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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  GLK is getting better with age, We love it. - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Don - December 12 - 6:25 am

  Adding back up camera is expensive if you want it integrate with screen in car. We are pleased with the car. Performance and handling has improved with the miles driven. Annual service is a bit costly, but much more service performed than on GM cars I have owned.

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  Lousy reliability - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rl-candy - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Car had 22000 miles and manufacturers warranty (never wrecked, dealer serviced, full records). Cant find a better more solid feel in a midsize but the reliability is horrible. Everytime I crank it up I hope the radio works correctly. MB uses soft plastic, not hard, designed to break. Visor vanity covers break off routinely. Dont pull on seat backs, they will break off in your hand. Catalytic converter broke. Key system is horrible, locks are stiff and keys are skinny. Will buy American made Lincoln next time.

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  Good:But Lexus is just as good. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kiknchikn - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Overall, the car is fun to drive and very comfortable. Performance is good and interior design is not bad. The front is very attractive but the rear I dont like as much. Looks too much like a box from behind.

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  well satisfied - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BRLMNKZ - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This is my third ML 320 in three years, due to my unwillingness to wait for body repairs after being rear-ended and after a tree limb incident. Performance is better with the 2001 than the 2000, and the 2001 is tighter and more quiet than the 1999. All are solid and secure on the road, and handle beautifully. No mechanical problems with any.

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  Blind spots - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Jose E. Hernandez - December 3 - 7:03 am

  I have driven this car 1600 miles from Springfield, MO to McAllen, TX and noticed many blind spots around the car that could cause me or my wife to have a car accident. Door jams are too wide,and windows are too small and narrow. Overall the car has poor visibility from the inside. The right hand mirror is obscured about one quarter by the passenger door jam.

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  G Wagon to the rescue - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By zipperino - December 3 - 2:00 am

  The best built car in production today. No comparison.

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  Solid car after break-in gremlins - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RoninSanDiego - December 3 - 2:00 am

  One of 1st 2003 E-320s delivered in my city, the car had electrical, computer/mechanical probs with climate control, airbags; rear window sunscreen. Engine computer problems. BUT -after the post-delivery gremlins were fixed, car has been reliable ever since. Great cruiser and easy to handle in stop-and-go traffic. 30 mpg on 400 mile trip- cruising 80+ mph. Overall,my E-320 is winning me back. Dealership is excellent.

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  Great SUV! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By audioduke - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I bough mine in Sept 2000. I stayed away until late 2000 model year after hearing quality issues on 1998 and 1999 models. I wouldnt touch these first 2 year model! For 2000, MBZ revised the interior and presume all the issues found on 1st 2 years. Hey, I had NO PROBLEM with mine and cant see why there are so many who whine about their car. We took it in for 1 yr service and Bellevue MBZ dealer also replaced the sunroof motor. I guess there may have been a "silent" recall. What can I say? Just love this SUV!

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  ML500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By dano - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Terrific SUV that has shown zero quality issues other than the brakes squealing in cold weather.

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  Its OK - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Pacquin - November 23 - 4:50 pm

  I purchased the car with 23000 miles (certified). The ride is good, and it drives well. The engine strains somewhat. A good road car.