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:

• 

  Glad To Own It! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Don - February 4 - 8:06 am

  I have owned Volvos my whole life and have decided to switch due in part to constant repairs on the last one. I am happy to have switched and every mile has been a delight. The car has that Mercedes solidity that is unmatched in any other car on the road as well as an engine that is velvety smooth at any speed. The 5 speed auto is well mated to the engine which makes great sound and tug under hard acceleration. The interior preserves the lovely Teutonic ambiance of the older Benzes with great seats for long trips and very logical controls. This car was built for driving and has been very reliable. I love this car!

• 

  Youre Not Going To Believe This! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Cynthia A. - February 2 - 10:36 pm

  Let me begin by saying, I am trying to love my ML350. I have had it for 1 1/2 yrs. now. The ride is smooth and without the major and minor hiccups Im about to explain, I really try to love it. Lets begin: there is a plastic rattle sound that I hear every single day while driving at low speeds on normally worn roads.(cant hear it on the highway or interstate) My dealership had it for four days and cant seem to fix it. Next, one day while opening my back hatch a large bolt just fell out of the hatch. Of course, there is the trailer hitch recall. Best of all my drivers side heated seat burned a hole in my seat and nearly caught on fire. Daughter was sitting in seat warming up between soccer games.

• 

  maximus - 2016 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By angelo lup - February 2 - 9:53 am

• 

  Take this car and... - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kflana - February 2 - 9:43 am

  After 15 months of driving this car, and at least 10 trips to the dealer for repairs for electrical, leaks etc. in the last 10 months I am going to sell it and get another Lexus. The electrics are horrible, and it takes 2 weeks to get the gaskets from Germany for the oil leaks. Buyer beware

• 

  Excellent - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By TeamWenz - February 1 - 11:03 pm

  There is a reason this is one of the best cars sold on the planet. Incredible luxury combined with decent economy. It just eats up the road. Just had it serviced at the dealership $220 in total. Not bad for 10,000 intervals.

• 

  Nice - Really Nice - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jw - January 31 - 6:53 am

  I owned a couple of MBs back in the 80s and while they were reliable (boringly so), they were just not fun to drive. I recently purchased a 1999 E430 just because it looked good on the lot and had only 30000 miles on it (in June of 2007!). I must say these cars have come a long, long, way. This thing is powerful, smooth, and handles like its on rails. It gets 31 mpg on the Interstate (in cruise control)and averages 25. If you need a great used car for a real bargain price, look at one of these wonderful machines.

• 

  my carlsson clk - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By slickjimmy - January 31 - 2:00 am

  Great car... Lots of looks and great aftermarket accessories even if you’re not a big AMG fan.

• 

  I am upset with the build quality - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By fadanc - January 31 - 2:00 am

  The car is a nightmare in build quality and reliability. It is a shame that Mercedes Benz has done so lousy work with this model and charged its customers with prices as if were made in Germany.

• 

  Sweet CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By granite - January 30 - 9:40 pm

  This is the vehicle that blows away all the old dirty diesel tales. Its quiet, burns clean and with all the torque available, absolutely hauls the mail. Add to those qualities the fact that I get almost 38 mpg on the highway (Reno to Phoenix on one tank)...the fuel efficiency increases with high average speeds (75-85)...and about 30 mpg in town. If youre on the highway a lot...you gotta go for the 6CD changer and Sirius system (whens the IPOD dock coming?!)...COMAND is cool. Im never leaving this car.

• 

  Best car Ive ever owned - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Eric Jones - January 29 - 6:22 pm

  A great value for the money. Safe and reliable with classic lines. You cant beat it. The best money on a car Ive ever spent!