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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  spetacular - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By fdplatt - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This in the fourth MB SL that I have owned and it is the best. Fast Luxurious and Stunning. On the highway it drives like a race car with the comfort and manneres of a two swated Limo.

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  great car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By J.VITARELLI - March 8 - 2:00 am

  had 2003 sl500 sold it for 2004 sl55 night and day difference why cant they build the 500 with this level of detail?

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  Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By i like benz - March 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is good, I like it. I recomend it to everyone who is thinking about a luxury SUV. I like its off road capabilities and smooth highway ride.

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  Sexiest car Ive owned - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Inctomi - March 6 - 9:03 am

  Since Mercedes doesnt hold value like the Beamer I had before, I was able to get a great deal on a low mileage 06 in CT. The car is mint with Nav, black on black, etc etc. I am only in my 3rd week and I love it. Our other car is a Lexus ES350 which is a safe bet boring sedan and I convinced my wifey to get this for her. Lets just that it is not a 335 twin turbo but has enough power under the hood and looks better than comparable cars, way better. It drives well enough and I have been inventing excuses just to take it on the road. So far, I dont have any annoying rattles or anything. Best looking I owned.

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  Excellent Car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Loan Lady - March 4 - 2:43 pm

  I drove the Lexus convertable and fell in lust. But not until I drove the 2003 MB 500 SL that I fell in love! Great steering radius and serious power and performance. MB is back!

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  SHE BANGS!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By maloguapo - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Most Bang for the buck! Ive owned my 2004 for about 8 months now. I initially was out to get a BMW 325. However, after driving the C230k, the BMW was out of the question! In my opinion, the exterior styling/whoa factor cant be beat by any car in its price segment. The interior materials are grade "A". Also, performance is awesome! Everyone who I let drive my car, usually is quite shocked after I tell them that theres a 4cyl under the hood, not a 6cyl. I will admit that handling isnt as precise as that of the Bimmer, but I will say this...the c230 is the BEST combination of sport/luxury that one can get for barely over $30k!

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  Love my E - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Emperor Hsu - March 3 - 6:56 pm

  I just bought the 05 E Class as a late B-day present to myself. I love the car so far. I have heard about the electronic gremlins in the car. Hopefully there arent any in mine. The obsidian black paint is just gorgeous. I definetly reccomend the premium package. You get everything you need with that package except for the heated seats of course. I hope I am still in love with this car when I have to decide on getting the extended warranty. The appearance package is great. Except for the black wood trim, and the nasty looking rims. The stock rims look so much better. I wish they would bing back the window controls in the center. That was trademark mercedes!

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  What a find ! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fritzmeister - March 3 - 7:26 am

  I just bought a 1999 E320 wagon with actual 11921 miles on it! What a dream! Within the first 2 weeks I put about 1000 miles on it because I want to drive it. Smooth handling yet sporty, a wagon that goes from 0-60 in under 9 seconds all with an average 23mpg. Luxurious, comfortable and huge! Lots of cargo room. Wish it would have been a 4-matic, yet if you know how to drive, the anti-slip control should get you safely through the winter. At 90mph it runs as it is on tracks and is incredibly quiet. Third row option allows you to go on short trips with 5 adults and two kids! This car is a dream and is as classy as it is practical. I will definitely own it for quiet a few years to come.

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  The Real Deal - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jayrock - March 3 - 1:50 am

  The classy/sporty combination this car boasts is unequalled in todays market. She handles remarkably well at any speed and is quite responsive when asked to politely grace the left lane. I cant keep from peeking back at the sporty, low-profile appeal she exudes inside and out. Soft leather, multiple steering wheel controls, and premium sound will keep this Benz in my garage for a long time. This entire purchase, from the test drive to the daily drive home from work has been the real deal!

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  Dream SUV ML 500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Carl Schulz - March 2 - 10:00 am

  This is the car to own. The power is excellent. Function is great. Unfortunaly I had to call for road service twice in the first week. The ML would not start. Service was OK the dealer replaced the starter. I like the service - no charge for 4 years! What more could one want. Space plenty. The nav system could be easier to load. This is my second ML. The first one had no problems ever for 65 K. Again great car, my entire family likes it.