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 and safe car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Giuliana Cline - July 10 - 1:00 am

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  Swapped the SUV - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DPS - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Family of 6 swapped the Expedition for the wagon. We had nothing to tow and make up for the cargo space with a Thule cartop carrier (when all 6 of us are in the car). We avg 23 mpg hwy and 21 city (10+ better than the EXP.) AWD (4matic) is a must for us in Alaska and performed great last winter in the snow and ice. We used Nokian snow/alpine rated studless tires. The kids love it(11,9,5,6mo)it is wide enough that there is none of the "Hes touching me!". The third row seat is big enough for the 11 and 9 yr old to sit comfortably. Well drive it til it dies.

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  Best Riding Car I have ever owned - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By brian h. - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Just recently purchased this vehicle and it has an incredible feel on the road with above average acceleration.I have previously owned an E-Class and this far exceeds it.There is little to dislike about the performance. The mileage is better than expected.

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  very classy!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By nice merc! - July 2 - 2:00 am

  this is a very nice SUV from mercedes. (well, the only other choice you have is the ugly G-Class)! nice overall fit and finish, nice climate control dials, nice front seats, cool navigation screen, etc. maybe i should have gone for the X5?

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  Once you go MB, you wont go back - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jbuck55 - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I was ordered my C240 and waited 5 months and it has been so worth it. The color(silver on silver) oozes class and sexiness and I get many compliments on the styling and design. Granted, I would love more horses, but this baby was made to cruise not bruise and it does just that. I would like to see maybe more wheel styles available and also get rid of the useless cassette but all in all I love this car. Will pray NOT to have the problems I have read about but so far so damn good!

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  Great Update to the classic - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By jhouston - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I never expected to get another convertible - the hardtop won me over. The styling is almost universally praised. The engineering is most impressive - stability control, brakes, feel of the steering. But all in all, it is a beautifully styled and outfitted transport device for the new century. The downside is the overcharge for options - esp. phone. By why question the cost of a piece of art?

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  Fun Fantastic Car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CarolB - June 30 - 6:00 pm

  Have 2000 miles on my new coupe and love it! First road trip this weekend thru the mountains of western NC. More strangers walk up & ask me about this car than any car Ive ever had. The ride is smooth yet the handling is awesome. I can get in & out comfortably unlike my partners BMW 335 coupe. Nav worked great. Sound system is superb. Its just an all around FUN car to drive and turns lots of heads. Cant comment on reliability and maintenance as its still too new. So far, Im not disappointed with my purchase. Wheeeee!!

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  Extremely Nice! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Pamela Howard - June 29 - 6:43 pm

  Ive owned my new ML350 for a short time, but I can tell you that it is extremely nice. The vehicle is a smooth ride, and handles exceptionally well. The only drawback, if I must name one, is the gas mileage, but thats to be expected, being an SUV. It takes $60, roughly, to fill the tank, but it does seem to last a while. I highly recommend this vehicle for its style, functionality, luxury, and safety features. After all, its a Mercedes Benz! You cant, and wont go wrong here.

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  My first E - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tron - June 28 - 8:16 am

  My first E is everything I expected, pure luxury and performance. I waited eleven yrs to finally buy one. I test drove the new BMW 2008 535xi, very nice car, fast no turbo lag but felt large and heavy. The E350 was not as quick off the line but if you want luxury with performance this is the car for this price range. I got the sports package with dual tail pipes, larger tire. Looks very sharp, plus no cost for the upgrade. The cabin was very quiet. Love the sports looks! This is a keeper!

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  Even better than the M3 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Brad - June 28 - 7:40 am

  My wife and I had to decide between the the C55, the M3, and the new Corvette. The C55 was clearly the best of the three. The Corvette is cheaper, but it isnt nearly as safe as either the BMW or the Benz. The key difference between the C55 and the M3 is the interior. One look inside of an M3, and you will know that the car is built for performance. The C55 is built for performance and for luxurious comfort. For just $1,000 more than an M3, the C55 offers a hand-made engine, Nav system, single disc CD player with a 6-disc changer in the glove box, heated seats, four doors, and much, much more. The C55 is really an outstanding deal for the money it costs.