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:

• 

  Got what I paid for - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Bill B - September 17 - 12:20 pm

  I wanted a business car to let clients and potential key employees know that our business is "for real", and this car fits the bill perfectly. The Lexus LS 430 has more electronics for less money, but just doesnt make the same statement. The command system is easy to use - but this is my second MB, so maybe Im "trained" already. My wife has a new Lexus with navigation, and the 2006 Mercedes navigation is easier to use and much more intuitive - not at all what I expected, based on earlier year reviews. I thought Id like the Lexus touch screen better - but the MB buttons are just so easy... Ive had zero problems or defects, and Im extreemly picky about my cars.

• 

  Great M/B Love it - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fred s. - September 16 - 10:50 pm

  I worked in the assembly of Dodge Trucks and this C230 sport is the best vehicle I have owned. Safety, comfort , and fun to drive. Now I see why M/B vehicles are nice. I will keep you updated in the future.

• 

  STOP: Do NOT buy this car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pylt - September 16 - 9:30 pm

  After a decade of buying BMW 3 Series, I made a major mistake with an end-of- year lease of a C300. This car is "sport" in name only! (Well, okay, it _looks_ sporty too, but thats as far as it goes.) What a joke--the only way you can maintain any cornering grip is by bracing yourself against the door or the console. Steering and other controls: a mess. Its very easy to see why BMW outsells this poser. I got it on a lark after I found that the latest BMWs have no place to plug in a Valentine 1 radar detector, and I found out they were giving the MBZs away: $770 to start; $444/month (3 years). NOW I know why it was so cheap.... Please learn from me: do NOT buy this car!

• 

  SL 2003 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Harry R. Culp - September 16 - 10:00 am

  I love my SL, but the one thing I miss is room in the trunk.

• 

  Porsche to G wagon - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By porsche - September 14 - 7:10 pm

  Robust is not the word to describe this. Steel frame, heavy steel, massive hinges. Youd think it was built for military use. It turns heads everywhere. Ive been wanting one for 2 years, and am not in any way disapointed, except I wish service could be thru MB trucks and not the car dealer.

• 

  Excellent Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mercedes Benze - September 14 - 12:23 pm

  This is the best car I have owned, after 23 cars. It is comfortable, smooth riding, and powerful.The interior design is excellent. The car is very quiet, and the seats are extremely supportive The whole family likes the car.

• 

  First 1000 Miles ( True Highway Cruiser) - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Happy Owner - September 13 - 6:16 pm

  We just completed our first road trip in our new Mercedes R500. Our experience with the vehicle has been outstanding. We traded in a 2004 Acura MDX because we needed more rear seat space and the R500 clearly delivers. It motors the six of us comfortably and safely. We actually went to the dealership to look at the new GL 450 but were impressed with the size and quality of the R500. Our R500 drives and handles solidly and is good in town and on the highway. Since picking up our R500 we have averaged 17.1 mpg in combined driving and got just over 20 mpg on the highway in Sport Mode. We have only seen one other Mercedes R- Class on the road since purchasing ours almost two weeks ago.

• 

  Caution DO NOT BUY! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mabklb - September 13 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle has been in the shop for warranty repair twice a month since purchased - between electrical problems, sensor failures, integrated telephone failures (on 3rd phone), and overall lack of response from MB - RUN from purchasing one of these lemons! It basically boils down to one thing - MB no longer holds the reliability it once prided itself for manufacturing. They have gone the path of "Chrysler" reliability and quality.

• 

  First time Mercedes buyer - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Armando - September 13 - 12:20 am

  Im very happy with the C230. The dealer was outstanding. The product was better than what I expected. My wife and I share the vehicle. Its like that commercial whoever is getting to the vehicle first, drives it.

• 

  Engineering excellence? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By tomel - September 11 - 8:13 pm

  Great car, bought used with 30k miles; strong engine, truly quiet, smooth, amazing ride. But, MB, masters of engineering, why oh why? The black temp adjust clip on rear passenger ventilation is missing. Cant replace $40 clip. You must replace $700 unit (before labor)! Thats engineering excellence? Think you forgot who youre engineering for. I fear for the next minor flaw. Also, cupholder is a bust and console space is nill. Love the car overall, but I marvel that a car originally selling for six figures forgets some basics.