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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  Horrible Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BobbyBobby - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This car, was just a horrible design, the "SUV" was not as reliable as I thought it would be when I heard about it. This car is horrible, and I am planning to sell mine too.

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  Not impressed - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ML320 Owner - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I trusted the quality of Mercedes-Benz, but this vehicle did not meet my expectation. In the past several months, I had a few issues with its brakes, power windows, and transmission. The ride is fine. I did not notice this much when I purchased the vehicle, but the automaker went cheep by using many components made by plasctic. For the price I paid, I couldve found a better-built vehicle in other brands. Just like any other comsumer products, you would be paying premeum for the name, not the quality you should get.

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  The worst benz ever made - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By oiul - July 6 - 10:00 am

  This car is the worst peice of junk that Mercedes ever made. So far it only has to things going for it the Mercedes badge and the slick exterior styling. I should have got a lexus I would have paid less and still have luxury.

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  Lemon - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rev9K - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Worst engine ever driven period enough said.

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  Makes a GREAT PLANTER - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By lemonade - June 7 - 10:00 am

  The concept was fabulous.The exterior fabulous.The fun driving fabulous. However it looses its appeal after the 9th time it is in for repairs within a few months. It really lost its appeal when the Designo edition $103,000 began to smell. A pungent cat urine (as described by dealer- I dont have a cat) odor so foul it burned your eyes & throat. Six months more of repairs and interior replacements...it still stinks. Numerous calls to the manufacturer (because the dealer CANNOT? do anything except let me BUY my way out of the car) still no response!

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  Noise uncovers manufacturing problem - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By TexasCielo - May 30 - 7:10 am

  I purchased a new 2010 GLK in April. About 1-1/2 months into owning the car, I heard a popping noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. I took the car into servicing on June 30th and technicians quickly found and acknowledged the noise. It turns out - after taking apart the passenger side rear cargo paneling - that some tack welding on the frame did not take place during car assembly in Germany. This is causing two metal pieces to rub and pop while driving the vehicle. An MBUSA chassis technician had to visit the dealerships service department to view the problem. It has taken MBUSA until July 10th to offer a possible repair solution and they still arent confident this will work 100%.

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  Be aware - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Angry mb owner - April 12 - 3:11 am

  I leased my car in September from mercedes of brooklyn. 1 week later the main screen broke. In the shop for 5 days. Three weeks later front right headlight went out. Another 4 days in the shop. When drive in sport plus mode when gears shift vibration sounds from passenger side rear end. Was told its normal. Then two months no issues. Then the real fun began. Steering was off and making whining sounds. Needed a whole new power steering unit. Then the sunroof broke and wouldnt close from vented position. Brought the car in April 29 multiple conversations with service waiting for parts. Every week I was told a couple days more. 3 months later parts finally arrived. Now trying to get out of my lease all together and go back to infiniti.

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  Decent car, but not for the money - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Disappointed in NY - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Good power, sophisticated AWD/traction control, resonable comfort, good headroom/rear legroom. BUT poor placement of controls, rear seat lowering is a nightmare, questionable quality (e.g. fuel pump died at less than 15,000 miles, no rear A/C vents, no climate control for A/C, poor CD changer placement, awful gas mileage, minivan appearance, cup holders are a joke, difficult access to spare tire.

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  Unreliable overrated verhicle - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By candiangold - April 10 - 3:07 am

  - Balance Shaft replaced - 8 sensors replaced in 8 month span - 2 Ignition coils replaced - MAF sensor replaced - ECU Connector replaced - Headlight wiring insulation cracked (and shortcut) - The wheel wells are covered in some kind of fabric(?) which will come loose - Rear bulbs keep burning out - Subwoofer blown - Rear windshield wiper does not complete cycle - Interior vents adjusters falling apart (glued?) - Ratting in left front door - Rear hatch rattling - Lots of rattling when interior is cold - Seat Belt lock stops working - Rear ashtray fell apart - Idling erratic I traded it in for an Acura MDX, what a breeze, no rattles, smooth ride, and all options standard

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  Watch out! Benz not what marketed... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jonatan - March 27 - 4:50 pm

  I purchased this car used for 15,500 in Feb. 2007 with only 40,000 miles on it. It handled well but sucks gas like you cant believe. It doesnt help that every trip to the station requires 93 octane either. Regardless, 13,000 miles later (3000 off warantee) one morning, a complete suprise, the engine begins to shake. I take it to get the oil changed only to have the entire car give out 30 mins later. I had it towed to the dealership to find out that 2 pistons were bent 5 totaling a bill of 4800.00 dollars. This isnt the first time Ive heard of this happening since I bought the car. Maybe thats why they stopped making this model?? left me with 8000 neg. equity for my next car. Thnks benz