some Japanese technology integrated in here.

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  Disappointed - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Chris - April 13 - 12:33 pm

  As the owner of three MLs since 1998, currently a 2005 Special Edition, I went into my local dealer today to test drive a new one. I love the exterior styling and wanted to love the interior but was very disappointed by everything. The gearshift on the steering column - what were they thinking? And the MBTec standard fake leather is ridiculous on a supposed luxury car. Inside much cheaper looking overall. So my love affair with MLs is coming to an end. My heart is considering buying the one I have now, but my head is telling my to give serious consideration to the Acura MDX I test drove yesterday - dont care much for the look but its all around higher rated and a better value. Im sad.

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  I am enjoying my first MB very much! - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By oldsnwbrdr - April 12 - 2:36 am

  I just turned in my 2007 Acura TL. I loved that car, it had great styling, performance, and gas mileage (in the last two regards, it still beats my new Benz). But as far as refinement is concerned its not even close, the MB blows away the Acura. I test-drove a TSX and couldnt believe how much cheaper it felt than the Benz (despite the difference in price, my best Benz lease deal is only $14 more per month than my best TSX offer).

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  ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By cdrsdad - April 9 - 6:00 pm

  I waited a while to write this review because of the negatives I have read about the Mercedes-Benz ML430. I purchased this truck as a certified used vehicle. Other than the poor fuel economy, I could not be happier. Service on this truck has been far cheaper than on my previous Mercedes-Benz wagon. Some of the interior trim has a little trouble wih the dog...meaning he broke it. I love the GPS and the Bose stereo. I am at 75,000 miles and the truck still looks close to new. One other problem is that the odd tire size means very few choices for replacements.

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  Perfectly Good Cheap Car - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Valo Grant - April 5 - 5:06 pm

  The 96 c class I am currently driving has been sold on to me from my folks and so, thanks to their good treatment of the car, I have had almost no problems what so ever. Granted, the few times it goes, it does a number. Nothing more than a few hundred dollars, easy maintenance and in the right hands, will keep running after 20 odd years of australian road trips. I am still quite fond of the looks as it is understated yet elegant. Even though it isnt the quickest off the line, it still gives a modest punch of power for its age and still loves the highways. With a good set of tyres, it can hold its own in the corners too. So for a cheap car, its a lot of fun and good value if you pick right.

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  A good family car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By JW - April 5 - 12:03 pm

  We traded in our Porsche Cayenne for an R350 due to passenger limitation in the Porsche. The Mercedes offered a spacious interior with comfort and luxury as well as easy maneuverability. The engine can be sluggish to start but the ride is smooth once you get going. If youre tall, you may want to think twice as there is little clearance between my head and the interior roof of the car without moving the seat all the way down. The sun visor is also tricky to put down without having to move my head back. Difficult to get used to after having 2 suvs with more height and flexibility.

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  ML500- Not a Lexus or BMW - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ken - April 4 - 8:46 pm

  Squeaky brakes, annoying rattle in the hatch, stiff and sticky gas pedal...all of which the shop foreman has heard before. To fix breaks they will apply an anti-squeal formula for free that will get me through the first year, then what? Check engine light that will not go off...all in the first 5000 miles. Gas mileage is poor but I expected that. Best part is I have to pay for the service intervals....a cost cutting measure in 2005. After seeing all the plastic/rubber on the new 2006 model, I am glad I did not wait. This is my first Mercedes!

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  Great Value for the Money! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mealz07 - April 3 - 4:30 pm

  I am a new MB owner and am glad to have made the switch. I purchased my used 4matic this year and have been pleased with the performance thus far. My only dislikes would be the automatic wiper sensors when it rains and comfort mode. I highly recommend Sport mode to really know what your driving. I also think the windows should be a shade darker.

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  C Class Sedan - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ljpzap - March 25 - 11:24 pm

  Just came out of a 2012 Infiniti G37 and picked up the C-300 4matic with sport package +other options. Car is definitely pricey once optioned out. Car rides great, but no comparison in power to the G37. if you want to push the car again it does not compare. It is more luxurious than it is sport even with the sport package. Has great styling overall. However for the price you can not sync your key fob to the memory seat system. MB does not do it. Infiniti and Lexus do. Just stupid that you have to hold a memory seat button on a 50k car to get your seat in to position after your wife drove the car last. Overall though still a great car. Better value is the Acura TLX with Tech Pkg.