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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  97 e320 awsome car - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By joey - July 12 - 2:26 am

  This is a Nice car and fun to drive I have had it for 3 years and abuse it on cornering and accelerating. Engine and suspension have not failed! Of course their are some repairs, water pump fuel pump and minor things that might be expensive.. But this is not a car for the poor. I love this car and I installed a turbo and engine has not failed at 190,000 miles... Its not what the car is worth if you love the car their is no price.

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  Speed, smooth, solid nickle & dimer - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Mr. T - July 11 - 2:23 pm

  Shes a highway machine. Silky smooth accelleration. She holds the road like an autobahn purebread. The engine rules, except for those pesky oil journals (nice job designer guys). When the miles start to rack up, the strangest things start to go out on it. Air coditioner wierdness, transmission gremlins (limp home mode?!) leave you and the dealership scratching your head as to whats wrong (computer diagnostics?!). The heaviness of the car eats suspension and brake parts. On a positive note, if you can find a mechanic who can identify and fix the little strange things that will happen to this car, it will last forever!

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  What a car M B CLK500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Vladislav Sochor - July 10 - 10:00 am

  What a nice experience to drive MB CLK 500. Car is manufactured to the higest standard of the quality used in the auto industry. Many thoughts were incorporated during a design to every detail of the car.

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  so far so good - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ex-beemer - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Mercedes for about two weeks and love it! I chose a midnight blue color that is stunning! The cockpit size interior is very comfortable!

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  Call the dealer again! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By adydoo - July 10 - 6:46 am

  This vehicle is very comfortable. The navigation system could be improved a bit.Its difficult to enter information at times. In my first year I had to take it to the dealer 2 times, and now working on my third, for things like dying battery, non-operable cd changer and now the moon roof squeaks bad and does not always want to close all the way. I have not had any mechanical problems only small issues so it is all good. Some of the issues have been a hassle but I would and probably will buy another ML.

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  Fantastic drive, some early problems - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By levinerich2@aol.com - July 10 - 5:06 am

  Best driving, handling, quietest, smoothest MB S class ever. Stereo is superb. COMAND functions simplified, still a learning curve. My car was sent back to dealership twice in first 3 weeks because engine stopped abruptly while on highway. Fuel sensors were defective. This, along with a vibration on the rear deck. Otherwise, car is perfect. Interior finish far better than prior models; engine power rivals my Porsche. Very happy I bought this one, but if you are a stickler for reliability, buy a Lexus instead.

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  Wow-should have purchased sooner! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By coadster - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Purchased CPO and it is exactly like brand new and considerably less $ Should have purchased it sooner as it is both sporty and luxurious and looks and drives like three times what I paid for it!

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  Mechanical Mess - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SCHHI - July 8 - 10:00 am

  We have now had our new E350 sport sedan back at the dealer for the fourth time to fix a "SRS Malfunction" In total, the car has been in the shop about three weeks. Totally unacceptable and hardly what we expected from a MB.

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  Great Looking, Quirky! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By xxlxlxl - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Ex-BMW owner here. Since day 1. Wind noise at right rear window. Dealership had it for a week and couldnt figure it out. Really. Maybe isolated to just my vehicle, but very frustrating nevertheless! Great looking car, fantastic lines. Tons of comments from random people. Great interior and interior lighting. Decent if a bit bland on the driving attributes. Light but responsive steering. Inexplicable road hum from tires. Smooth hwy ride, substantial feeling, but at low speeds, occasional trouble finding right gear and can feel it. A few unacceptable and irritating squeaks and rattles already. Only have 1100 miles on the darn thing!

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  CL65 AMG - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By CL65 AMG - July 7 - 12:23 pm

  Second AMG car in two years good looking very fast car, a blast to drive interior not quite as comfortable as expected but good. Would take a serious look at the CL55 before spending extra money.