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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  pricey for okee dokee rig - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bob in Oregon - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I had to drive 70 mls to the nearest dealer to fix the window that would not roll up last winter when it was 22 deg F out then the parts where on "national recall" so go back then something broke when the guy put it together so 3rd trip the first service work oil change ect. they asked if I wanted to have this upgraded fuel regulator installed no charge I said sure I had no idea I would be there from time of opening until 1:30 in the after noon cause to get to the top of the gas tank they have to take out the back seat and open an access hole in the floor then take of the drivers rear tire and pull out the platic wheel well (tough job). I was more impressed with the car I traded in.

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  Buy Lexus - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DONNELL - October 1 - 4:00 pm

  Im sorry but this car is junk. Replaced cluster module, rear stan, and engine. CD player now doesnt work, light over license plate has been replaced twice. Too many electrical problems for a vehicle that was purchased brand new. Quality is gone and Ill never purchase a Mercedes Benz again. My next vehicle will be a Lexus. Ive had a lexus in the past with no problems at all.

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  Never again....back to Lexus - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dpendley3 - September 29 - 9:59 pm

  Once I hit 65,000 miles... - Engine oil leak - AC motor bad - Motor Mounts collapsed - 275.00 key If this is luxury driving, I want out. I will go back to Lexus, Acura, or Infinity. This is a joke. Now I know why they have free cappuccino at the dealer...because you will be there a lot! Never will buy a Mercedes again! Horrible car for the money.

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  Oh Why? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By my last benz - September 24 - 2:26 am

  Not even five thousand miles the fuel pump gives out. Its in the shop for a week. Then a month later the engine goes out completely. They say it was caused by metal shards in the fuel pump lines. All is good for the next six months then I open my garge door and the dam car is sitting in a pool of gas.

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  Overrated - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By taylort - September 11 - 10:02 am

  I have read a lot of the reviews on the E35O and know a lot of people like this car but I think it is overrated because it has the Mercedes name plate. If the same car had a Ford or Chevy name plate on it I wonder if it with be rated so highly. I have a 2013 E-350 with Sports package. I have had some issues with the command console and the road noise is terrible. Mercedes say the level of road noise is normal. I guess since I have the sport package. It is too much noise for any car to have coming in the cabin. I have a 2001 BMW 530 with sports package and it is quieter than the E350. The technical issues with the command console, I plan to visit the dealer today.

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  Not Worth My Money! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Christine - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I am a former owner of a Toy Solara 00. Then I did something stupid and trade it in for the C230 because when I 1st test driven it I thought wow what a cool car.I waited 3 mons for my order and finally got the car in Dec of 01, I ended up paying $35k for it. BUT I HAD NOTHING But PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR!! continue....part 2

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  continue from previous Part 2 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ChristineL - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Right before X-mas which was 3 wks right after I got the car, my sunroof stopped working and later found out that I got a deffect one, and it took the Dealer two wks to fix it. Anyways, the front tires kept going flat on me for like the past two months, so I thought maybe Ive ran over a nail or some sort so I kept filling it up with air everytime it goes flat and today I took it to a prof. tire shop and they found out that the rim a hole in it! Can you beleive Mercedes sold me a freakin Lemon??

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  Comfortable Capable Cruiser; Unreliable - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Justice Charles & Co - August 23 - 10:30 am

  Traded in a leased MB ML350 and decided to downsize now that the kids are driving alone. Had several unresolved issues with the ML but decided to give MB a fresh chance. Overall, my wife and I enjoy driving this right sized SUV. Im 62" but I fit comfortably and the position is good although rear seat comfort and room is cramped. Large double sunroof is nice touch. Nice interior design but cheap/loose bits have surfaced in less than 6 months 7k miles. Fuel is acceptable at 17MPG average. Reliability has been horrific- two individual instances of electrical failure in the stability control system/ABS/ESP. Navigation sys was replaced. Climate control failure, was waiting 3 weeks for part.

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  Money Pit - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Kim - August 18 - 2:34 am

  I bought it in 2013, thinking I was getting a good deal, but it is old and now the car is starting to deteriorate quickly. I spent over $4,000 this past year on the AC, Motor Mounts, Transmission mounts, oil valve cover, O2 sensors, hoses. It hit 100,000 miles and the tune up is due. Even without labor and wholesale, the cost of 16 spark plugs and wires is $500! Now my suspension is going and its in the shop. Waiting for a revised estimate since they keep adding more parts. I would not buy a old Mercedes again. I spent another $3000 on the car in 2016. I loved the car, but it is a money pit.

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  Poor visibility, poor acceleration - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Doctor Bob - August 17 - 4:23 am

  The C-pillar (rear) is a big honker - which makes changing lanes and backing out of the driveway unsafe. No technology for showing cars in the blind spot. Acceleration is turbo-lagged. Ugh. Rear view camera lousy. Sound system great though.