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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  They could have done better - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ML 350 - March 31 - 12:13 pm

  I want to love Mercedes but they always go wrong. Mechanically is where this car falls. $310 for an normal service is way too much and cost for other small repairs are ridiculous like $20 for a new key battery. We only have about 40,000 miles on ours and every morning on a cold start there is a clicking noise coming from under the car. Also the steering vibrates a little on the highway and shakes when your ride over a pothole.

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  2 Years Later - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Max Headroom - March 31 - 8:36 am

  We picked this car up in Germany in Oct,2005, fresh off the 2006 production line. I highly recommend their white-glove international delivery. We tooled around on the autobahn at speeds of 120- 130mph with little effort. I only recently went on a road trip of any length in the U.S.; 2000 miles to NY and back to Atlanta. What a dream on the road! Surprizingly, room for 2 suitcases,a computer tower,various coolers and tote bags without having to put the top up! Mileage ran at 30mpg @ 70-80 cruising speed. Because this is a performance car, the ride is stiff, but not intolerable for long trips. The adjustability of the driver seat makes finding a comfortable setting easy. Navi system is adequate.

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  So Much More Than a Luxury Wagon - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mercedesfan - March 30 - 8:40 am

  This really is a fantastic car. The cargo hold is massive for a mid-size vehicle and interior passenger space is impressive plus it is really quite easy to get a child seat attached in the rear seat with little issue and it fits very firmly. The car is a blast to drive when you push it (no wagon should be this fast or corner this well). The build quality is also fantastic with super-soft leather and fantastic fit and finish. Gas mileage is also remarkably decent for a 507-hp V8.

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  CLS500 great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By num1lady - March 29 - 9:00 pm

  Only six weeks on the road, but able to praise the handling and power. The interior is very comfortable and the exterior is what makes the car. We have found it to be very powerful and most of all it hugs the road. This car gives the feeling of the SLK with the ride of the S. So far outstanding

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  CLK 430 COUPE - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Henri - March 29 - 10:00 am

  Bought it a year old. Lots of fun. Only have 18k miles on it after two years. Bad news. Front AMG bumper cracks easily. 3000 to replace. Also have a lot of new squeaks in front seats. Tires replaced at 12K miles. Bad city gas mileage, but good on highway. Nice transmission, great seats, good room for 4 people. POWERFUL engine, which moves..Best body style so far. Had fuel sensors replaced twice - under warranty. But love look and feel of heavy car. Feels very strong and safe. Not sure how resale value will be. Recommend buying extended warranty before original exprires.

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  Get One! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jaymazik - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my 99 C230 Kompressor Sport, black on black. I have a 120 mile round trip commute that I make a couple times a week. I am tired of cars falling apart with routine maintenance and not having any resale value at all. My last three American cars resale value has been abysmal. What a joy it is to drive again. I havent had this much fun since my 1997 Maxima SE, just now Im in a much more solid car. Five years old and still turns heads. None of the Mercedes maintenance horrors others predicted. Research the models on edmunds, consumer reports, etc. and youll see the 99 C Class scores above average in most categories. Im hooked now!

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  I will buy another - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By wideopenbite - March 29 - 10:00 am

  This is still perhaps the most eyecatching Mercedes model, along with the new SL. This car is smooth, quiet, reliable, and a real blast to drive on a long curvy country road. When the time comes, I will probably look to replace this car with a 2001 or 2002. The V-8 is definately the way to go.

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  Been Fun - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Joe Upshaw - March 29 - 10:00 am

  The car only had one major mechanical failure which was under warranty. With the addition of a custom Remus exhaust system, it has been a lot of fun to own and drive.

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  Buying off lease! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tommy5855 - March 29 - 10:00 am

  This car is great. 80,000 miles and still as smooth as ever. Most expensive MB Extended Factory warranty is a must though. Had several back window motors break. Other things from time to time. They came to ME within an hour and fixed it no cost each time. I drive it hard. Turbo really kicks it up a notch. Drove 4 maximas prior to getting the TD. Each one felt like it was falling apart at 35k miles. This car at 80K is just getting broken in.

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  Mercedes c240 4 matic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ilene Whitmarsh - March 29 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is fun to drive! It handles really well, even in the bad weather. I have gotten many compliments on the way it looks! The dealership has been totally wonderful as far as service! I have leased it for 39 months, 20000 a year and will get a new one when my lease is up!