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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  AMG CL-55 2003 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By JJGMD - July 22 - 10:00 am

  As far as design , comfort, jet like power and acceleration at all speeds it does not get any better. Has all the toys you would expect in a vehicle this price but this car is built to enjoy and last for many years. Easy to adjust the height and suspension of the CL.Corners are easy to take with total control at all times. Voice activated phone and radio and CDs actually are reliable. Three choices to shift gears. Worth the wait.

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  Exhilarating Disapointment - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By leekaster - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I was thrilled to get this wagon for our retirement vehicle. It had apprx one year left on the warranty; good thing! Rear load leveling shocks started leaking oil. Driver seat heater gave out. After warr. up, air flow sensor for engine gave out. Turn signal collar started rotating with lever. Leak developed in hose to rear load-level shocks, cost $354 to cut & reconnect hose.

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  Needs better appointments - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mercedes E - July 21 - 5:50 pm

  Since this is the last year of the w211 body style, Mercedes is offering decent subsidizes incentives to move vehicles. The body is pretty much the same since 03 with a few modified faclifts. The No charge sport package adds some flair to the pretty stagnent body.The gipe I have with Mercedes is the lack of standard leather interior on car that starts at almost 52k. Vinyl belong in economy cars, Not in a Mercedes Benz!.

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  A good car that should have been great. - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dr. Michael Baer - July 21 - 11:07 am

  It is an expensive car. It is technologically far more complicated than it should have been. Simple maintenance is very expensive. The warrantee should be longer with maintenance included. The electronics are badly designed. The NAVI system is incredible complicated. I will often use my smart phone instead when needing an address. I wrote the new young president of my concern. As yet no response. I guess they are tied up with the new stadium.

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  Mercedes Has Set The Bar - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By str8line - July 20 - 3:06 pm

  Our family has had this vehicle for two weeks and it is spectacular. My wife is the primary driver and she loves it. Ive gotta think that some Americans (Chrysler influence?) were involved in the design parameters because the Germans finally nailed what an SUV should be. This chameleon is amazingly user friendly and provides everything you could want in a large SUV but somehow feels diminutive from behind the wheel. The interior is truly something to behold. Stitched leather, gorgeous wood accents, and appealing angles abound. A++

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  WORST CAR EVER!!! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By tim205 - July 19 - 10:31 am

  Worst car EVER the ML 320 CDI. After three years of annual repairs exceeding many thousands of dollars we are parting with our two MBs. The ML for obvious reasons and the CLK 320 out of principle will be traded for an Audi and BMW. We were told expect 200k miles at not even 100k weve dumped more money into this car. Ok we expect the service upsell and the cost of A and B service which are ridiculous. In addition we have received thousands of dollars in annual bills - breaks, steering column, steering fluid, multiple oil leaks, engine issue, tranmission issues. I will NEVER buy another mercedes and urge anyone considering to buy a BMW where the cost of owning is better

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  What you need to Know - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Mercedes- Benz Dude - July 17 - 10:56 pm

  The car has a smooth and quiet ride. It has a solid feel to it. My family loves it. I havent had any problems with it so far. Love this car.

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  Rust - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By shotmaker - July 16 - 4:23 pm

  Have taken great care of this car. Only has 120,000 miles and the body is starting to rust really bad. This car has been washed and not in Michigan winters but for only about 5 years. I have been told that this happens allot because of the poor quality of the steel they used in 1999. Is anyone else having some of the same problems. What is Mercedes doing to help repair these cars rust problems.

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  Disappointed - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Atlanta Girl - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Bought my first MB C230K little over a year ago, and I am unimpressed. I think Ill buy a Lexus in 2 years when I anticipate buying again. Theres nothing big, but a bunch of little stuff wrong .. the LCD display stopped working 6 months ago, the middle storage compartment never opens as it should, the front drivers door doesnt close properly even tho its been repaired twice, the glovebox wont stay closed. The brakes, even new, squeal.

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  Im keeping it. - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By livin - July 16 - 10:00 am

  I just love this car. Smooth ride,quiet,great on ice and snow,and very quick. No mechanical problems besides ordinary maintainence.