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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  Surprisingly satisfied with new ML350 - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By skytop - September 1 - 1:20 am

  I was all ready to purchase the larger GL SUV but this ML350 offered far easier driving/maneuvering plus good MPG while still providing excellent interior space. I have enjoyed this vehicle and have become aclimated to peculiarities such as low indicator location and overly complex button crazed Command system. Push the dash info button and even without the NAV turned on, the car displays the street, town and heading you are driving on. Neat. Handling, suspension is sophisticated. Loaded with 700# of big people (4), the 350 drove virtually the same as if unladen. It didnt even squat as my previous big GM SUV did when loaded. MPG has been the big surprise. It gets 17/23.

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  Good Car But Sleazy Dealer at Barrier of Bellevue - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By a_edmunds_user - August 31 - 2:21 pm

  Handling is firm and precise. Acceleration is good. It feels as nimble as a mid-size sedan. In fact it can make much tighter U-turns than my old Lexus ES300. It is also very smooth and quiet. One downside is the fuel efficiency is not nearly as good as its labeled. I could get only 12 mpg in city and 17 mpg in city-highway combined. For potential buyers in the Seattle area, be aware of the dealer at Barrier of Bellevue. During my price negotiation the dealer quoted the Mercedes Conquest rebate amount for October as $1,000 while the actual amount was $2,000. He also hid the fact that people from my company would automatically qualify for a fleet discount of $3,000 from MSRP.

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  Compact, Luxury, Sport Sedan in One - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jon - August 30 - 12:16 pm

  This is an amazing car, i got it used at 21k miles, i like the AMG styling (bumpers),sport handling, excellent brakes cross-drilled rotors up front, engine response is great, love the variable valve timing switching from low to high note. 7-speed auto is awesome and the manu-matic shifting is crisp. Seats are comfortable and controls/buttons are placed within reach. Trunk space is big and lots of room.

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  nice car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mmaccioni - August 30 - 5:10 am

  this car seems to be a considerable upgrade from the c32.

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  ML350 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Teddybear77772222 - August 29 - 11:33 pm

  Can’t emphasize enough how quiet this car is at all speeds and on all road surfaces. Responsive V-6 engine with smooth 7 speed auto transmission. Steering wheel paddle switches for manual shifting. 2007 fuel specs are 17/21! Good visibility front and sides. Sirius satellite, Harmon–Kardon sound and Nav systems are top notch. GPS/Nav entry not limited while driving. Glove box f-jack for connecting iPod or other systems. Roomy front seat driver and passenger room including foot floor width---no front wheel fender to contend with. Comfortably fix 3 adults in rear seat. Wide opening doors for easy access. Auto-rear lift gate operates from fob and driver’s door switch. Great SUV!

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  A good mix of power and luxury - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By K. Lee - August 29 - 10:40 am

  This is a great car. I moved up from an Acura CL-S, so it was an upgrade on all fronts. The acceleration is silky smooth. For the most part, the engine is quiet but still can let out that great sounding growl when you really jam the pedal. Theres no cooler sound than rolling through a short tunnel and hitting the gas just before the mouth Its like a sonic boom! Mine is fully loaded, with the P3 package and just about every option available. I think the P2 package is enough though, and you dont need silly options like the automatic trunk opener/closer.

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  Exceeds expectations - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dave Roberts - August 29 - 9:16 am

  I have previously owned BMW ILs and decided to cross the street to Mercedes.The vehicle may not be as tight around the corners but it has a much better ride, the controls are easy to understand, and both the interior and exterior are flawless. I am looking forward to the winter months for a change with the AWD! It even has a compass!

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  Luxury Car Experienced Owner - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ana - August 28 - 4:53 pm

  This was my second MB (C320 first), after owning 4 BMWs (740, 328, M3, 325), 1 Lexus (GS), and a RRover. Ive always loved BMWs because they are fun to drive, but this MB has the cornering, performance and stability I loved in my BMWs plus the gorgeous design, interior comfort and luxury that BMW has been sorely lacking. The car is spacious, both in length and width. The commands are well positioned (seat adjust. on doors) and there are plenty of compartments. Fuel efficiency is fairly superior to an engine of its size. As a woman driver, this car provides m invaluable safety peace of mind; if breakdown occurs, unlimited roadside assistance is a push of a button away.

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  Wonderful Car! - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SweetLew - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought my E420 on December 26, 2002 with 18,106 miles on it. I have had NO Trouble Whatsoever. Everything works and works well. The car was like new inside and out and with 24,300 on the clock, it still is. I feel for those that got a bad one. On the other hand, I can hardly imagine a better car if you got a good one, as I did. I can hardly believe the soldity and smoothness of this machine. I would simply urge anyone in the market for one to scrutinize the car extensively BEFORE purchasing it.

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  2+ years and I still like it a lot - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Lauri Miller - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Overall Im very happy with my ML 320. Im getting good mileage, 17 mpg in the city and better on the highway if I could drive slower. The problem is the faster it goes, the smoother the ride. It almost seems to float down the highway. Problems were brakes wear out too fast, power steering fluid leaked out from a bad clamp and radio kept cutting out and took weeks to diagnose.