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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  I loved my ML430! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Pette_Shops - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my ML430 pre-owned(1 other owner) in 2004. The car was well taken care of and the maintenance books showed that the original owner KEPT THE MAINTENANCE UP on schedule!! When I purchased it had 40k miles at 5 years old at the time. I too kept the maintenance up with a VERY good Mercedes Benz dealership and this SUV did not give me 1 problem, until 5 years later at 120k, normal wear and tear and aging. At that point, any car will need replacement maintenance. I really enjoyed my ML 430, this has been a very good car to me and my family. Safe, reliable, beautiful...it aged very well, people were shocked that it was 10 years old last year! I look forward to my next M-Series!

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  Great Ride - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By EJRooney3 - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I acquired this car about a year ago with 62K. I knew the previous owner and its service history. Immediately had overdue maintenance performed by indy mechanic for about $700 (vs. dealer who wanted $1500). Have since put 12K on car with no new problems, and averaging over 25 mpg in mixed driving. The car is not without issues: LR window motor doesnt work, drivers mirror needs replacement. These are common problems with these cars. Essential to have service complete service history before purchasing one of these cars.

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  Still alive - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Still alive - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I just replaced my 2003 ML500 with a used 2005 ML500 for one reason only...it fully prtected me, my and dog during a high speed T-bone accident which resulted in a rollover one and half times with a 180 degree spin on its roof. We all walked away with seat belt bruises which demonstrated the cockpit safety and protection worked well. The 45 MPH crash resulted ion less than 6 inches of body depression at impact. I was almost blind sided but had the instant acceleration to prevent her from hitting my door directly. We had many fine road trips on our 112,000 mile journey with it, reliable and well serviced. I"m happy we found a replacement to keep us safe and on the road.

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  A Bird in the hand is ... - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steebie - January 18 - 8:03 am

  Ive owned S class and E and CL class Mercedes over the years, including a 2008 E Class Sport and this new 2009 E Class Sport. The pricing of the 2009 E Class is like having a "Bird in the hand and two in the bush." A great deal can be had right now, say $10,000 off sticker; how does that sound? Now youre getting a outstanding sedan at a price you cant beat. Yes, theres a new body style E Class coming out in July, but how can you pass up the 2009? Comparing my 2009 to my 2008, there have been significant improvements, including AMG package free with the no charge Sport option, 18 inch wheels, and shift paddles on the steering wheel. The Command system with NAV is much improved.

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  Best Used Car for the Money - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C230Driver - January 17 - 11:50 pm

  Ive had Volvos, Mazdas, VWs, this has been by far the most dependable, cheapest car to own and maintain by far. Other than routine maintenance (oil changes), brakes at 75k and plugs at 100k miles, this has been the most dependable and cheapest car Ive ever owned. I purchased it off lease with 32k miles, I currently have over 112k - its still beautiful, paint is perfect, interior is still like new - the leather interior still looks new and has held up incredibly well. The style is classic, not trendy, and gets a lot of compliments.

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  2002 C32 AMG - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Slater126 - January 17 - 12:13 pm

  Car is brutally fast. That wasnt a surprise. What was a surprise was the nature of the powerplant. Car is spookily quiet and smooth until you get into the throttle. Not anything like my edgy 97 M3/4 was. More like a Rolls powerplant as opposed to a sporty motor like the BMW straight 6s. Oh yes, the supercharger whine. Its there, and I love it. Ride is smooth and comfortable without being sloppy. I heard some complaints re the ride so maybe Im used to sports cars? Dont know. It works for me. Ergonomics are great and materials are high quality. Gas mileage? Not so much. Ours gets 16.5 MPG average. Our 06 RSX Type-S gets 26.5 MPG in the same driving. Great car overall! 4 stars.

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  Wish I Hadnt Leased It! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By josephus - January 16 - 9:03 pm

  Great car! Comfortable, smooth, quick and gorgeous. Prior MB was an AMG SLK. Faster than the SL but not nearly as comfortable or luxurious. We leased the SL and wish wed bought it. The 39 month lease is up this year and the purchase option is outrageous. Dont like the looks of the 09 nearly as well as the 03 through the 08. About the only thing we dont like (other than a very poor radio and non-intuitive controls) is the cost of routine maintenance. For the price of this car MB should include routine maintenance as BMW/Audi do. Were hoping the 10 model returns to the more classic style of the 03-08. If so, well buy one this time.

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  2002 ML 500 - great to drive awful to maintain - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jleneveu - January 14 - 1:52 pm

  Safety, performance (fun to drive), all weather drving capability - wonderful vehicle. Maintenance costs on the other hand are unacceptable for a vehicle of the this class. Problems, you bet - 4 rear main engine seals in 96,000 miles at $1,300 per repair, front lower ball joints at 25,000 miles, engine oil leaks, interior plastic trim pieces breaking, $775 for brakes every 22,000-25,000 miles, three door panels repainted - rust problems, $1100 to repair ventilation system, and many more.

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  C320 Sport - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Derek Visocky - January 14 - 2:00 am

  This was the car I did NOT intend to buy, but couldnt be happier. Weve come to appreciate the safety, performance and engineering so much that we are sold on making a Mercedes the next purchase should we ever let this one go.

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  Yay - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By cookie_universe - January 14 - 2:00 am

  I have this slight wind nose that from the passenger side that cannot be rid of. The supposed "SmartKey* " Intermittent Wipers with Rain Sensors is way too sensitive. Even with little drops of rain from the tree (after the rains subsided), it still continues to work quite sporatically - very inconsistent.