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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  S430 Mercedes Benz - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By 15th Mercedes Owner - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car. Very efficient 24 mpg. Stiff front seats.

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  What a GREAT car!!!!!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fun2Drive - June 6 - 2:00 am

  OK, Im going to say it right up front - This is my first luxury car and I WANT to like it, not pick it apart! And like it I do!! From the stylish looks, to the bells and whistles, to the high-tech brakes - - this is a nice, fun car to drive, and it turns plenty of heads! For the life of me, I cant figure out the 3.4 rating the other Reviewer gave it, unless he was just trying to make a statement. This is NOT a 3.4 car - its a well-made, comfortable, quiet ride!

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  My benz is great - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jaason - June 4 - 5:36 pm

  The ML500 special edition is great. It is very good with gas. It goes from 0-60 in about 4 to 5 seconds and there is alot of cargo space.

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  Awesome new ride - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Texas Lawyer - June 1 - 10:00 pm

  I buy a new car about every two years and just traded in a Jeep Commander Limited with a Hemi in for this new oil burning Benz. All I can say is: WOW. This truck is the bomb, I have only driven it about 1,000 miles so far but am averaging 30mpg on the highway and about 22mpg in town. I got nearly every option, including prem packages 1 and 2 (keyless entry) and leather, etc. The ML320 is like an S class in overshoes, the ride is first rate and the gas mileage is simply amazing for such a large vehicle. The only complaint I have is that from 0-10 mph it is a little herky jerky until the turbo kicks in then it flies. The fit and finish is typical MB and is my #1 choice in a luxury SUV.

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  Very Good Vehicle - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Motor Man - June 1 - 8:23 pm

  Have only had it for 4 weeks, but have driven 3000 miles. So far, not a single problem. The ride and handling are excellent with the air suspension. Power is very good with the v-6 and the 7 speed transmission seems to always be in the right gear.

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  One of the Few - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mmh - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Cant understand why there are not many of the c320 4matic wagons on the road. Drives better than the sedan. looks better than the sedan. and still holds skis and snowboard inside or on top.

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  E500, Wow! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ColinF - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my E 500 this past month. The ride is wonderful, insulating me from the dreaded potholes of Chicago. Acceleration is strong and build quality is excellent. Better than my BMW. Fit and finish is very precise and everything works as it should. This is a keeper!

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  Not quite my 911, but... - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By stlfamilyman - June 1 - 1:53 am

  Maybe I have been driving SUVs for too long, but I was stunned by the outstanding performance of the E550 four matic. While this car is not as fast as my 911 4S, it is close. The large seats are extremely comfortable and the driver dynamic multi contour seat is a must. My three kids have no problem sitting in the deep, roomy back seats. After owning nearly ever other make of vehicle, I am impressed.

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  New Owner - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Skipper - May 31 - 3:16 pm

  Bought 1999 C230 Kompressor 3 weeks ago. It is in excellent condition inside and out, one owner, 74,000 miles, well cared for with a ride that is extremely smooth, quiet and comfortable. My 1st Mercedes. I am very pleased with it and enjoy hearing comments about how clean, sharp and classy it is. It is fun to drive and, so far, while still early, it is a great buy.

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  Diesel Power and Sublime Beauty - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mbzx - May 31 - 8:03 am

  I purchased a 2008 ML320 CDI with Premium II package in Sept. 2007 although I had been nervous about MBs less than stellar reputation in quality. My car has so far exceeded all my expectation in terms of performance and quality. The tremendous diesel power propels the car into any traffic when needed. But mostly I like driving very gently and the car rewards me with 30 miles on highways (when I am really gentle) and 23 miles in local/highway (40/60) mix on average. Its creature comfort is well designed and well executed. The car feels like a marble rolling on glass pane in highways. I am thoroughly enjoying the car and most probably will purchase GL320 CDI in the near future.