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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  "iron fist in a velvet glove" - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fooe - January 6 - 4:03 pm

  I originally bought this vehicle because my wife would not let me buy a E39 M5 due to the manual transmission, so I had resigned myself to a life of commuting boredom without my beloved 3rd pedal. "At least Ill have the big V8 to listen to while I wait for the transmission to catch up to my right foot" I thought. Well, I was wrong. The AMG SpeedShift is extremely impressive in daily use; it is very rarely in the wrong gear and is tuned for an enthusiast driver. Sport mode is very entertaining and Comfort isnt a blatant sacrifice to the EPA mileage gods. This, coupled with the prodigious amounts of torque and deep exhaust note, make for an entertaining drive even in traffic.

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  Beautiful Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By LDEITELL - January 6 - 2:10 am

  I tested everything including Infiniti M45, BMW 545 and Lexus 430. The Mercedes was far and away the most elegant. I bought the sport package, which gives dual exhaust, sport tuned suspension, and AMG wheels. The ride is firm, but not too hard on city streets, and performance on the winding canyon roads is awesome. I have a slight "clunk" in the stepdown from second to first gear which needs looking at. Other than that, its the greatest car I have ever driven

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  mercedes 2002 cl500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By greg - December 27 - 2:30 pm

  Fun car. Lots of power. Reliable. Purchased extednded warranty. I do think its needed and we have used it. Car is very comfortable & quiet. Excellent safety features abound. Very solid performer. Enjoy

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  S430 Review - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By rvirk - December 27 - 2:00 am

  Great powerful engine with nice accleration. Easy to use controls. Looks stunning from outside.

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  Quality all around - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lastcaress - December 26 - 9:57 am

  I got my MB C280 4Matic in 2009. I was turned in at the end of a lease, had less then 40k miles, and only paid $19k for it. I live in Colorado and need the all wheel drive. When comparing it to other AWD cars available, this was by far the best value. When test driving the cars the MB had almost no signs of wear, and the best overall fit and finish. The MB drove as well as the Audi and Subaru, the Toyota and Volvo were overpriced and lack luster. After 3 years I still love my MB. It is still very peppie, and handles (and rides) like a dream (like you think an MB should). Reliability wise,,,,,,, I have not had it in the shop once!!!

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  Blind Side Assist - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jreecole - December 19 - 8:06 pm

  Do not waste your money on this option it does not work.Mercedes new this because they put in their manual a warning about what this option would not do. The buyer does not get a chance to read the manual before buying.It says speeds exceeding your vehicle speed will not be detected. It also says it will only detect (10) feet off of your rear bumper. I know for a fact it will not pickup 10 sometimes. This thing could get someone killed if they dont read the manual before trying to use the alert. The front head restraints will not go all the way down.Talked to dealer ,they said that is the way it was designed. They are other small items that needs to be corrected

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  Dissapointment - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By user - December 18 - 10:43 pm

  The car is a luxury vehicle (65K+) and driving it is really a pleasure. I got two kids and did not want to have a van, but a nice car that would have a lot of space inside. the vehicle is very functional, has 3rd row seats, etc.etc. I would not review it unless I had quality issues with it. The 7 speed transmission failed after 32 000 miles. The suspension failed after 38 000 miles. Warranty expires at 50 000 miles. After the two main components of the car failed I cant imagine what breaks next - the engine? And everything happened below 40K miles. Expect to put big $ after you are out of warranty and those issues keep on occurring.

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  I love my car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By angel smith - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I love my CL. There is no car Id rather have. (besides a lambo....:-)

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  Alot of bang for your buck! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Beach girl - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I couldnt be happier..I was concerned about "get up and go"..what a joke that concern was. With little effort it engages and it reminds me of the star wars.. warp speed! the only thing I would do to imporve it.. is make the seats a little more luxuriest. Mineis loaded so I have the leather..but would like to see a little "cushier" seats. IF you are able to purchase from Calabasa Motors DO. the service is beyond good.. it doesnt matter how small the issue is.. you are sent way with a loaner, no questions asked.

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  So far - so good - 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
  By Ed - December 14 - 10:54 pm

  Just purchased vehicle, last car was a Porsche Cayenne S. The reason I decided to try an MB AMG was because new Porsches looked like my old one. Looked at Escalade and Dinali (too big), Audi G7 (too ugly) and Jaguar F Pace (too small). I skipped the BMW X5 because my wife drives one.