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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  over priced, I got taken - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By maxey - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Over all, I well I was taken for a ride,the purchase was a headace, back and forth over pricing. Car is to over rated. This will be my last mercedes

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  Lemon or Orange - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Alinago - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I have never, in my life, had a car as bad as this Benz....for over 3 yrs of ownership, my car has been in the "shop" more than Ive driven it. As soon as its fixed with one problem, 2 days later it has another. Ive givin it plenty of chances...25 strikes, your OUT. So,the only option now is to say good buy to it forever.!

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  Stay away - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Moe Kabiri - December 15 - 10:00 am

  The car was in shop in total for over two months out of 18 months we owned it. Do not buy the convertible. It is a major problem car. You name the problem the car has it. Some of Cryslers technolgy has managed to slip in the CLK.

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  Fabulous - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dipu - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Just GRRRRRREAT. I love everything about this SUV. I got a great bargin on a 2003 MB ML320.

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  Not As Good As It Should Be - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Nomorebenz4me - December 14 - 10:06 am

  This vehicle has been nothing but trouble since I purchased it brand new. Electrical problems followed by coolant and fuel line problems. It has been in the shop at least once every 2-3 months since purchase. Since warranty expired it costs $500 per visit minimum and sometimes up to $2000. The mileage has never been more that 29 mpg and it is a diesel! I will never buy another Mercedes because of this experience.

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  15 going on 30--A future classic - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By dadconsult - December 13 - 10:21 pm

  I picked up my 99 CLK 430 for a song...and at 131,000 miles it runs and drives like new. The interior is flawless, leather seats show no wear and tear whatsoever. Power to spare, which is very evident when pulling onto an interstate vs my prior car, a V6 Accord. However, the Accords ride was far better, the trade-off of a drivers car. It is, however, much quieter and despite being 9 years older, feels more solid and well-built (its German-built, mine has AMG trim) than the Accord. Now the rest of the story--its a salvage car, was in an accident that took out the drivers side front fender and bumper. Was repaired and cannot tell it was ever touched, no consequences are evident.

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  Starting to rethink this purchase - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tony - December 11 - 9:33 am

  Ive had the car for 6 months, purchased 2nd hand without a warranty. Air system is already giving problems to the tune of $2300. That is the cost of one strut and one air compressor. While licking my wounds from this event, I may purchase an extended warranty and keep the car for my wifes sake or get rid of it and get a 5 series BMW, what I should have bought in the first place. Im just an average Joe with a love for German cars but who can afford repairs like this? No matter who you are.

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  Best of the best - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C Ramey - December 10 - 5:23 pm

  This little car feels like a very big car. The size is perfect for me - male 240 pounds. Im getting 30 mpg on the highway (at 60 mph), and it rides and handles like a much more expensive vehicle. I couldnt be happier with this car - it is the best automobile Ive ever owned.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dave - December 10 - 1:20 pm

  Had the vehicle now for 5 months and its everything we expected. The sporty package makes the difference for us. The vehicle hugs the road especially on turns. I have recommended this vehicle to everyone. I have read all the previous problems with the transmission, but I got the vehicle anyways and to this day, not one problem.

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  New buyer /older car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Chaz - December 10 - 1:03 pm

  Went from an 89 430 to a 99 420s in late September. Am astonished by all the features and how beautifully this 10 year old car was built. Although I find the brake pedal a bit soft and it travels a little too far...was told by a mechanic that this is normal? Changed the almost worn back brake pads and the pedal now feels closer to normal. Will also bleed the line for trapped air bubbles. May put a little extra air in the tires to see if it improves cornering/handling. Undoing the negative lead on the battery will render the radio inoperable (anti theft feature) and you will have to get the "code" from Mercedes. Must read the owners manual to understand how everything works.