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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  Great SUV but - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By tarrid - November 8 - 7:19 am

  Real fun to drive, lots of power with the 4.3l. Nicely designed vehicle. but could have been made better. I have driven this ML for about 1 year now and if you dont stay on top of things it would fall apart. Just the up keep will put you in the red. Parts cost alot (dont buy from the dealler) unless they are small parts. $100 for a oil change ( oil and filter ) and i do it my self. synthetic oil only. $100 for the 16 spark plugs. super gas only $$$$$$$$ Tires $$$$$$, Power window switch. Check engine light on and off all the time. I knew it would cost abit more to keep (Mercedes Benz ) but i have a family and a life. This is a very time and money consumming vehicle to own.

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  Good Car - Could Use Some Improvements - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JHas - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Had car for just under 2 years and 27000 miles. Love power/acceleration and AWD system (with Blizzak snow tires, car will go anywhere in any weather). No mechanical problems to date. Car is relatively anoymous and yet it commands a certain respect. Need improvement: 1. Front seats - in order to get lumbar support, had to order a special seat; worst drivers seat that I have ever experienced (and have had cars from many manufacturers including, Jaguar, Nissan, Saab, Mitubishi, VW) 2. Not having a separate dash insert to play a CD is ridiculous in a car costing this much

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  Love this Car! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mtujague - November 8 - 2:00 am

  I am a case manager so I travel a lot. I love this car and dont know if I will ever let it go. It is fun to drive and handles like a true mercedes.

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  Great Mid-Range Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CRFORTE - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Sold my S500 after 2 years because I wanted something a little smaller and sportier. This car is quick, agile and a blast to drive. The 7 speed auto is good, but shifts a little strange from standstill or slow start. Handling is very tight and interior is quiet - nice insulation. Stereo isnt as good as the "S" and the ride is not as cushy - but both are well within accepable ranges. Only problem on delivery was car needed slight alignment. If youre thinking of an "E", you simply cant go wrong with the 500.

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  Best Wagon in the world? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Satch35 - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Short of the E55AMG of course! Overall this is a great car, well thought out, good build quality and really drives well. Fuel consumption is OK for size and you get a lot of technology built in.

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  Love It or Sell It - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Perplexed Owner - November 7 - 10:00 am

  A few minor annoying problems for first 3 yrs (23000 miles)-- glove box, front seat adjustment handle, etc. Fuel pump failed in 3rd year. Faulty work on fuel pump resulted in a second replacement in the 4th year (28000 miles). The 4 year warranty is definitely valuable.

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  Great Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Floyd McKissick - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I also have a 2000 CLK and this car has just as much "go" to it. I also like it much better than my 97 Z3. This is a great car. Fun to drive.

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  2004 Mercedes-Benz C230 - Delivers What Youd Expect - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mike T - November 6 - 10:30 am

  The Mercedes-Benz C230 Sedan has a lot going for it. It is a reasonably priced car with great build quality, great gas mileage, and more comfort and elbow room than the 2000 BMW 3-Series I used to drive.

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  the car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mikecr20 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  this car is great, fun to drive and you need to put rims on it.

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  5,000 mile report - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By GregS96 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  So far this automobile is the finest I have ever owned. I had only one problem with the vehicle the first week I owned it: the Command unit (stereo/GPS/cell phone), blacked out on my while driving. The dealer picked up the vehicle and found a "software installation" problem. I havent had a problem with the vehicle since. Even though this is the most expensive vehicle I have ever owned, by 20K (the last was a Vette), I really feel I got my moneys worth.