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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  The Only All-In-One Vehicle Youll Need! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By JoyRen - November 13 - 8:36 pm

  We have one child and another on the way. We owned a Cherokee & a G35. We decided the two cars were unnecessary. We had been looking at XC90, Pilot, Odyssey, X5, ML, etc. We werent planning on buying until the Spring or Summer, but after visiting the MB showroom we were so impressed by the R and the fantastic end of year incentives, we bought it. It costs me less per month than my G35 did! The R is wonderful and a perfect replacement for both my old cars. Home Depot trip? Drop all the seats and I have more room than in the jeep (I use a heavy duty blanket to protect). We love road trips and have big families. Perfect for long excursions. MB Safety. My family loves the R.

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  minor issues - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Richard - November 13 - 6:40 pm

  I traded up from a (06) CLK 350 in the spring of "09". Love the car with the exception of two minor issues. Firstly is the impossible task of keeping the mags clean, drives me crazy. The other is dripping of water into the trunk when the body os wet, either from the weather or just washing.Minor issue bur when you spend this kind of money you would expect these issues to have been solved.

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  A diesel MB charmer - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve Glauser - November 13 - 12:06 am

  When 1) Premium gas goes north of $2.30/gal; 2) you change jobs and started commuting 50 mi/day roundtrip on one of Atlantas most congested roads and 3) the tranny in your 2002 Lincoln LSE is replaced at 26k miles, you buy a Benz turbodiesel. The new diesel technology is going to tramp hybrid into the ground IMHO. Its not the road warrior the LS was, but its darn close. Cabin is much better suited to the long commute - better seats, stereo, NVH isolation. Torque spoils you immediately; HP has no meaning when the car locomotive pulls you to an easy 80mph cruise with no sign of power dropoff. I try not to subscribe to societys definition of success, but I feel like Ive arrived in m E320 CDI.

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  1997 E320 - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DrewH - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Very nice and still feels updated even at 5 years old. MB put features on this 1997 car that are just now showing up on 2002 Japanese and American vehicles. Ride, power and comfort are a perfect blend between sport and high end luxury. Safety is of upmost importance and all you need is in this car.

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  new mercedes benz - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By f42oc - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Car is fun to drive; service is great. Fun car

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  What a Car........ - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By hazzard - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I have a brillent silver 2002 that I have had for about a month. I can find nothing wrong with this car, its far better than the Acura or Jag-Xtype, and quiter than both the 3 & 5 series BMWs. I alreay have 2500 miles on it because its so much fun to drive/be in.

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  Is it a girly SUV? - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dr. Van - November 11 - 8:26 am

  I had a choice between a RR sport, Infiniti QX56, and the ML. Benz was the best choice. It looked small from the outside, but once I got behind the wheel, I dont know what they did to the windshield or dash but, boy it is roomy. Thought it was a girly SUV, as most were driven by women, so I had to go with the AMG package, and I can say that was the best thing ever. Its been a week and 3 days since Ive owned it and I can tell you that I am the talk of my block. AMG is the way to go if you are a guy(I have yet to see an other AMG out there), and make sure you add some 22" rims as the only exterior accessory. Now that is a Manly Macho ride. I love it. As an intro to luxury SUV, this is it.

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  Nice, but not a Lexus - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fast55 - November 11 - 3:50 am

  Ive way more issues with the 06 than my old E55 (2002 W210 E55) although, yes, the 2006 is a rocketship in comparison. MB has lost the "tank like" build quality of the older cars, and doesnt seem to care what the buyer endures as far as problems, but the car is scary fast, and is still the best 4 door hot rod money can buy. Get the build quality up to Lexus standards, and there will be no room for BMW in this market.

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  Fun Car and Great Appearance - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tom - November 10 - 7:13 pm

  I moved up from a CLK (which I loved) to the E-Coupe 350 2010 and thought they would be comparable. They are not; the E-Coupe is far more advanced. The two optional packages load the car with great technology that is easy to use. I decided not to get the sports package and Im glad I did because the ride is smooth and comfortable without it. My CLK had a hard ride. This E- Coupe is a dream to drive.

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  Great car, but a ton of money - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By big dan - November 8 - 11:40 am

  The interior is superb, roomy, and comfortable. Except for a driveline noise that seems to be appearing, the interior is quiet and the ride is smooth. You can tell that the engine is a little small for this 5000lb beast, but the 7-speed makes do with what its got to make it manageable. Fuel mileage is around 17.5 city and 22 highway. Not bad for a 7 passenger vehicle! The maintenance cost is high, so beware. An oil change (just oil, nothing else!) is $280. You can do the maintenance yourself, but I am expecting a challenge from MB on lease turn in time.