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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  Wow - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Buffalo Bill - March 11 - 6:00 pm

  Liked the looks of the SUV. Was Wowed with the engine design. As an old racer I can remember when an engine such as this was only in race cars. The 7speed auto makes my head swim, a two speed power glide was in one of my first cars. Live in the country with a mile of rough dirt road with a massive hill, does what a 4x4 is supposed to do. Would like to see the fuel mileage improve a little. Its $3.45 a gallon here. I think past history shows it will get better as miles pile up Great car. Thanks MB

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  not the best built mercedes - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C200 esprit auto - March 10 - 5:30 pm

  Would i buy another c class merc the answer would be no i would not, for the simple reason that this car just seems to go on and on with never ending faults.As for the body work thats no better than a rusting ford escort from the 1980s. Its a shame because i still enjoy the look of this car and still for some mad reason still like driving it,even when things do keep costing me more money each month and each year. The problem with most of these merc c class models seems to be all the same,with very bad electrical problems like wiper arm gives up working hazard warning switch gives up headrest button stops working, blower fan stops working,along with warning lights flashing at high speeds.

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  BETTER THEN BMW 330i - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Arash Valaei - March 10 - 10:00 am

  BMW just cant keep up with this car. Dont waste your money, the C320 is better thenthe rest of the competition.

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  Enjoy - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Hobgood - March 9 - 11:43 am

  This is my 3rd E-Class and without a doubt the best. Great reliability, good ride, better gas mileage, good responsiveness, and its comfortable.

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  3 and a half years later - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By joesander - March 7 - 8:36 pm

  I bought this car just after the announcement of the new CLS series and the day it hit the showroom floor. I had my heart set on a BMW 600 series and switched at the last minute. It was love at first sight. Now the lease is expiring and I have to decide what to do. After lots of research I have concluded there is no better car in the market than the one I have in my driveway right now. I would love to trade for something new but for now I am sticking with my still showroom new looking CLS500.

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  Compact interior but WOW - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sam M. - March 6 - 7:50 am

  I bought this car to replace an ALTIMA 2.5S. Interior is small with but this car is nothing like any that I have owned, everything is tight, pickup is superb, it drives and handles like a turbo charged sports car. Its a lot of fun to drive, only if it had a few more inches to recline the front seat.

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  Switched from BMW to Mercedes - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tom in Phoenix - March 6 - 2:30 am

  After looking at the BMW 328i and the 2008 Mercedes Benz 300C, I traded my 2004 BMW 330i on the Mercedes. I am very satisfied with the decision. The MB is more pleasing to the eyes both inside and out. And for those who may be looking for a not so harsh of a ride, but firmer than a Lexus, this is the vehicle. MB did a great job with this new model. In my opinion, a better value for the money than the BMW 3 series.

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  Nice design particulary the front side. - 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By Ed Reyes - March 4 - 12:25 pm

  Its been a month that I owned this car, so far so good I dont have any problem or concern. Ill let you know in a year.

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  2008 C300 AWD Luxury - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jatnova - March 4 - 8:23 am

  Purchased the C300 a couple of weeks ago and so far really love it. I traded a 2004 Accura TL for the C300 and I think MB is much better. Quieter overall ride, just as much power (or at least enough power), better handling and a really nice interior. Exterior with the new silver color looks really sharp. Car is built well and has a very solid feel. The handling on the road and quiet ride while driving is much better than the TL or previously owned Lexus.

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  an excellent sport/ luxury car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By cookie monster - March 3 - 10:00 am

  If you have the money and the time I suggest getting it right away. YOU WILL LOVE IT