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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  good - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By charlespig - October 10 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive but the lexus LS is better. Plan to trade it in for the LS

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  Great all round SUV - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By P.G.P. - October 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my third ML, owned a 2000 430, a 2002 500 and now just took delivery of my 03 ML500 with the Inspiration Pkg. Handling and performance is fantastic but to make it even better I changed the springs to lower the vehicle ~1 1/2" - it really improves the cornering performance and still leaves a little travel for minor off- roading.

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  Best of the line (so far) - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By chatham - October 4 - 1:56 am

  This is our third ML and this is the best of the lot. Better build overall and better finish. We did test drive four other brands and picked this (though the aging Acura MDX was a close runner) for best of class. Weve had it for a month and, thus far, no problems to speak of. If you can get a good price (takes effort) then I think that this is best of the Luxury SUVs. We have two other cars,but this is the one most often out (over Bentley and Miata)

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  Addictive Lemon - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By boomchek - September 30 - 12:46 am

  I look forward to the drive everytime I get behind the wheel and step on the gas, as it has power, handling, and style. What I hate is the reliability. I had more problems with this one car than with my 10 previous cars combined, including a 20 year old $300 Accord. I still love it but its easy to go bankrupt fixing this car. Problems: power steering pump broke, cam and crank sensors ($1k repair), dual zone climate not dual anymore, vent solenoid making noises, alternator replaced, numerous light bulb failures, other minor electrical gremlins that I stopped bothering with. Do not buy this car unless you have FULL warranty or money to fix it. Otherwise great drivers car.

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  Worth considering - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Alex B - September 27 - 7:40 am

  Nice quality. Very comfortable inside. 6 adult sized seats. Really. Most other large SUVs may "seat 7" but they are not nearly as functional. Decent power, but the 3.5 litre could use another 15-20 horses. Good handling but sways a bit if driven hard. Styling is excellent from the front. Good from the side. Questionable from behind. Brakes are super-powerful - almost hyper sensitive to those used to domestics. 7 speed transmission is very high tech. Works very well. Good car, available with discounts - surprisingly good value. A true crossover thats properly executed. I think sales will pick up once people realize you can have performance, room, safety, style and utility.

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  What else can go wrong? - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By walt - September 26 - 10:00 am

  After replacing almost all sensors, catalytic converter, conv.top oil cylinders, and $4,000 in charges, it looks like it will make beautiful planter!

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  Driving feel being lost among electronics - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jgo - September 25 - 5:03 am

  This is my 3rd MB. Owned an E500 4m for a year, and decided to sell. First the good news, the car was totally reliable and finely finished inside and out, but a few months of driving revealed a series of irritations that added up. Theres throttle lag in this model, and brakes are hard to modulate due to the SBC. The steering power assist at lo speed is non existent, and at any speed the wheel needs constant input to stay on line. The airmatic works well at speed in corners and to isolate cabin, but go over a bump at lo speed and your head will bob. My old E430 4m felt roomier and easier to drive in suburbia and city. This car is engineered to compete with BMW in autobahn conditions, not on Long Island.

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  So far...So good - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jimbob - September 22 - 4:00 pm

  Not really that powerful, but economical, despite the premium fuel demand. Avg mpg 17/21. No cost maintenence (warranty). No cost repair (even light bulbs and wiper blades). Ride could be softer. Seats could use lumbar. The heater will roast you and the AC will keep you cool. Sun roof, power rear wing windows...Why? I replaced the brake pads at 20K for ceramic, no wear. If the car is parked for 3 days, the security system drains the battery dies. Video system...Why? Would I buy another? No...initial cost, but then, the 2006 model has been very nicely upgraded!!! ;-)

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  Seduced by Styling - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By rcf8000 - September 22 - 3:52 pm

  The GL is a mixed bag of the great and not so great. The latter would include the ride quality and road noise, although my car has the 20 inch wheels and runflat tires, which may be worse than the standard 19 inch wheels. I find the seats to be a bit too firm, but then I find most luxury car seats to be too firm. The nav screen is a joke. Its too small, and the lettering is too small. And I cant read it at all when wearing sun glasses. But the guidance to programmed destinations works well. My car has the running boards, which make getting in and out somewhat awkward. They look good though!

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  Comfortable family mover. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By doufitz - September 22 - 11:23 am

  "No" "Never" The replies were always the same when I asked my wife if she would like a minivan for transporting our three kids. She wouldnt even consider the R class, looked too much like a van. So I brought one home anyway..and she came around to the idea of a large wagon. It fits the family of 5 perfectly and room for a friend. Interior is top notch, nice auto tailgate and panoramic roof. 2D Navigation is adequate. It is a joy to drive, looking forward to a long road trip. It is an evolutionary vehicle design, kids would never fit in smaller 3rd row. Extremely happy with vehicle, have owned 5 other MBs, best fit and finish, a few electronic SRS realated messages, otherwise great.