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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  Better then a 5 Series - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By digdigitial - October 29 - 10:00 am

  the car is probably the best car in the world. worth every dollar. if you want the best then you car is a Mercedes-Benz E class

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  Great car buy. - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RobsMBZ - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Im only 2 months into owning my C230, but already it feels like a keeper. What I like mostly is that it is quite heavy and solid for its size. No rattles. Stock wheels are beautiful. Suspension is firm but not jarring, considering the 45 profile tires. Engine has lots of power, yet Im getting 26mpg in town. Panorama roof is great. Choose your color carefully because the image of the care changes.

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  Happy Camper - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Pam - October 29 - 7:23 am

  My first MB but not my first driving experience. I have been chauffering my Mom in her S500s for years never dreaming Id be shopping for a MB myself. Test drove the CLK550 and that was it! What a jewel. A real pleasure to find the combination of coupe and convertible with such style and pizzaz! It is perfect. Few things ever are. It sure suits my fancy and makes my day just a little brighter and more interesting. The one complaint I have aesthetically is the choice of rag tops. Whatever happened to that beautiful "buff" colored cloth. Black, Ash and Navy dont suit every ones taste!

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  Mercedes does not stand behind product - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By tmerc - October 25 - 12:39 pm

  2006 Mercedes with 63,711 miles and has had all recommended service performed at the suggested mileage, including regular oil changes every 4,000 miles (synthetic oil). Car stalled without warning. Towed to Park Place Mercedes where it was diagnosed that pistons in cylinders 1 and 4 had come apart, requiring a complete engine block replacement. The cost of repair was quoted at $15,000.00. The value of the car, prior to the catastrophic event, as listed on Kelley Blue Book is $17,000.00 private sale. My expectation is that an engine on a well-maintained, vehicle should last beyond 63,711 miles, unless there are issues with quality of parts used, or the quality of the engine construction.

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  poor electical sysyem - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c matthis - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Two of the origional tires developed problems early on as the steel belts went out of allignment and the tire manufacturer refused to honor their warranty forcing the purchase of a complete set of new tires. No need to focus on the problems while the car was under warranty as Mercedes handled those well. Afterwards the electronics in the dash went haywire and caused some problems under the hood.Total cost to repair both was almost $1100. When I marveled that the dealership had these unusual parts in stock, I was told that this problem has become very common causing Mercedes to stock their dealerships with these parts for prompt repairs.

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  The ultimate car for a road trip. - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By crash2much - October 24 - 6:27 am

  Wonderful car for the intended purpose; very happy with the purchase. A most relaxing ride; very comfortable & supportive seats and least amount of road noise I have experienced in a car. Have the premium 2 and sports package. Got 46mpg with cruise control going 71mph on a road trip; around town average ~30. Get well over 500 miles per tank of diesel. Stereo system overall is fantastic, navigation system is a much needed improvement over previous generation and is very good. Engineering is what is expected; best in class trunk size when trunk closes engineered to not pinch the luggage! All season floor mats a must for us; cost extra but are great. Bluetooth works fine & easy to set up.

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  Not as hot as you may think - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Thatdude - October 23 - 1:46 pm

  For the first year I owned this car, it was amazing. It was fun to drive, got decent gas mileage, and of course it performed well in all types of weather. However, it was all downhill after the first year. Brakes needed to be replaced after only ten thousand miles. The whole car rattles, and the car decides to jerk back and forth at a red light. The radio decides to turn off whenever it feels like. Please tell me how a Mercedes needs a new transmission after only 15 thousand miles? Since I owned this car, it has been in the shop over ten times. Good thing Mercedes has a good service plan, otherwise it would have been hell. It was such a pain to keep bringing the car in though, such a waste of time.

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  clk500 convertible - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By buckers - October 23 - 10:00 am

  This beauty stops traffic, esp. when the top is down. Capri blue metallic with the light ash interior. Even with the (blue) ragtop, the interior is quieter than our slk hardtop. And enough toys for any boy - or girl - to play all day. For only about $10,000 more than the new slk, it,s five times the car.

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  Simply Fantastic - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By opulentanonymity - October 23 - 10:00 am

  Traded in my 04 Viper for this work of art. This AMG is very quick for a luxury feature packed coach. AMG will always be in my mind for future car purchases.

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  My 1st Mercedes - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By PADDYBOZZ - October 23 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving Lexus autos for 12 years .I have changed due to wanting a german auto after driving porsches. I tried e500 and it sooo nice , I will get one next year also . I trade every year . But what an auto ! I cant explain the difference , Between Lexus and Mercedes You have to drive one to experince it . Im sure you will agree . Paddybozz