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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  Meeting Expectations - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FirstTimeBuyer - March 30 - 2:00 am

  My first MB. I like the ride, handling, safety, and sound system. Disappointed with quality issues (body dents easily, sensor light problems, window switches not functioning, I lost power steering prior to recall, air conditioner "weak" in hot weather). Biggest disappointment is: engine is burning oil and requires additional trips to dealer to "top off" oil between "computer approved" dealer services. Dealers solution: change oil more often (at my expense). This ML320 hasnt met my expectations of the quality I associated with MB products. I believe the MB reputation of retaining value is being significantly damaged.

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  R-Class Beauty is only skin deep - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Rich Baker - March 29 - 6:10 am

  We have had our R-Class for about a year and a half and it is a beautiful car that seats 6 like no one else. However we have had to take it into the shop too many times, for things like: 1. Static in the audio system Across CD, Sat radio, regular radio, (MB has made software upgrades to the software numerous times, the issue may be addressed but the issue was very intermittent so we will see. 2. Frayed driver seatbelt. 3. Transmission strange noise 4. Electronic tailgate not operating properly. 5. Cloth being separated at the back opening of the tailgate. 6. Navigation system returning erroneous information frozen random display. 14 service tickets over about 16 months.

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  great to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By topkick - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, very functional as a daily driving machine.(if you do not mind going to the gas station often) Very powerful ride and feels very safe.

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  Rock Solid So Far - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By cyk - March 26 - 4:06 pm

  We purchased a 2011 GL450 with 77k miles for $27k in Jan 15. So far the car has been reliable with the only repair being a set of front pads & rotors that set us back $600. Weve racked up 25k miles and in that time have come to a few conclusions. 1) The build quality is not like MB of years past (weve had a few) where the doors had a tank-like closure and this GL feels comparatively "tinny". Materials are also a point of contention in that a car that had an original MSRP of $75k should come standard with leather seating, not the weird feeling MB Tex that comes standard. 2) The ride, while quiet, is heavy handed and feels unrefined over harsher pavement; poor compression damping would be my best description. 3) The engines power is adequate, but I feel like another 100hp would be just about perfect. Considering the car lives at 8k ft with high gradient roads, an extra 100hp would offset the lack of O2. 4) Aesthetically, the cars exterior has held up quite nicely and still looks relatively new. The paint and trim all continue to have a high luster. 5) The depreciation on these is astounding and makes it a poor choice to purchase new. Our expectation is to run this car well past 200k miles and it has worked better than expected to date. Understanding repair & maintenance costs will be relatively high, the big MB mostly delivers for its intended purpose; i.e. family hauling and comfortable commuting.

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  Great & pricey mid size SUV - 2013 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By treydrier - March 24 - 5:35 am

  Ive owned (leased) the ML for a few months now. I turned in a GL which is a full size SUV. What I like: The ML has a great ride and very easy steering. For those who like a tight steering wheel, buy a BMW. This ML is very easy to drive. I also upgraded to the Harmon Kardon stereo and it is worth the money - crisp and clear with a nice mid range. The ride of the ML is very comfortable. Again, if you like a sporty ride, look else where. I appreciate the comfortable ride, comfortable seats and quietness in the cabin. In addition, the quality of the materials in the cabin are what you would expect from Mercedes Benz. Whats not to like: The exterior styling and price.

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  my dream car ! ? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By muffin311 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  This car is an absolute dream to drive but the quality of the interior is not what a 100K should be. Very cheap feel wnd sounding. Ride is MUCH noisier than I thought it should be. Gas milage @15mi/gal around town. New back body design makes it look like a cheap car and not identifiable as an expensive Mercedes SL. Although I always buy SL Mercedes, this will be my last unless they make the car LOOK like 100K

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  C320 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DVP - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Having owned a 3 series and driven most other sports sedans, I think this car is underrated by the BMW-biased media. For everyday driving, city/rural/sports/casual, this car has an exceptionally well executed blend of competence, composure, speed and safety....without the attitude of the BMW sales & service staff. Add the "Evolution" package rubber and rims from the C230 for even better handling and appeal.

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  So far so good - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By lee - March 18 - 4:08 pm

  Bought it two months ago. So far so good. Visited dealership due to torn front seat leather. They took care of it without question. Maintenances cost like oil change and stuff are on the high side but expected. All I can say the ride is smooth like driving it on butter, on my luxury not sport version of E class.

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  Nice car, but too much rust - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By e320_4matic - March 18 - 2:18 am

  Nice car. Rusts too much for a car this expensive. We love how it drives. Gets good fuel economy for a larger family.

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  3 Year Look Back - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By kujo - March 14 - 10:06 am

  After almost 3 years, I love my 2003 G. I purchased this vehicle to drive daily, but also to be used on mountain trails, farm fields and much off roading. Great, great vehicle. It climbs a mountain like a goat and has terrific power and handling abilities. I had some problems along the way which required the replacement of its computer, and some mechanical parts. The best SUV out there that combines off-road ability with great highway features.