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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  2010 Bluetec - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By IowaMercedes - June 20 - 11:03 am

  Purchased 2010 Bluetec in May 2010, so far we have been very happy with the vehicle. We have just about all of the options on the vehicle, including the P1 and P2 as well as lighting. While it has taken a little bit of time to get used to location of some of the switches, we have not had any issues at all and the mileage has been phenomenal. We have ranged from 26 mpg to 30 mpg, with an average of about 27 mpg. The rear seat has plenty of room and the storage in the back is excellent. Really fits about exactly what we need for a short vacation or taking the golf clubs with us. The vehicle performs well, accelerates just fine into busy traffic and is relatively quiet.

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  Luxurious yes, but its no BMW - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DonnyMac - June 20 - 10:16 am

  We decided we needed seating for 6-7, but didnt want an SUV. That left the E series and the Volvo V70. The E350 is beautiful, well-appointed and comfortable/luxurious. The suspension and steering, however, are softer than they should be, especially if you are used to driving a BMW with sports suspension (or even an Audi). The Volvo V70 R was sportier in power and handling, and had WAY better front seats (the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in, in fact), but was too stark/dark in the cockpit. Probably, upgrading to the E55 Wagon solves the problem, but for $35k more, thats insane. Come on Mercedes, make it handle more like a German driving machine!

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  CLS in Capri Blue - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By John M - June 18 - 11:16 pm

  The car handles like a dream, and has plenty of pep with optional braking and ride styles. Abundant leg room for those of us with sore knees that need to be straight for a while. The rear seat is a little tight, but not so uncomfortable for a medium distance ride.

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  short lived affair - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Alero - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I first saw this car in the movie jurassic park and said to myself: I must have one. I finally got one a few months back and today, I traded it in for a jaguar because I am concerned about the future reliability of the car. the passenger driver door lock needs replacement and I hear some funny noises coming from the steering mechanism. a plastic part in the back just cracked for no reason and even with the extended warranty I just dont want the hassle. my business parner has a 320 sedan and he is eager to dump it because mercedes benz got lost somewhere and their newer cars are just overpriced not the legends of yesterday.

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  E-320 review - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By tgstratton - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Have really enjoyed this car! A few problems with electronics that were promptly taken care of by the dealer. Very solid body, very good gas milage, excellent handling, braking etc. Excellent combination of performance while at same time very good economy. Will be on my "list" for consideration of a replacement car in the coming year.

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  Going back to BMW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By flightgo - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Thought Id go for the best and trade up to a Mercedes. Like the lines, fit/finish and the little star on the front hood, but stops there. As others say, Mercedes doesnt know how to make competitive price car w/quality. Electrical problems in and out of shop. 2 new computers, joke of a phones system, alarm goes off driving down small town main street, different lugs for spare, radio is aweful, computer locks up all the time requiring a park, off engine and restart to clear. Auto transmission is a dog and engine should show more strength. Sorry, but thats the way it is...

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  Runs Like an Olympian - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Javierdpm - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic car. My first MB experience and quite good. Im getting a new one later this year. Same performance as an SL55 with room for 5. Prefer Panorama Roof to an all out convertible.

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  First-class Vehicle - 2014 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Buddy - June 16 - 9:15 pm

  Looks great, both interior and exterior. Plenty of power, especially once up to speed; not as much take-off power, but I was spoiled by owning a BMW 7-Series before this car, and it had a larger engine, to be fair. Ample storage space in the back, and plenty of leg room in the back seat. Interior and exterior trim lighting are unique and attention-getting. Navigation system is impressive, and lots of places to plug stuff in (USB ports, etc.). Not quite as sporty-looking as a BMW SUV, but has a more refined look, and has everything you need, or could even want.

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  MB does not live up to its reputation - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rockinrn - June 15 - 6:19 am

  I have waited for almost a year to write a review on my 2014 E350 with sport package in order to live with the car for a while and not make any hasty judgements. I have always wanted an E 350 and I regret to say that I am very disappointed. First I would like to say that the car does not exhibit the solidity that MBs are known for. My car has many creaks and rattles from the extensive plastic parts used in the interior. The standard seats are firm, but extremely uncomfortable; more uncomfortable than any car I have ever owned and I have owned over 20 new cars since I have been driving. The sport suspension is overly harsh. All in all very sad for a car costing $61,000. Beware of MB! Still cant wait for the lease to be over. Ill never buy or lease another Mercedes product.

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  A Superior SUV - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Great Benz - June 14 - 2:23 pm

  I wanted to move out of my less than dependable Volvo XC90 into a larger vehicle with better mileage. I looked at everything and eventually bought the diesel GL320 for the following reasons: Exceptional mileage for such a large vehicle. The performance of the diesel engine is superior to that of the twin turbocharged gas engine in the XC90, as well as some of the larger V8s. Extremely quiet and comfortable ride. The standard air suspension is perfect. Initial impression is that it is as solid as a bank vault. Crossing my fingers that the recent Mercedes quality problems do not crop up. At 2,800 miles, best vehicle ever