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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  2003 E320 RWD - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jonduro - January 4 - 9:40 pm

  bought this car with 55800 miles. The interior is very comfortable and stylish. The car is somewhat heavy but the engine has good power. I consistently get 21 city and 29 highway when on cruise control. The looks are ok but the newer models are now better. As far as reliability it has served me well. It goes 10k miles between oil changes. I do take care of car and do not drive it aggressively. It is a cruiser not a racecar. The feeling behind wheel is not great because it is too comfortable and big. Overall is a good car. Keep regular maintenance take care of it. Repairs can be pricey but you do get what you pay or dont pay for.

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  AMG, name says it all - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Steve - January 4 - 1:20 am

  I got it used in Queens. couldnt resist its styling in and out and when i took it out for a test drive, it was amazing. Superb handling and performance at the same time. I cannot be more satisfied with this car other than for its gas mileage. I just did a drag on it and got an impressive 5.02 sec 0-60mph! always room for improvements. Thinking about few Kleemann parts here and there. Overall, lovin it everyday since the first day.

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  They just keep making them better - 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By poppy42 - January 2 - 8:52 pm

  I traded a 2008 E350 Sport for a 2012 E350 Sport primarily to get the more fuel efficient engine and an updated Command System. The Command System is a huge improvement; but I have been somewhat disappointed in the fuel efficiency. The EPA projected a 25% improvement (16/24 vs 20/30), but I have seen just a 10% improvement. Mind you, 19/29 in normal driving is not to be laughed at, but not what I expected. On a 1700 mile road trip which included several hundred miles of mountain driving, I did average 31.7 mpg. I would say that this car is more comfortable than the 2008. This is my fourth E Class and they just keep getting better.

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  Long Time Benz Owner - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By TerryN. - January 2 - 10:00 am

  I have owned over 20 Mercedes and this is the finest I have had to date. From the E430, SL500 to an S500. This S320 has phenominal power and excellent gas mileage. At a current $250 a gallon at the pump, this is a dream especially considering its weight. Has 145,000 and not a problem yet. Rock solid as always. The S Class is the finest motorcar money can buy. It blows my Rolls into the weeds.

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  If you want and SUV... keep looking! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By cjahr - January 2 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking to forge a strong bond with your Mercedes service advisor, then this car is for you! The ML is a far cry short of the quality that one expects from an automobile manufacturer such as the venerable Mercedes-Benz. This car has had more problems requiring shop intervention than I care to share, and ironically, when I shared my feedback with their national call center, they seemed completely complacent and offered no real advice other than to "lemon law it." So my advice, if are looking for an SUV, dont stop with the ML... keep looking!

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  2003 ML 350 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By WLK - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Solid unbeatable safety features. Best snow vehicle you can buy. Typical poor fuel economy, SUV. Only average power from the 3.7 l motor. Limited color selections. The interior layout better than previous years. A womans vehicle unless you are only 150 lb. male. Narrow and short seats, too harsh a ride. Build quality below average for Mercedes.

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  my review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By manfish - January 2 - 10:00 am

  my son says it is not and old ladies car. so that was good enough for me.

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  I agree - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mmnbmeyes - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Before I purchased mine, I came to this site.I got the car with the premium pk (C5,C1-elect seats,plus the cd player). It was really worth it to get these extras. This car is sooooo easy to get around in. Big on front seat comfort but easy for parking. So far really hugs the road-will see what winter brings.My last car was the XJ8 Jaguar- so I was used to luxury and speed plus troubles with service. So far I really like this car.

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  SL500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By wind beneath wings - January 2 - 10:00 am

  It is the best car and the road. It is fun to drive. Great speed. We love the new look of the SL500 too.

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  Best family vehicle - 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By coladin - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Coming from an XC90, an exceptional family vehicle, we are now back in a car, along one, but a car nonetheless. Tonnes of space, great ride and handling considering its size and the mileage is amazing. Whereas the XC90 struggled to get 240 miles for 19 gallons of gas, the R gets an easy 380 of pure city driving. Plus, it has great torque and very driveable and people always seem to notice it, it is very handsome with the AMG package and 19 inch wheels.