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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  Stylish Sedan - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By alegrats - December 4 - 5:53 am

  Have owned the CLS500 for almost 3 years and has been everything i have expected - great sedan for family of 4 with school aged kids - a lot of head turning looks with this car - just enough truck space for active family - only complaint is the challenges in accessing a drive up ATM through the smallish side window - every facet of this car speaks quality

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  One of the BEST - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Chris H - December 3 - 10:00 am

  This car gets 37 mpg on the highway and 27 in town - better than most light weight hybrids. It drives better than the gas 320. Excellent car!

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  Maxima, Accord or Benz? Stupid Question - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C230 Fan - December 3 - 10:00 am

  I seriously considered the Accord coupe and Maxima, until I realized I could drive a Benz for the same price! This car is awesome. A great intro to Luxury. Looks and feels like a $50,000 car.

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  2013 E550 - Best car I have ever owned - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Scott Kolb - November 30 - 8:04 am

  Buying a used Mercedes E-class is likely the most intelligent decision auto buyers can make. Its the most reliable of the Mercedes, and it depreciates VERY fast, so you get a LOT of car for the money. I bought a used 2013 E550 with 48k miles on it. Sticker of almost $77,000 got it for $31,600. P1 and P2 packages, and the V-8 engine. My lord....wonderfully comfortable, incredibly fast. OK, the BMW has tighter steering, but you get less car for more money, particularly if you get the V-8 BMW. Love the auto high beams; they adjust between hi and lo beams per oncoming traffic automatically. Dash is so.....German. Perfectly organized, easy to use instruments. They even have an Off button....so you know how to turn everything off and dont have to hold down a fan button or hit it a million times. Ok, so whats bad? Nav is pretty lame; voice control is pretty lame, and back-up camera is a little disappointing for this level of car....no markings, just a straight back-up camera. Repair costs are HIGH...... BUT, I use my phone for navigation anyway, and voice control is of little importance to me. The camera still serves its purpose. Since its reliable, the repair costs arent THAT bad, just take it to a reliable mechanic that wont rob you like Mercedes dealers do. Update: One year in, nothing has changed. This car is awesome. I now have 70k miles on it, but you would never know, runs like new. The V-8 grumbles a little, but it is so worth it. Blew away both Lexus and Infiniti when forced to due to aggressive driving tactics by them.

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  Shes All That - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gretchen Ariz - November 30 - 2:00 am

  There are only three words to describe this car "Shes all that." This is the ultimate all-season cruising sedan. Fabulous for road trips, ski trips, or the everyday commute. The 210 body style has a destined-to-be-a-classic design, perhaps the last for Mercedes since they have gone to a more homogenous theme with all their new model designs of late. The mono-wiper, VDO instrumentation, and traditional console are nuances that also make this model a keeper. (No Chrysler influence here!) If this is the only car I have all my life, Ill be happy. It is a marvelous combination of exterior/interior design, luxury, safety and performance.

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  Great Car, no problems ever! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TraceyThomas - November 29 - 3:43 pm

  The car has been great since day one. It has been reliable, fun to drive and no repairs other than tires. The ride was fantastic and attention to details perfect. Im buying another one, my lease is over, this time the CLK 350 they have discontinued the CLK 320.

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  Super automobile - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By billyq - November 28 - 11:34 am

  I have owned my car since 2003, it currently has 212,000 mile runs as new, everything works. Maintenance is a must- after warranty never never take to a MB dealer - find an independant shop that work on MBs. The car drives better than the new S550, just missing the technology of the newer car, but rides and handles much better. take care of the car and it will take care of you in comfort.

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  Dont compare this vehicle to others - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Ciro - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I read other reviews and laughed. They expect a square vehicle to be quiet and get good mpg, not. I bought this vehicle because of its actual ruggedness and the fact that its a military vehicle in Germany. In other words, a German Hummer. I got exactly what I expected an more. A very tough vehicle with some luxury appointments. Interior noise is minimal for a square vehicle. It handles like a truck, as it should, since it weighs as much a a large pick-up truck. Gas mileage is actually not that bad if you dont use the 292hp all the time. Ive averaged 19mpg in the highway @ 55mph and as high as 17mpg in the city if your light on the gas. But stomp on the pedal and it drinks the fuel.

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  More fun than allowed - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By flblondie - November 26 - 9:03 am

  This is my second Benz. The sl is fun, fast and better mpg than the manufacturer states - if I dont feel the need to pass everyone on the road (hard to do!) Im getting consistently 24+ on the highway. Dont hesitate. Get one.

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  a great compact SUV - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By zeit - November 25 - 3:00 am

  great classic exterior and interior look; solid handling at high speed and smooth ride in commuter traffic; and a superb sound system that make driving more than about the getting there.