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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  My 2003 Mercedes CLK 320 Convertible - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Shane Park - October 22 - 10:20 am

  When I purchased my 2003 pre-owned smoked silver Mercedes CLK 320 convertible with 19" chrome AMG rims and low profile tires I knew I was in for some major fun. The first thing that caught my eye (other than the glimmer of the rims) was the way the top retracted neatly into its space then dissappeared as the rear cover closed. The look of this car with the top down is by far the best convertible look I have ever seen. The exterior lines are true to a well designed Mercedes and the interior look does not lack at all in design but I prefer less plastic. The 265 HP engine speeds you smoothly around anyone in your way and the electronic shifter supplies you with the added hill power when needed.

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  Do not buy this car! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By LED FOG LAMP LOVER - October 21 - 11:30 pm

  I bought this car in July 2009. Got 6k miles on it. Went in for service and the dealer did a software update. Now the beautiful led fog lamps dont work at night. Dealer (s) nor Mercedes Benz does not have a fix for this problem! One of the major reasons I bought this car is for those great looking led fog lamps. Car looks ugly without them. I wish Mercedes would refund me some $$$. Or fix the problem faster! Or replace the hardware and stop blaming the software!

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  Sams Baby - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sue - October 21 - 2:46 pm

  I have wanted a Mercedes all of my adult life. My husband finally bought me one for our 30 anniversary. I love it! Its my baby! My old car is only two years old but when I drive it it feels like it is 10 years old. Nothing drives better than my Mercedes. I look forward to my next one. I hope that I will have the chance to move up to an even nicer model.

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  C230 Problems problems - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By uhBenz - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Poor quality vehicle, not up to Mercedes standard. In the 14 months Ive owned it, replace r/f bushing, new sunroof bracket, reset ECU, replaced fuel guage, new transmisson, driver windows sometimes closes, sunroof doesnt open/close all the time. How do u turn the a/c off? Its the same temp. with auto on/off. Steering wheel is squeking now. I would never buy a Benz again..look for Porsche or BMW.

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  Head & Shoulders above an M3 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By David1976 - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Incredible ride and handling. I also just smoked an M3 on the highway driving home.

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  E400 Hybrid a great car - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By chrisl5 - October 20 - 6:58 am

  I have test driven a lot of hybrid cars and even the all electric car. Finally decided to get the all new 2014 E-400 hybrid. The transition between the hybrid and gas is smooth. The feel of the car is nice & solid. The local driving on hybrid is fun. When signed up with MBrace and MBrace+, the car is even more fun with all the internet functions. I like the voice recognition to input into navi system. My average city/highway is 30 mpg, non-aggressive driving, has some uphill/ downhill.

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  Almost perfect - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By rickkiboi - October 19 - 6:26 pm

  I love this vehicle! Also own an 02 C240 & an 06 ML350. This is an all- out luxury people mover! Comfortable and roomy front and 2nd row seating, 3rd row is great too if youre 6ft and under. Performance is very good, and is great if you learn to use the "finger- shifter" on the steering wheel. Very fun to drive short or long distance. Fuel economy is not bad considering its weight and very quiet smooth ride. At first sight some say "mini-van." This is truly a cross between an SUV and wagon...havent meet an R-Class owner yet who deems this a "MV." The more you look, the more you like. Interior appointments are that of the ML than say a sedan. Clearly Mercedes built!

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  2010 ML-350 - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Brad - October 18 - 11:00 pm

  Weve had the car a month and absolutely love it. I can only compare this to a German tank. My wife uses it for business and drive between Philadelphia, NY and Washington D.C. every week and I feel this vehicle is one of the safest I have driven (also own a Volvo). Great to load the family and go for long drives. Cant wait to take it to New England this summer.

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  Disappointed - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By disappointed - October 18 - 1:10 pm

  I had always wanted a Mercedes, (who doesnt) The first six months were great, then things started to go wrong. The lighter never worked ( Im not a smoker so it took a while for me to notice) Ive needed a new catalytic converter, starter, spark plugs, vacuum hose, plus it makes a squeaky noise sometimes, not too loud but annoying just the same. Its a new car. I should not be on a first name basis with the people in the service department, though they do wash my car after every visit

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  Time To Trade - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bsdl1 - October 16 - 12:26 pm

  After waiting a year to receive my ML I was thrilled to pick it up. The handling in bad road conditions is exceptional. The handling and ride are all I hoped for. Build quality is horrific. The original paint chipped in over 200 places on the hood, MB repainted the front end under warranty. Electrical problems persist. The trip computer has gone out, my wipers no longer work, the clock works intermittently. MB wants $145 to look at the wipers - no repair. The arrogance of the dealership is incredible as they make me wait 11 days to schedule an oil change.