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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  What fun! - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By revdr2 - February 22 - 8:51 am

  Sporty yet comfortable. Better than expected mpg. Standard sound system superb. Switched from Audi because they did not have comparable coupe. This is nicest car I ever owned

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  Could not be better - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MadMac - February 20 - 11:30 pm

  I purchased this car a month ago in VA, and drove it 1000 miles home. It is a beautiful vehicle with outstanding economy (35 hwy), amazing for a 2 ton car. It is quiet, smooth, and nothing is loose. From the inside you cannot tell that is it a diesel. We need to educate Americans about diesels. They are very mainstream in the rest of the world. They are no longer slow, loud, and smokey. Stop being so concerned about horsepower when it is torque that matters. The car is very quick. It looks like new. It had 100,500 miles on it when purchased.

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  The Best SUV Ever - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Jodie Cutter - February 20 - 2:43 pm

  The GL class is by far the most enjoyable and lovable vehicle that anyone requiring cargo space, passenger space, and snowy driving conditions could dream for. It handles beautifully. It abounds in standard luxury (although do add the well- designed P1 package and sunroof package; P1 is equipped with everything youd want and nothing you wouldnt want) and the exterior lines are gorgeous. I have sampled the new Acura MDX, the Escalade, and the larger Lexus SUVs. There is simply no comparison. The BMW X5 is still too small, too slow without the V8, and the options are overpriced. If you drive the GL450, you will buy it. Its as simple as that.

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  Dme cars - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Diego Menendez - February 19 - 2:23 pm

  very good handling, 4wdrive sytem

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  C-230 Kompressor - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jhelton4 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Mercedes. I personally like the classic style better than the newer styles.

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  Xjagowner - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Howard - February 17 - 6:53 pm

  For a cabriolet its a great car compared to my 2001 XK8. Easy to drive nice ride, decent visibilty with top up. Only one cupholder drives my wife crazy.

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  Comfort and luxury - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By David - February 17 - 5:05 am

  By far this is the most comfortable Mercedes I have owned. Beautiful interior that no cars can match. Much more leg room in the rear than the GL550.

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  My First Luxury-Sports High Performance - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By My FIRST BENZ - February 15 - 6:06 pm

  This car was a fleet car owned by a company for their top executives and has been taken car of extremely well! The car has no dents, scratches, looks brand new & drives & runs as if its off the show room floor!

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  Much more fun than expected... - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By markcla - February 15 - 1:17 am

  After reading various car magazine reviews on the CLA250 4Matic, I was a little nervous about taking delivery of my Mountain Gray/Brown leather specially ordered vehicle. After 200 miles in the car, I’m ecstatic! Let me put to rest some of my concerns:

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  Excellent Vehicle for Our Needs - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By RPC - February 15 - 12:53 am

  We had a Mecedes wagon with a rear seat but were looking for a vehicle with a larger interior. We also waited for the 2008 that created a 3 person seat in the second row. This vehicle has been everything my wife has wanted and she can handle its size even in tight locations. She loves to drive it. I happen to like to drive it as well. With all the SUVs on the road and having two younger children, we feel much safer in this vehicle, even over the MB wagon. The long wheel base makes for a very smooth drive and ride (even in the 3rd seat that two adults can sit comfortably in). This is definitely a vehicle worth test driving! It will make you strongly consider it as a purchase option.