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 ML - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bill dante - January 24 - 1:33 pm

  From day one I was very happy with the ML. Rain,snow or shine the car has performed to my fullest expectations. My next car will be the Mercedes ML

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  First MB - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By maxovrdriv - January 24 - 8:39 am

  This is my first Mercedes. Have owned BMW740 ( perhaps worst car I have ever owned) Infinity Q45, and Lexus LS 430. This car is as fun to drive as any of them . As far as ride quality goes, however, the Lexus is leaps and bounds in front of this car. However, I got this car for the performance and it has not let me down. This car jumps when your doing 40 and step on it. It is flat out fun to drive. My older Corvettes were to old to compare but insofar as fun factor, yea its right there. Seats are a little stiff, sound system is okay, nothing great. The nav system is so-so at best, seems like most in cars are years behind the cell phones anyway, but it does work.

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  Second thoughts - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By frank - January 22 - 11:33 pm

  We loved the car until twice the car ESP system went haywire and the car lost power, shook like a washing machine and lost steering. Pretty scary. No explanation could be found, every computer test passed, yet this happened twice, Could lead to an accident. Trying to follow up with a second check up but I doubt the cause will show up.

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  do not recommend - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By wchoi71 - January 22 - 7:23 am

  Before warmed up enough, a little too sluggish. Experienced a few glitches in the shift. I dont know why I cannot direct the heater toward feet only.

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  Great Ride - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob - January 22 - 12:20 am

  Comfortable ride, steering is a little loose but this is not a sport model. We bought this car as a turned-in- lease with 41K miles, we paid a third of the sticker price new, it is a certified used which extends the warranty to 100K. Overall I like this car, however I would never pay $60K for this car new, it just is not worth it, for $20,000 its great!

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  Best S Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Jerry li - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the best S class ever ! I love it

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  Better MPG than you think - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Robert Robinson - January 20 - 3:43 am

  I fell in love with my first SL as a twelve year old, when I saw the most beautiful champagne 450SL in a showroom for seventeen thousand dollars. As midlife approached I was able to afford a used 1999 SL500. I have driven over 50,000 trouble free miles and have consistently averaged over 20 miles per gallon. I believe the 129 model(90-01) is the least expensive to own from the perspective of a Mercedes-Benz mechanic.

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  Love it - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lms - January 19 - 8:43 pm

  Improved look of the vehicle over the previous models. The handling is great especially in difficult weather. Inside, enjoy lumbar support, seats, and spacious cargo. Great power with the V8 in our hilly community both freeways and city drives. Finally feeling safe and comfortable during commutes. Excellent car. Needs some cosmetic work inside. Too much plastic but if you choose less options, you get what you pay for.

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  Concern w/Transfer Case & future quality - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Henry W - January 19 - 3:13 am

  Overall I like my C-280. I gave low quality rating b/c of my Transfer Case issue after only 3 yrs. Pros: Handles well in the snow, 27 mpg highway average, looks expensive Cons: Passenger head rest and rear view mirror rattles. To fix I have to keep head rest lowered when seat isnt in use and every so often have to adjust the mirror. Mile marker only does whole #s so cant tell when gone 1/2 mile. CD changer fills glove compartment. At 90K miles, the Transfer Case began making rubbing noise on tight turns. Would have been $500+ repair w/o CPO warranty.

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  Awesome - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By asiafish - January 18 - 3:46 pm

  Fast, fuel efficient, stylish and supremely comfortable. This is my second C class (previous 2001 C240) and is by far the nicest car I could find with 30+ MPG highway.