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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  I Love My SL500! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Russell S. - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Everything a luxury sports car should be. The convertible hardtop is not only convenient, its great fun! I cant leave the car without looking back at it, and I find any excuse to drive it. Its been flawless in performance and reliability. I cant praise it enough.

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  the mb - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ry ry - June 14 - 6:36 pm

  from the moment i drove my e class mercedes off the lot i knew that it was something special about this car. i went a hour out of the way of my house before i took it home to show my wife. when i pulled it into the garage i honestly didnt want to get out. the new e class diesel is nothing like youd expect from a disel car.

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  Thumbs up CLK class - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Thumbs up CLK class - June 14 - 3:13 pm

  Mercedes has taken the CLK to the next level. Purchased a 350 coupe w/sport suspension and have enjoyed the car from day one! Suspension is a nice balance between sporty and smooth...it doesnt beat you up. It is a blast to drive and has an elegant design. Performance and handling compares to BMWs and Porsches weve owned. Access to the rear seats is a little cumbersome, but if I wanted easy back seat access I would have gotten an E- class.

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  Better than expected! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By richord - June 14 - 8:53 am

  We owned a 1999 E320 4matic which served us well but I swore I would never buy another Merc after all their quality problems. Ours was spared the problems. But I read the reviews about the E350 and test drove one. I bought the E350 4matic with the P2 option and sports package. I drove it 1000 miles over the holidays, through rain and snow and it was great! the steering is responsive and even in snow with the low profile all season tires I felt like I was always in control. Feedback was great. This is one of the greatest handling and comfortable cars Ive owned including Porsches! we also like the styling on the car with the sports package it looks hot.

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  MERSADEXZ SL 500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By ROBBIE - June 9 - 2:00 am

  FUN AND VERY BEAUTIFUL CAR TO HAVE

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  38MPG highway - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Carl B. - June 8 - 9:53 pm

  Ive owned some very nice vehicles (Porsche, BMW, etc) but this is without a doubt the finest sedan I have ever owned or even ridden in. Smooth, quiet, comfortable with excellent handling and almost shocking acceleration. Unlike most cars (especially hybrids), the EPA rating is accurate. Took it on a long trip recently and got 38MPG with the cruise set at 75. I see no reason at all to even consider an E350. Ultra low sulphur diesel is still a bit hard to find but getting better every week. Whats in the tanks at most gas stations is usually ULSD but most stations havent been certified yet. Luckily, I only have to look for fuel about once or twice a month.

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  Wonderful Ride - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By David - June 8 - 2:40 pm

  Before Mercedes ever built their first first M-Class I have been sending an annual E-Mail to Damiler-Benzs New Jersery headquarters about having a diesel M-Class. It took several years to finally get my ML 320 CDI. The new M-Class is wonderful. A extremely smooth ride as compared to my old 2003 ML500 that I have had since September 2002. The interior is well thought out with some of the easiest folding rear seats which make a flat cargo area with out any gaps. My wife loves the power tailgate, especiallly in a heavy rain. Currently Im getting about 18MPG in city driving and around 27MPG on the freeway into town from the suburbs. Havent had it on the open road yet.

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  My Mercedes C230 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dnice - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Thanks to Mercedes for a car that performs, looks great, and feels solid. I have no regrets in my selection. It rides smoothly on the road and goes around curves with ease. Even on wet roads, its performance is uncompromised. I did opt for the "wheel package option" which is probably a good part of the reason the ride is simply wonderful.

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  This is a fantastic car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Aramis - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I decided to change my old Mercedes 320 CE this year. I was hesitating between Jaguar XJK coupe and Mercedes SL 500 but I have bought the last one finally. Now I am happy to have this car. Its a dream, I have fantastic feelings of pleasure

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  Great Car! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Carmel by the Sea - June 5 - 6:56 pm

  As a former Porsche 911 SC owner it would take a pretty impressive automobile to compete with a Porsche. My Mercedes is such a fun car to drive with an impressive list of safety features. I didnt think that it would have much power, however. Although not the Porsche, it does have impressive pick up when needed. My only wish for the car would be a rear wind shield washer. I love this car so much that my best friend went out and bought the identical model! She loves it too!