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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  My E350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gerald Netkin - July 31 - 2:53 pm

  This car exceeds my expectations for comfort, performance, and reliability. The 7 speed auto provides great power at any rpm. The 6 cyl engine provides great fuel economy. The car has that solid German feel while remaining comfortable. I especially like the semi active suspension with its three settings. I feel safe when im driving this car.

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  2002 - 320 CLK - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By CBP - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This is the one of the best buys Mercedes offers. The car is extremely well built and drives smoothly. My gas mileage in combined city/highway traffic is 25 mpg. The car is nimble and quick and looks great. Resale value after 5 years will be almost $26,000.

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  sweetness - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sweetness233 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Its a miracle I love this car!!!!! I never thought that I would be able to afford a mercedes untill the C230 came out. this is one of the best deales around!!!!!!

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  I am smitten! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob Dixon - July 30 - 8:36 pm

  I am smitten! Having owned the Mercedes 350 coupe for just one day now my thoughts run to how much a pleasure it is to drive. The supple ride, the wonderful handling, and quiet power, all lead me to praise this car way beyond anything I have ever owned. My concern about leaving my Solara behind have melted into the expectations of getting the car out on the open road and enjoying the touring experience. I am constantly surprised at the little driver friendly touches I find as I move along. Does this car actually make you younger or just feel younger?

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  I love this car. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Adam - July 30 - 5:16 pm

  I was literally one of the first to buy a 2003 C230 coupe and Ive loved it ever since. I have to be completely honest here and tell you that its had its fair share of electrical problems. The only problem was the engine was revving at idle just slightly, but this was fixed by replacing the engine controller (paid by warranty) and now it runs smooth as ever. This was the first MB to have the M271 engine and I was expecting some bugs. Other than that Ive had the check engine light come on at least a half dozen times, but Ive got that taken care of now. Ive had no mechanical problems of any kind, no squeaks, rattles or anything like that, just minor electrical problems. Love the car!

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  2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E350 Avant-Garde Sport - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mercedeslover1 - July 30 - 7:08 am

  The Mercedes- Benz E-Class is an amazing vehicle, that I have truly enjoyed owning. The design is so timeless and elegant and never looks pretentious, but only classy. The interior and exterior are made of materials that are built to last, and everything feels high quality and feels as if it could withstand a nuclear attack. However, there are some problems with this model, specifically with the transmission valve body, which does tend to fail but the replacement should resolve any issues. This car is expensive to fix, and owners should have a few thousand sat aside for potential problems, however problems generally are few to none.

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  Best M-Class Ever! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Scott Harris - July 30 - 1:43 am

  When I first drove the new M-Class I was shocked. I had never driven a vehicle, ANY vehicle, that after a test drive, I decided right then and there to buy it. The build quality is second to none. Power eveywhere you need it, at any RPM. I only wish I had waited for the AMG version with over 475 horsepower. The AMG version will be stronger and better built than the Porsche SUV, and cost less. Outstanding quality!

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  Decent Car for the $$$ - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Duspin - July 28 - 10:00 am

  Leased it in 11/2000 and purchased at lease-end. Few problems; but ALL cars have problems, ALL of them! I have the sport package with xenons, phone, CD changer and it is an awesome ride especially in light of the hands-free laws in certain states. Would I buy another? Yes! But not where I got this one.

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  Benz is back! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By JimG - July 26 - 8:06 pm

  This car is absolutely stunning, and with the seven speed transmission, 302 HP feels like 402! Less than 6 sec. to 60 in a first class luxury sedan is nothing to sneeze at. The build quality feels superb like previous generation Benzes when engineering came first and the price was set as an afterthought. Anyone looking at this level will be impressed with this car...if they can find one to see and drive. This makes my 7th Benz in 13 years and it is without question the best of the batch including my vaunted 92 S class. No car is perfect, but for me, this one comes very close.

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  Nirvana - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Amer - July 23 - 1:43 pm

  This car is fast and fun to drive. It offers race-car speed and handling with four-door sedan comfort. The steering is not BMW-tight, but in the sports mode it makes a pretty close approximation. The car has a bunch of add-ons which should have been standard in a 90000+ dollar car(final cost). I did not like the styling changes with the new 5- series so the M5 was not an alternative I felt worth exploring. The AMG styling changes make this car standout. I am completely satisfied with driving experience and the seats are amazing. Im 6 5" and my wife is 50". We both have found comfortable seating positions