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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  The ultimate lemon - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mercedes c320 4matic - March 18 - 8:13 am

  10/1/04 I got involved in the worst car of my life. I didnt realize that the car was as small as it really is. The kid keeps kicking the back of the front seat. Mileage could be better. But the worst thing is the car. At 18g miles the tranny went. Poof gone. At 28g the tranny went again. Then a dozen other things kept breaking. Then to drive the nail home the engine started burning oil. I clocked the car burning oil at one qt per 1500 miles. The dealership in Greenwich basically said lets keep a eye on it. Ya , lets keep a eye on it. I called Mercedes headquarters and lodged my complaint. They are keeping a eye on it also. Next stop is the lawyer. Maybe he can keep a eye on it.

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  Wow! What a car! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kb635csi - March 18 - 7:16 am

  I love driving this car! It feels faster than the Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet I traded in, its infinitely more comfortable and its capable of swallowing massive amounts of miles in a day. Take a road trip in one and youll never want to fly (in the air) again.

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  Great entry level Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - March 17 - 4:23 am

  Im pleased with my purchase. The cost for maintenance and repairs are the worst aspect of this vehicle. When it is time to do brake work, be prepared to drop $1,000. Mercedes is the only one who can get the specialized soft brake pads with the specialized coating. It handles exceptional for a 4-cylinder vehicle. It can turn on a dime and has uncharacteristically fast acceleration for a small car. Great car for a first Mercedes or for a hand-me-down to a teenager.

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  For a work car this thing rocks - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By simran1 - March 15 - 5:34 pm

  This is the second 300D Ive had I work out of my vehicle 12-14 hours per day 5-6 days per week. I wanted comfort, reliability & economy. I got it in spades. This one Ive had 2 years. Ive put over 100,000 miles on it and it has delivered continually. You just have to regular maint. I take care of it and it takes care of me. 265,000 and counting.

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  Best car ive ever owned - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By gdog - March 15 - 9:50 am

  08 CL63 is my 7th MB and by far the best - came out of a SL55. Love the Drive Dynamic seats -simply amazing, as is the Distronic. I can get 2 adults in the back in comfort which is unusual for a coupe. Was going to buy a Bentley GT. Head turner, great interior, wished I had bought the CL65 however as performance wont make your eye balls bleed. As is typical with MB - early problem - had to replace my back window as rear window defroster didnt function. I drive this car 12 mo - put 4 winter wheesl/tires on it; quite acceptable traction and handling in snow.

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  Great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By none - March 15 - 5:43 am

  Best car ever, big engine, big luxury, and big fun.

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  loving the ride...fingers crossed - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By clozer - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for 3 weeks. It handles GREAT! and the ride is magnificent . Im having a ball using all of the great gizmos (most cabin functions are voice controlled, Keyless go, fully electronic trunk, and much more) Command is not nearly so difficult as the writers say you learn it in a few days. The 4matic, ESP and brake assist already got me out of what could have been a bad skid. My only concern is the occassional bad story of something going wrong with all of that technology, but Im loving the car too much to really think about it. I guess that is what extended warrantys are for

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  NO COMPLAINTS - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MYC32NYC - March 15 - 2:00 am

  At first I had to get used to the power of this car. As I did I had lots of fun blowing away other non suspecting 2dr sports cars. it was quite fun and at the ligh they often ask me what it was and I would say c32 amg, they would look at me puzzled.....I guess this car was really meant for the enthusiasts.

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  Good value - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RW - March 15 - 12:33 am

  I traded up from a 98 SLK, which I loved but needed more room. The sedan is not as balanced, responsive or sporty as the convertible but overall a great ride. The supercharged 4 is a phenomenal engine, superb torque, and amazing pull available throughout the smooth shifting gears. Ride quality and quietness are acceptable but no one will mistake it for an S Class. Too much body roll on hard cornering. Seats are pretty firm and not enough lateral support. If you normally use cupholders, forget about it! Brakes are excellent. Overall fit and finish top- notch, ergonomics plain but well laid out. Still the best buy in the 35K+/- price group.

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  Love the car.. - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Caro Avanessian - March 12 - 8:24 am