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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  Nice but could use some refinements - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jack - August 19 - 10:00 am

  We picked up this little jewel in June and, to date, have already clocked on 10K. The wife complains about getting in and out of the vehicle but I think it is just right. The car corners and brakes excellent but somewhat sluggish in Comfort Drive or whatever you call it. Should of opted to the V8 version. The interior is well designed and easy to maintain. The body style and appeal is a killer, a real head turner on the road. We are surprised with the lack of road noise especially being a convertible. Great sound system.

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  The Bomb - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By daryld21 - August 15 - 6:30 pm

  Smooth drive with excellent acceleration. I have a corvette. The E550 acceleration is compatible, especially after 50 mph. Interior larger than expected. Sleek exterior has heads turning. Unbelievable price. So far very satisfied. Why get a C when you have an E. Its bigger. S class ay over priced. Dont expect this pricing to last long

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  Worst car i ever owned!!!! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Ashly - August 15 - 3:50 pm

  I bought my 06 4 weeks ago, i have since traded up to an Acura TL ( yes, i said up) the TL blows the clk i had out of the water. This was the worst car experience ive ever had. I owned the car two weeks when the transmission went out! I had it towed to mercedes where i had my " manufacturers warranty" For them to tell me to wait a week with NO loaner car! ( said they dont give loaners anymore) For an answer. They were not helpful whatsoever and lacked hugely in their customer service. I was so unhappy with the car i traded for a real one... Acura Tl.All the things wrong- the windows were rattling and loose, failed transmission , rear foglamp out, side turn signal light broken, allot

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  German Luxury? - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By drivemeee - August 15 - 11:23 am

  This car has been nothing but trouble. New torque converter, transmission service twice, new radiatior, seatbelt retractor, cam sensor, ecu unit, wiper motor, wiper control stalk and unit, valve rollers and sensor again, power window and lock control unit, a/c control unit, shift program controller, hard shift and grinding sound three times-ended up being upgraded spec auto transmission fluid.

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  Some things could be improved - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By david Natel - August 15 - 2:00 am

  Love the ride in this car. The most significant feature is its beauty.

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  Big Hassle - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lousy - August 15 - 2:00 am

  When our ML 320 works, it drives great. The problem is we have had about eighteen separate malfunctions in a little over two years. The power seats continually come unplugged and dont work; the CD changer is not reliable; the window washer container cracked; the rear view mirror fell off while driving. I would never purchase a car like this. It is terrible.

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  M benzzz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By indopride - August 15 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car to own the price is a bit high but you will be getting what you paid for the overall performance a comfort off the car is great the SoS function on the car will give you a direct link to Mercedes-Benz head quortes to answer any questions you may have

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  An Exceptional Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bradley827 - August 15 - 2:00 am

  I had an Acura 3.2 CL Type S. I had a BMW 325i. Now I have the Mercedes C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. Of the three, the Mercedes is by far the better car at the better price for what you get. This car is built for the driving enthusiast who also seeks the finest detailing and craftsmanship. I wont waste your time writing an amateur review. Just go drive one. Youll see.

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  Best Mercedes since the 2007 E-320 Blue Tec - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Arthur - August 13 - 8:42 am

  I thought the 2007 E-320 Blue Tec I purchased nine years ago would never be topped but the new 2016 C-300 has changed my mind. We have had it almost two months and it is a true winner. It has everything you could ask for with economy, style, comfort, and the technology is great. The Distronic plus drives the car on the highway by itself, the LED lighting with corner tuning works well and the other high tech systems including the navagation, are really something although it requires some study of the manual. This one looks like a keeper.

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  Faulty Cam gears - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By frustrated43 - August 12 - 1:38 pm

  $6,000.00 repair bill to replace Faulty cam gears. The metal that the cam gears were made of is too soft. You will have problem in or around 65,000 miles and MB will not help you with it other then taking your $6,000. This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned in my 30 years of car ownership.