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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  Mercedes doesnt Care - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bad News Mercedes - July 16 - 10:00 am

  No quality customer service here and Mercedes doesnt stand behind the car. Brakes are soft and need replacing often(they suggest every 10-14000 miles). Dealerships arent knowledgeable enough to do repairs(they nicked my leather, dented the hood and roof top, scratched the wood grain) and denied they did it. Dont buy from Mercedes..honda,toyota,nissan,bmw...anyone else is better.

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  A true diamond in its class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By only-the-best - July 16 - 10:00 am

  The only MB chosen by a long time BMW enthusiast. This piece of driving jewel not only rocks solidly but catches all eyes w its AMG design wheel/grill/apron. With not much of dollar difference, 500 definitely beats 320 by miles and by all senses. A true machine to enjoy and a great value to take on as investment.

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  M350 first 3 months - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jmbarry - July 16 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle has been comfortable to drive, and to my friends who had seen earlier versions, its much more luxurious. It seems Mercedes has stepped up to the plate and fixed earlier probelms and built a Mercedes level vehicle. But they kept the price low. For a car after 6 model years it drive nices, feels wonderful inside and is priced cery competitively. A great buy for the money.

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  Best ever - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By edwinblaw - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Have owned most styles of American Luxury cars and enjoyed each. The E320, however, is a step above in quality of construction, more than adequate power, feeling of safety, handling and just fun to drive. Will buy another.

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  This car is a nightmare - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By XPress - July 16 - 2:20 am

  The uniqueness of this car is what makes it attractive. The ride and drive characteristics are great. The unusual appearance gets stares & questions. After 1 year and more than 22,000 miles, I feel qualified to relate all that is not right with this car. Multiple visits to more than one dealers service department makes this a thumbs down choice for reliable transportation. Car is in the service dept now for the 9th time and is still there after 13 days (the service manager says they need it for at least another week). The problems are recurring; i.e., transmission shifts hard, repeated warning lights (SRS, low coolant,check engine), body panels ill fitting (wind noise), door hard to close. I cannot recommend

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  love it! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By cargirl - July 15 - 5:36 pm

  So far this car is so much fun. It seems to have tremendous accelerating power and it drives like a dream. It has the sport package and the Conti tires, but it still drives very quietly and feels like total luxury. I just came out of a truck so maybe I just dont notice what the other reviewers are talking about. I chose all black with black birdseye, with premium I, and this car is HOT! So far its great but I dont have a grip on the mpg yet. So far its reading 21 on the display and Ive been doing mixed driving. Hopefully I will see 25+ on the hwy like others have said. I almost went with another brand, glad I chose the E-class Mercedes. Looking forward to seeing the all new 2010.

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  I hate getting out of it. - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By BlackNBlue - July 14 - 7:56 pm

  I have driven this car for two weeks and I am as excited as a kid with a new bike. I find it hard to stop and get out of it. The gadget factor is huge but all useful and user friendly.

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  Extraordinary Automobile! - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Paul - July 14 - 1:10 am

  My 2009 E320 BlueTec is a superb automobile. Subtle yet classy styling (black exterior/interior/wood trimmed steering wheel) that always draws compliments. Extraordinary performance (400 ft-lbs of torque mean effortless acceleration - the power surge is like a locomotive). Unbelievable economy (Im averaging 33 mpg over 25,000 miles of mixed city/highway driving in the Washington DC area). Comfortably seats four adults - meaning large adults! - and can accommodate five. Huge trunk. Smooth, quick, confidence- inspiring, so solid it literally feels like a single piece of steel. This car is an absolute bargain and I never thought Id say that about a $50K purchase.

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  Absolutely LOVE my Benz - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Denise - July 12 - 10:56 pm

  After six months of agonizing research, price comparisons and test drives on three cars; the Toyota Highlander, the Nissan Murano and the Mercedes Benz GLK 350, I finally chose the biggest bang for my buck and in doing so made the best decision of my life. I chose the Mercedes Benz GLK 350. My little tank drives like a race car and rides like a luxury SUV. The GLK is solid-built, luxurious and quality-filled. I would recommend to everyone who asks. Love all the looks, thumbs up and second takes my Benz gets too. Its an absolute beautiful car with a sporty look. The engineering on this car far exceeds any other models. So far no problems whatsoever and I am so glad I chose my MB GLK.

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  Best Ever - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By caldwell-taylor trus - July 12 - 2:10 pm

  First foreign car owned. Vehicle exceded all my expectations. Previous ownership 15 Lincolns. Transmission very smooth. Acceleration what anyone would hope for. Design was strongest reason for buying.