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:

• 

  The Service Manager is my best friend - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ranbou - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had my C320 for 3 months and I have had 5 service visits. Items like windows and sunroofs not operating are one thing, but when the car stalls out on you 5 times in different traffic situations, its time to move to another vehicle. Yesterday was the last straw. Driving around 70 on a packed Interstate, the engine lost power. From the fast lane, I have to negotiate to the shoulder of the road. It was a pretty hair-raising and frustrating experience. When I hit the shoulder, the engine perked up again and I was able to drive to the dealership. I am very disappointed and I will be getting rid of it ASAP. I expected more from MB.

• 

  SL55 just OK - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Phils View SL55 - March 3 - 12:30 am

  I have had this car since Nov 2002, but dont drive it much. The car is fast ,but drive by wire needs work [touchy brakes and lack of trottle response at times is dangerous. I had a defective digital display which was replaced but not improved. The dealer refused to let me speak to factory rep. After a year, I finally got the dealer to compare to another SL and they finally fixed it. Stereo amp blew out and had to be replaced. Sound system is average at best. Why do you have to push a button to use the steering wheel shift controls? Command center is way too complex. Nav system is very difficult and inaccurate. A stunning car, but I prefer to drive my 1998 Corvette Convertible.

• 

  Sexy car, a wee bit underpowered - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By John - March 2 - 6:26 pm

  I bought this car used with about 25,000 miles on it. It is a base model, not many extras. The stereo system is excellent for sound but dated from a feature perspective. It is a great looking car, but I would like a bit more power. I added the H&R Sway bar kit to get better handling, zimmerman cross drilled rear rotors and SS lines. Cant do much with the engine, aftermarket parts are way over priced! I drive it in S mode except for long highway trips, I really like it for what it is. Decent gas economy, but upkeep is not cheap either. A good mix of price, looks, and performance.

• 

  Great for now - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Harry O - February 28 - 7:23 pm

  This car is my second Mercedes and my 4th car. I like the style and the handling. Gas mileage is great. The computer is great too. I notice small things like the windshield wipers not coming on when the door is open so as not to throw water on you (among several other neat attributes). The dash display seems to be shorting a bit or simply burning out. The sunroof doesnt close fully in auto mode as it should.

• 

  Nice Looking Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Nice Car - February 28 - 2:16 pm

  First time owner of a Mercedes. Engine and transmission very smooth. Nice handling. Lots of standard features, including safety features. Very fast in breaking. Took car to almost 130 - yeah, crazy me!! Car felt very smooth - cant feel the speed. I cruise on freeway and realize I have to ease on the pedal - Im doing 90. Only 1 complaint - you feel the bumps too hard. Needs improvement on suspension. Yes, it has a sports suspension which has been lowered over the luxury model, but you sure feel those bumps. Ive taken few pounds off pressure of the tires to releave this problem - much beter, however, my "check pressure" keeps coming up.

• 

  mnj review - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jwellinger - February 27 - 2:00 am

  It has been a joy to own and drive. No problems and has performed well in snowy conditions. One crticism, cruise control is awkward to use. Handles well in critical situations.

• 

  NO REGRET - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By shaqdaddy - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I JUST BOUGHT THIS ML320 FOR LESS THAN A MONTH, SO PRETTY MUCH NOT REALLY MUCH TO COMMENT ABOUT. BUT OVERALL SO FAR SO GOOD, I LIKE THE INTERIOR DESIGN, VERY LITTLE ROAD NOISE, ITS EXTERIOR DESIGN, DRIVING COMFORT, ERGONOMICS, TELE-AID AND OTHER PERSONAL FEATURES. I HAVE NO REGRET.

• 

  4 cylinder luxury vehicle - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MTCS - February 25 - 12:33 am

  The 2014 E250 Bluetec 4matic has a vibration at higher speeds that sometimes goes away once the car finds the right gear. I have 700 miles and the computer on the dash says I am getting 34.5mpg. The car gets over 40 mpg on the highway easily. I bought the2014 E250 Bluetec for the fuel efficiency, the longevity, and it is the only E class they had that still has the 3 point star on the hood. I have read all the horror stories about Mercedes Benz but at 700 miles I have not had a single problem. I think I will keep this one for a long time.

• 

  2001 c240 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By P Melvin - February 24 - 1:40 pm

  I bought the car for safety. I have been disappointred with the reliability. The list of problems is long.

• 

  2ND MERCEDES BENZ LEMON - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JENJEN - February 20 - 10:00 am

  CAR IS FUN TO DRIVE, BUT YOU BETTER NOT DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN. IT WILL SHUT OFF WHEN ITS READY. THE DEALER DOESNT WORK TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST SAY WE ARE SORRY WE CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, THE C240 IS WORSE. THE SUNSHADES BREAK, THE WINDOW STOPS WORKING, THE KEYS ARE RECALLED AND THE DEALER NEVER LETS YOU KNOW. ALL IN ALL THE MB C240 AND CLK 320 ARE DEFINITELY A WORK OF CHRYSLER.