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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  A great car to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Carl C. - December 20 - 9:43 pm

  Ive had convertibles for the last 30 years. This is by far the most fun to drive. The trunk is very small, but who cares. If you have golf clubs, throw them in the back seat. However, as other people have noted, the electrical systems leave a lot to be desired.

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  Mercedes should recall the door handles - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By eurocarman1962 - December 19 - 3:16 pm

  I have owned this sporty Mercedes C 240 for going on 3 years. Its my 5th Mercedes, but I got to tell you, the Daimler folks really screwed up on the interior door handle design, as all four have broken off, actually broken off!? The problem is that they connect to the side airbag system so you cant just glue them back. I would expect more from Mercedes-Benz, this isnt a Honda or a Chevy, this is a Mercedes. The car runs fine, although the over usage of plastic on the under carriage is a bit nutty. Also, the factory didnt even put an oil dipstick? I bought a Jaguar X-Type since, now I am happy.

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  Love the vehicle - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By vanmcleroy - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle now for almost three years and I love it. The handling is exceptional and and I have no mechanical or electrical problems what so ever. I recommend my car and all the versions after it to my friends and convinced one to purchase a 2002 version and as he said, I will never purchase another car ever again.

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  ML 320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sm - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this MB for about 2 years and have not had any problems except for a cup holder I broke with my knee that was replaced by Dealer free with no questions asked. The vehicle has been totally reliable and is fun to drive.

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  needs redesign - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By CRhooff - December 19 - 10:00 am

  The use of a spacesaver spare moves this car to a nonreliable vehicle status. The tire used for this vehicle is not readily available from a tire dealer, and must be ordered. Delivery: 2 to 7 days. If you trash a tire on your vaction trip across the USA you wont be able to pick up a replacement along the way, and you cant drive an extended time on the toy tire. Bad move on the part of the manufacturer. Also the location of the spare: under the vehicle has problems. Can be damaged, and hard to get to except in ideal conditions.

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  so many problems - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By A patel - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my fully-loaded C320 for a year and a half. I had ordered it before it even started shipping or without looking at the demo because I had placed my order way in advance. I like the car, however the minor annoyance and problems are too numerous to mention. Probably my first and last Mercedes.

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  SURE BEATS WALKING - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By socalwx - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I THINK THE REVIEW BY EDMUNDS MISSES THE POINT, ITS NOT ABOUT GETTING THE CAR ALL LOADED UP WITH A BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT HAVING THE CHOICE TO PICK OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE IN A GREAT LITTLE CAR. MINE CAME IN WELL UNDER 30 WITH TAXES, I SMILE EVERY TIME I SEE THE CAR. I STILL CANT HANDLE THE FACT THAT ITS MINE. I LOVE THE WAY IT DRIVES AND THAT ITS NOT SOME BIG HACKIN SUV, THAT HAS AN OWNER TO MATCH. YEAH WELL I JUST GOT MY SOUND IN AND THE CDS ARE KICKIN ON MY BOSE :) SO I AM HAPPY. OUT

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  You gotta love what you drive - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FLOYDinLA - December 19 - 4:53 am

  I used to drive a Corolla so when my wife and I planned to look for a second car we did a little research. I was opting for the new 3 series from BMW, but the minute we saw the ML, wow! Everytime I get close to the car, I cant help but stare at it. Gas mileage... who cares about gas mileage? It doesnt even matter, it was just too fun to drive. The looks, its #1, no complaints. Build quality, you cant compare to anything. Everytime I get in and out of my car only one thing comes to mind "YOU GOTTA LOVE WHAT YOU DRIVE."

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  Disappointment - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Clemanto - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I got this car in May, 03 when my leased was ended with BMW 3 series. The CLK is powerful and hot looking. However, the quality is no comparison with BMW. The car engine is noisy, lack of cup holder, electronic problems like my navigation will suddenly go blank, the cd changer cant detact my cd and etc, AC is not cold, the stereo is not as good as i expect from BOSE ( Harmon kardon in BMW is better ). I am just wondering what Chrysler has done on this car and didnt expect paying over 58k would get this kind of car. After a year driving this car, i am swtiching back to BMW.

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  Safe and Solid - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By William Brenner - December 17 - 10:00 am

  My 3rd ML since 1998. This one is the best. 8 air bags, super brakes and handling on all surfaces. 13-15 mpg city, 20 intercity at steady 70 mph. Ive driven MLs in snow, ice, slush, 15 below zero, wet and Ive never been disappointed. Although dated after 6 years the stylingis still better than most newer suvs.