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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  Best - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Mercedes - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This benz of mine is very fine. I love the interior, it similar to my wifes S- 600. The offroad capability is amazing. The ride could stand some improvement. The G55 AMG is the third best mercedes in my opinion. I have had no problems and it is very reliable. If you have the 90000 dollars for standard G55 buy it, if you have the money for options get those too. Its great.

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  A Must Have - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mercedes Man - August 6 - 5:40 pm

  This car is definitely a must buy if you dont already have one. Acceleration is exceptional and handling is sharp and very responsive. I took a road trip to Utah last summer and let me tell you, the car felt great at high speed. Overall, the Mercedes-Benz C280 is definaitely worth the money.

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  1000 miles and all is well. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By DGDanieljr1 - August 5 - 10:06 am

  So far this has been a great car. I do miss the robust horsepower of the Vette I had but this car does have some quiet acceleration. Seems to be a very nice car.

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  My SL320 - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Joan Ortlepp - August 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my 5th Mercedes. Have had an older 230SL, 2 diesels and my most recent large sedan 300SE. Have sold my 300SE and Miata convertible and combined the features of both in SL320. This car is fun to drive, very comfortable and quick (even though it is only a large 6 cylinder). I got the SL320 because it had the same engine as my 300SE.

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  Great Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JJP - August 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Mercedes. I am not disappointed! The car looks great, drives great and is built great. I test drove them all, the 5-series, GS300, A6 and Infiniti, and the Mercedes-Benz had by far the smoothest of rides for my taste. Highly recommended if your looking for style, ride comfort and dependability.

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  Smooth as Silk - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Daboss - August 3 - 10:00 am

  I have owned the last generation CLK in the form of a 99 CLK 320 and recently upgraded to the newly styled coupe. Also being the owner of an 03 E, I appreciated the lateral styling lines. The new CLK is a great blend of comfort with style. At times a car can end up being an unpracticle show piece, instead of a driver, not so here! So forget the backseat leg room and the added trunk space, you want power, style and comfort. This car has it all!! I dont think there is a day I drive this car without a HUGE smile on my face. Gliding through lanes, accelerating effortlessly, dropping all the windows with one touch of a button, it all seems surreal.

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  ML 350 - Our newest family member - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Pete Bashara - August 3 - 10:00 am

  The inspiration package is a must for the dollars -- really wish I would have sprung for the bi-xeon lights! The P38 package inspiration is true automotive value in the upper-end car market. Having driven a 2003 ML-320 for 1 week, I couldnt be happier with the 350! And talk about safety, the Greater Omaha Safety Commission baby seat installer couldnt believe the fit and the option of belt retractors not just in all 3 locations of the back seats but also for the 3rd row seat seats as well!

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  Issues with Suspension - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By MBZs550SoCal - August 3 - 3:53 am

  I purchased my 2007 S550 9/06. I have read many posts about front suspension issues. My vehicle starting making noise fron the front wheels. At first it sounded like a squeek and then got worse. Sometimes it goes away, then comes back. The first time I took it in they said it was an issue with a bolt on the suspension they tightened. I was suspicious. I got the car back and sure enough the issue was not resolved. I took it in last week for the same problem. Now, they got the shop forman in the issue and guess what, they are changing the entire front chasis. I have interior ratle noise and humming too.

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  Does the trick!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By richie353 - August 3 - 12:46 am

  I purchased a new 2001 ML 320 and kept it for a year and spent the greater part of that year camped at the dealer with the myriad of problems. Things like I could not go more than 2 weeks w/o a headlight bulb on either side blowing or strange sounds coming from the undercarriage or leaks each time it rained, etc. My first MB had been a 1961 220S and was a fantastic vehicle so I knew what a MB was supposed to be! I became very vocal whenever I had to be there for another issue with the 2001 and either the dealer was going to give in or MB itself. I was finally offered a 2002 ML500 which had over 5000 changes made and 200,000 great miles have passed. No major problems, just normal things.

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  It tickles me - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By FILSEE - August 2 - 10:00 am

  It still continues to exceed my performance expectations and in my estimation is a stronger, beefier design than the 2007 model change.