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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  MB quality is poor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By David Hiers - May 23 - 10:00 am

  Within an hour of bringing this brand new car home the passenger side xenon headlights burned out. The car has a vibration at 55 mph and above. The car has been back to the dealership for 5 days out of the 8 I have had it and they still cannot fix the vibration. They put brand new michelin tires on it yesterday and it still vibrates. They are calling in a MB technician next week to see what is wrong. It vibrates so bad that the passenger seat and headrest shake. The cupholders are really bad. The dealership has been very professional but have been unable to fix the problem. Wish I had purchased the LS430.

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  Wha-hawpen? - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Paul Jacob - May 19 - 2:08 am

  I currently own a 1983 380SL and a 2001 S430. I have owned a 280SE and a 380SEL. My S430 radio will not receive AM anymore; a $1200 estimate by Mercedes to fix. The fob does not unlock, nor will it lock the doors; a $2400 estimate from Mercedes dealer to fix. The trunk will not open, only by the key in the fob; $1200 estimate to fix. This S430 is fragile in many places, like the seat frames and center console ash trays (doors) plastic grill, and over 100 switches between the front door buttons. The AC controls are fickle, and the "check engine" light comes on for no good reason. This S430 will be my last Mercedes Benz. I feel as though I have been snookered. Quality is fleeting.

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  Lemon - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By crossan - May 17 - 7:46 pm

  Great looking car, but one of the worst I have owned as far as reliability and quality. In six months, this car has been in the shop 6 times, burning oil, engine replaced, air bag malfuncation, etc. This car makes we wish I had bought the ACURA RL.....no wonder the Mercedes CEO was fired...go elsewhere for quality.

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  Much improvement is needed - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By marvinlee2 - May 15 - 12:41 am

  The front standard seats are miserably hard and un-conforming, plus being too low at any setting. Road noise isolation is also poor and worse than the Toyota cars I rent on flying trip destinations. The engine emits rude noises on initial cold start up, a problem which is euphemistically referred to in the owners manual as "a different sound." Pluses include a smooth and effective engine stop-start system at stoplights, ample power, excellent initial reliability, and good body finish and fit. Overall, I would rather have the new Kia K900 as it offers me more luxury and features for the same or less amount of money.

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  wish I had read here - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dr John - April 26 - 2:20 am

  This Mercedes has been the least reliable vehicle I have ever owned. The electronic engine control hooks to an antitheft interlock which fails randomly. The dealership is happy to take my money but unable to solve the problem. Hence I can be anywhere and try to start the car and have it disable the vehicle, leaving me stranded. The Mercedes club people know of this problem and tell me that Mercedes made a replacement computer that disables the lock out, but will not sell it to me. The us Mercedes people were uncooperative. Since I bought the vehicle used, they state that someone could have changed my computer before I bought it. Yeah, sure.

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  Buyer Beware! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Taryn - April 21 - 4:13 pm

  The sunroof design is an absolute joke. While test driving the car on a gloomy day, I never thought to check how the sunroof closed. Every car I have ever had or been in has a solid screen that closes off the sunroof. Not this car. The sunroof screen is mesh, not solid, and thus lets sunlight in through the roof while the sun is overhead. When I am driving around mid-day I need to wear a hat and I need to blast the air conditioner (even on a cool day) as the car heats up excessively with sun coming through the roof for many hours. I was so thrilled when I bought this car but now I dread to drive it during the day. Mercedes refuses to do anything to help.

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  Not All That - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By SCMAN - April 19 - 10:00 am

  I admit, I had to order one and be one of the first. Yes I made a mistake and will be selling or trading it in. While its a respectable off road vehicle and can run circles around anything except a Hummer (either one) but its just too "goofy" to be seen in every day. Face it, call it retro, art, or just plain ugly its not a good looking vehicle. Interior quality is Mercedes all the way. Not sure who this truck is targeted toward, but its not me.

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  Nothing but problems - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By tiaguessa - April 14 - 6:37 am

  Since we purchased our c-class its been a horrible experience. Engine had tapping noise since day one, dealership said that knocking / tapping noise is normal. It leaks like crazy, you can smell oil buring in the car. We have replaced the rear main seal ($1300.00), valve cover gaskets ($650.00) and now the transfer case has to be replaced, $3000.00. Still smells and leaks. We came from Acura to MB because I have owned several older MBs and loved them but we wanted a new one. The dealership is the worst, Chevrolet dealership disguised as a MB dealership. The car is total junk, never own another one. Going to back to Acura.

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  Great car, poor reliability - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By bubu - April 9 - 9:20 am

  This is a great car - when it runs. The engine is very strong but the electrical system is very unreliable. You will get to know the MB service dept. well. Moreover, this is a fancy car and many mechanics are not trained to fix its problems. Find a good mechanic and get the extended warranty!

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  Looks nice but - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By RLP - April 8 - 4:43 am

  This is the most uncomfortable car I have ever driven. As a professional chauffeur who drives fifteen hours a day, five days a week its important to feel comforable.The noise level is not as good as in previous models.The drivers seat needs a lot of improvment. Mercedes Benz needs to ask "real time " drivers for suggestions.My 1976-450SLC, 1985- 500SEL,1992-600SEL, 1998-S420, 2000- S430, and 2003-500 4matic. All were more comfortable and quiet than the new 2007-550 4matic I have now. Mercedes is not what it use to be.