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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  1999 CLK Cabriolet - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jim bergtold - April 7 - 3:46 pm

  I purchased my 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Convertible and have put 20,000 miles on it. I have not had even one problem with the car. My only problem is that I have a hard time wanting to trade for a new 2005 model.

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  Great car but behind the times - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By E350Sport - April 6 - 4:00 pm

  I love my new E350 with the sport package. Although the exterior is great, MB falls short in the interior amenities. Horrendous Nav, No bluetooth/ipod. My Lexus blows away the Benz in the interior styling

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  not too bad - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By BArianfield - April 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this SL500 last summer and so far it has been a reliable, comfortable car that also handles like a Porsche. I am not too sure about the exterior styling. Some people mistake my car for an SLK which is a lot cheaper. I dont know about you, but I hate that! Otherwise, this is a wonderful sports car loaded with convenience features and Mercedes cachet.

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  Mercedes Saved The Best For The Last - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Panzer - April 3 - 4:40 pm

  With a 469hp twin turbo V8 Kompressor engine this vehicle has prodigious power. The dual side exhaust sounds incredible. This beast will do zero to sixty in a little under 5.5 seconds which makes it the ultimate sleeper until they hear the substantial roar of the exhaust rattle their ear drums. However when the windows are up you can barely hear it. This is a tight vehicle to say the least. Mercedes teased us all by putting the V8 Kompressor in the last model year for the G - (or is it? - I have heard rumors of possibly continuing the G series under a different manufacturer)

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  Its not that bad if youre previous car was a Range Rover:) - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By swfreeride - April 1 - 11:25 am

  Trust me when I say all European luxury SUVs have these kinds of issues. My previous car was a Range Rover HSE and a V8 Tuareg before that. Both had multiple air suspension issues, engine oil leaks, sensor failures, steering column replacements, etc... Friends with X5s dont fair well either. My RR even needed a drive shaft replacement. Fact of life unfortunately, if you want the luxury and style of the Euro SUVs the price you pay is well beyond the window sticker. The key is to enjoying the vehicle is pick the brand with a nearby dealership that treats you well and expect to spend your free time there:) - I tried the Lexus route for a year, just too bland and predictable.

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  Best SUV on the Market - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Rick C - March 31 - 4:13 am

  Weve owned the GL for three months now, and it has been flawless. Ive put 4,000 miles on it, with regular trips from the SF Bay Area to the sierras. Its incredibly solid and comfortable on the highway, completely stable on ice and snow, and easy to drive around town. The car is deceptive, there is a lot of room for both people and cargo hauling. We own this and an E-Class, and the GL feels even smoother to drive than the E. We tried all the 3-row SUVs and nothing on the market comes close to the GL.

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  High Cost of Maintenance - Great Car! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Krista - March 29 - 9:00 am

  This is my first Benz and I really like the car. My fiance bought a 2004 C Class the same day and has not had as good an experience as I. Great interior size, great performance, great styling. White Exterior, cream interior - just yummy looking! Stereo system sounds great, but the iPod connection is subpar, to say the least. Handles well in all weather and the brakes are second to none; I feel very safe in this vehicle. The only major issues are: electronics are touch and go on this vehicle, maintenance costs are expensive on all MB, storage is NON EXISTANT on this vehicle (interior or trunk - you are hard pressed to fit 10 bags of groceries). But the leg room in back is truly wonderful!

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  2001 C320 Sport sedan - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DG - March 28 - 10:16 am

  Ive owned this car for 5 years. I bought it used at a BMW dealer in St. Louis, MO. I have enjoyed this car and would consider buying another in the future. It has a solid feel that I have never matched with any other car. I have the Sport package. It handles superbly. I have kept a warranty the whole 5 years. Im glad I did. It has needed some repairs. The Japanese brands dont quite come up to the ride standard of this car. If you drive one, you will want one.

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  My S55 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By zeistgott - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Fine Car, needs a better Nav system. other than that a very cool car

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  Oh, the Electrical Woes. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Brian F. - March 27 - 4:36 am

  What a great car to look at! Fun to drive, except when you have to get a loaner when the radio wont work. Or like the time there was a sparking wire making the drivers seat dangerous. Or the time the windshield wipers stopped working. Or the time the left headlamp would not light each time it was switched on. Or the time I had it in the shop when the right headlamp would not light when it switched on (the whole component had to be rebuilt). Other than that, the car is a pleasure to drive. But since it is a glorified Chrysler now, expect it to be in the shop quite often to fix annoying problems. Buy a Benz, see the world in a loaner car!