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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  AWESOME - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By saji - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Nuff said. Can this car be any more awesome?

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  Never again. - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Alan - January 12 - 7:22 pm

  Bought this car CPO with 10,000 on it in Spring of 2015. Car went to the shop 5 times the summer of 2016 with an AC problem before Park Place MB of Dallas could ever figure it out even though we provided two videos of the noise. Then there is that glorious MB stench from the AC that happens every summer that takes $200 to remedy (This is the second MB we have owned with the same problem). The navigation is a joke. The internet radio operates with the speed of an AOL dial up connection. The drivers seat started coming apart at the seams at 57,000 miles (CPO would not cover it and the dealer wanted $900 for the repair) [Understandable to a point but when both drivers are under 190 lbs, I take issue with their "wear and tear" claim]. Transmission is jerky. Latest issue was a "catch" in the steering that showed itself when driving down a straight road. Any slight little turn of the wheel was met with resistance and dealer could find no issue. We got rid of this thing! Paid $52,000 for it and traded it for $22,500 just 2.5 years later. Horrible resale value on MB. Will never own another one.

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  SL500 is a dog - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By sally - January 12 - 8:43 am

  3 years and 20K miles of nothing but trouble. brakes and battery/electrical problems constantly. Been towed in 4X. Gave up on it so it now looks great sitting in the garage!

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  Somewhat disappointing - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kala - January 12 - 5:40 am

  I leased it 3 years ago and it was my first MB. Initially it was a fun car to drive. With the Kompressor engine I was zipping around and not spending a lot on gas. But as soon as it started to snow it was terrible. Ive driven rear-wheel drives in the snow before, but the torque was too much and I was spinning all over the place. Also, the A/C and heat is so weak, thankfully I had the heated seats. Im turning it in in 3 weeks and getting a C280 4Matic. Also, the dealer told me MB stopped making the C230 coupes...I wonder why...

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  Best in Class - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By EF318 - January 12 - 3:03 am

  Best in class comfort and quality. 0-60 is adequate, but the C450 has you covered if you need more. Roomy backseat good for 2 car seats. Very comfortable/adjustable drivers seats. Panorama roof is gorgeous but expensive. Black Ash wood is the way to go. Distronic Plus is great, second only to Teslas Autopilot. Automatic Emergency braking is standard, unseen in this segment. Got 15% off the sticker price but it required a good deal of effort and communicating with 4 dealerships.

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  07 C230 Sport - Great little car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Maccam26 - January 11 - 9:33 pm

  Love this machine, traded my 99 C280 for it which had 130,000 miles and had been bullet proof. This one I got certified pre-owned with 20,000 miles. Its been excellent so far. Only thing I would have liked 60/40 split rear seat and bigger better room for entering the car for rear seat passengers and coming from the C280 3L engine, I did feel the small lack of oumph the 20hp or so drop made to the 2.5L... other that that, sweet car. Pros are the suspension, seats, great 7 spd auto transmission and silky smooth ride, not too rough for type of wheels. Fit and Finish is still top- notch. Paint is ok but it does have some orange peel..car is black so LIQUID GLASS is only way to polish!!

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  Serenity Now - 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By yossarian7 - January 11 - 7:38 pm

  I recently traded in a 2011 BMW 535ix, which I found to be one of the most uncomfortable cars I have ever owned, on a 2013 S550, which is the most comfortable car I have ever owned. The car is absolute serenity to drive. No wind noise; no engine noise; no tire noise. The V8 is 430hp/520lb-ft of pure butter. Sure, the car is big and heavy, but it carries its heft very well and it does not claim to be the ultimate driving machine (whereas the BMW did, and it was far from it). The S550s adaptive air suspension is more butter, and it keeps the car stable and level, even during spirited driving.

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  My over priced mini van - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Peter E Gibson - January 10 - 10:56 pm

  In twice for transmission, a total of ten days! Need four new tires at 15K. Has been back to dealer six times in nine months. not as reliable as former cars owned in that price range.

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  Excellent - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By great car - January 10 - 10:30 am

  Had a BMW in college. Have had nothing but MB since I have grown up. BMWs a little too yuppy for me and for who I see in them. Love this classy, safe, beautifully enginereed automobile. Wish they could get as reliable as Infiniti or Honda and as professional and efficient in the maintainance area too. However, still, driving up in a Mercedes does make a statement and this car is no exception and has a very quiet, well made cabin and its design for safety and engineering is superb. Im pretty sure all the rest of my cars will be Mercedes especially if they can get as professional and efficient and fair in their maintainance and reliability as the Japanese.

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  Ultimate Driving Machine - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Quarterbacking - January 10 - 10:03 am

  I still own the S55 AMG I purchased in 2001. I use it as a pleasure vehicle (Driven 1 to 2 times per week), as a partially driven car over the last 10 years it has been a pretty decent vehicle w/ its share of problems. Overall, its great vehicle and a huge conversation piece.