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:

• 

  Great car while in warranty !!!!!!! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Paul - December 16 - 10:53 pm

  The design department did its job flawlessly with the C-Class; The car is a delight to drive when new and shows great composure on the road and lots of punch, inside the car you are surrounded by exquisite quality (if you choose the OPTIONAL luxury packages), but beneath the skin there is a time bomb. Materials, components and especially electrics and electronics are a nightmare and they seem to be designed to withstand only the use for 3 yrs / 60,000 miles. I experienced serious problems with electrics and electronics, AT gearbox (transmission conductor), steering rack (!!!), countless electrical surges and...lousy dealer service. Treat yourself with A NEW MB, BUT ONLY WITHIN WARRANTY !

• 

  buy something else - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ptowmdriver - December 16 - 10:00 am

  my ML320 has had 37 service calls in 48 months, 19 of those for the same 3 problems (locks malfunction,windows malfunction, window controls stop working). I love driving the car but it is terribly unreliable. Fortunately I have a great dealer who picks it up at my home and brings me a

• 

  It looks good!.. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Elvira Weyhetton - December 12 - 11:16 pm

  When I saw this car I knew I had to have it.. The drive took some time to get used to but after a few months, I fell in love with my C55. Very fast, very Mercedes-Benz like. Only downfall is that this car must have a sport driver. I took my 84 year old grandmother to a wedding and she said she hated the ride, but it looks good!!!

• 

  Black/Java CL 500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Dr GMF - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Replacing passenger door electric window motor has been frustrating. Dealer service cut the leather then they broke every speaker grill (3) at the next three appointments. They replaced damaged wood trim on door and seat function panel. Always delivered car with grease spots everywhere they touched it and really did not care. Finally the center console split in half and needed replacement. Strange vibrations from wheels in the mornings that the dealer blames on low battery charge? The paasenger door is still not right but no body including MB cares.

• 

  Happy Owner - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By terry jarosky - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Most are black or silver. I have white with tan interior. Different color, white, stands out and makes appearance of car look bigger. 493 HP is fantastic for a big sedan!!!

• 

  Beautiful car/ Prefer BMW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By BOB/3553 - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful, handsome, styling. Not as willing to play as previous BMW. Handling is a bit ponderous. Car is at home on the highway at around 100mph.I ordered the sports package,but car came with standard rubber. Dealer replaced tires with correct high performances Conti Contact Sport II

• 

  The little truck that could! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MBOwner - December 6 - 9:33 pm

  We bought this for normal everyday driving. Found it to be reliable and capable. Great engine and transmission. The box on frame design is a bit too rough, but the feel of durability is amazing. It has more umph than my old GMC. The tire wear was on the high side as was the brake wear. Stopping a 5000 truck takes a lot of brake lining. Excellent visability, nice looking, easy to maintain. Avg about 20mpg. Clean and efficient. Handles people, things and long drives like a pro.

• 

  Reliability - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By benghoe - December 6 - 10:00 am

  Have owned the S430 - 4matic for about 5 months. Had to send it back to the dealership twice - several days at a time - for warranty defects. Expecting more trips to the workshop as problems have not gone away. The car runs smoothly but performance is not exceptional. Everytime I pass a Lexus LS or BMW 745, I question my purchase.

• 

  Great Gas Mileage - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Starbow - December 6 - 5:33 am

  I love my Mercedes for its mileage - I continue to get up to 30.7 miles per gallon and Ive owned the car for 3 years - it now has 27,000 miles on it. We recently took a driving vacation trip, starting I-66 W through the Blue Ridge then Great Spoky Mountains - Alex., VA to Sevierville,then Oak Ridge & Chantanooga, TN, then to Cherokee and Ashville, NC then back home to Upper Marlboro, MD via I-95 N. This car drove like a sports car around & over the mountains - huged the road, took curves, the exception-ally smooth & accurate breaking made this car an absolute joy to drive - my husband, who does not like my "soft" car (he wanted me to buy a BMW 530), would not let me at the wheel.

• 

  I love my C230K, perfect for a 1st car. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Suzanne - December 6 - 12:00 am

  I bought a 2002 certified pre-owned C230K coupe and I have had no problems with it at all! It has new brakes and the tread on the tires is great. The leather seats look brand new, like no one has ever even sat on them! I do make frequent trips to Virginia, about 300 miles away, and I only use a half tank of gas to get there, so its very fuel efficient. I have driven other Mercedes in the past,2002 M-class and a 2006 C280, as well as BMWs (Z3 and X5), and let me tell you, this is not a car to scoff at! It has a very nice ride. The lack of a CD player isnt a problem for me. I just use my Ipod car adapter, perfect!