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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  Great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By sgg - November 14 - 5:23 pm

  This is a great car for the purpose intended , i.e. long trips , hauling kids and stuff. Iinterstate cruising is comfortable and as fast as you dare. Gas consumption in the R500 is about 20 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in town. I will probably get another R class, but will get the diesel version .

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  A Moving Fortress - As Advertised - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By FastTime - November 10 - 10:00 am

  The G55 and G500 are solidly built vehicles, but are still trucks in every sense of the word. The G55 is fast, comfortable, and attention grabbing, for a truck. I absolutely enjoy the quality, speed, and handling of my truck and would make the same purchase decision again.

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  I like the M-class - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By hellenemd - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy this car fully. The power is more than enough to go when I need to go and it has already saved me problems on the road by just the get up and go it has in reserve. Transition to fast from slow is effortless and the engine barely breaths hard in producing that power without hesitation.

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  We call it "Papa Bear Car" - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Geronimo - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Our second 140-body Benz, total 15 years. Drove a 93 two extra years while I looked for a clean lo-mile 99, the 140s last year. Father- in-laws a big guy who played basketball for Pitt, so we need big front AND back seats. Mausoleum-quiet, heavy, comfortable. Four people can have a civilized conversation @ 70 mph. Dont buy one if youre not up to the parts chase, and the search for cooperative repair shops. But at $10K for a good lo- mileage example, this is a LOT of road car for the money. Used S cars have great initial- build-quality per dollar. Dont buy one unless you really want a big old German car with a decidedly Teutonic personality.

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  sl550 - 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By tsiamas - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Love the car but have less then 10K miles and have changed front tires (bulging), and two wheel rims.

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  Best value car, time saver - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Hal Altan - November 9 - 4:06 am

  I have driven this vehicle new for 3 years (45,000 miles), I had to take it back to a dealer 6 times. 3 regular maintenance (oil change every 12,000 miles), 1 temp sensor flaky, 1 oxygen sensor replacement (kept giving engine fault error) 1 bulb burn out. Other than 3 oil changes I did not have to pay a penny (including the burned out bulb, Mercedes paid for it.) It drives like a dream (very quiet, just glides, not a grinding engine or bearing sound. I believe, it is the best value car.

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  Dangerous car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Lewis L - November 8 - 12:26 am

  I own a CL600 and recently had a total brake failure. I hit a wall doing about 60mph. No airbag deployment, presafe brake failed, and no warning about the brakes. Mercedes lawyered up and refuses to deal with this. Ive had lots of other little problems, but am shocked at how they treat customers buying a flagship model.

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  good in rain and snow - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By bowl1901 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I had a s430 and it was a fine car. In the winter the traction was adequate. The s4304matic is much better in snow and rain. The newer model is improved but lacks a cassette player that was previously included. Fuel economy is slightly less. I average 17mpg

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  Great Car and Lots of Comfort - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dozing - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I have a BMW 328is and needed a bigger car for my new family so I test drove the BMW 530 and many other cars. By far this is the best car in the class in my opinion. Plenty of power in the 3.2L engine and a lot of fun to drive. (Hint: Even more standard power, as opposed to AMG power, under the hood would set this car apart by far)

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  Dream Car or Not? - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Sharon - October 30 - 11:53 pm

  My CLK320 drives like the dream I always thought Mercedes to be! This is my first Mercedes owenership experience. My main frustration has been the constant back and forth to the dealer for repairs! I have had to replace the catalytic converter 3 times in just over 2 years of ownership. Various sensors have also failed and needed replacement. Ive wondered about the wisdom of purchasing another Benz. Still, when the car is not in the shop its nice to tool around in!