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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  Perfection with four doors - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jshoes - May 20 - 10:00 am

  The first time you dip your toe into the accelerator on this E55, you know you made the right choice. The engine howls and, if there is sufficient traction available, the car rockets forward. Leather quality is supreme. This is my third E55 and exceeds my expectations. I also drive an SL55 and the E55 feels tighter and a better handler.

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  Perfection in 2 doors - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By jshoes - May 20 - 10:00 am

  This is it as far as high performance convertibles go. I visited the AMG factory in September, 2001, when they were first testing these cars. After I heard it drive past me, I knew I wanted one. The sounds is amazing. I love the look on peoples faces when I drive down the street and floor the car. Call me juvenile? Sure but I have a really big smile on my face everytime. On top of all this, it is gorgeous, comfortable, luxurious, exclusive and did I mention fast?

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  sl500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By reppal - May 20 - 10:00 am

  The nicest sportscar ive owned. The ride is unbeliveable, the reserved power is just centimeters away, and its built by what i call oneof the best car makers in the world.

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  E320 wagon - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By slo356 - May 18 - 7:43 pm

  One of the better cars I have owned. Not as good as the 82 or 93 M/B sedans I purchased new way back when, but very good compared with what ever else is out there. Audi maybe the only other better car. I had an S4 Avant before this M/B Wagon and it was actually finished better, also much faster. The MB e320 wagon can acheive 28-29 mpg if you stick to 65-70 mph. Electric rear tailgate is a must!

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By beachbumm - May 18 - 1:36 pm

  This is my second E-320. Both are fine cars, but the 2005 is clearly the superior machine. I think the best one-word description for this car is "precision". It is fun to drive and does exactly what I expect. In the first six months of ownership there have been no problems at all. Having suffered quality issues in recent years, Mercedes has returned to the high standards of old with a car which seems nearly bulletproof.

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  Beautiful car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By zaitoun - May 18 - 3:20 am

  Very beautiful car to drive. very reliable. I only send it to the shop every 12000 miles for check up. No mechanical or electrical problem.

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  Much better - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By jwo - May 16 - 5:53 pm

  It is about time that this beautiful sedan has the performance to match its racy looks. For the past year I had been wanting a CLS but found it performance to weak for a sedan of this class. However, when I heard that for 07 MB was putting a larger engine with 80 more hp in, it sealed my decision. This car is perfect and get so many looks while crusing down the road. The interior is beautifully appointed. I am very pleased.

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  Super Auto - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By REA - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Bought used, to replace 1995 S420. All around better auto. Great on long trips, bit tedious in local driving. Flexible service a real plus, only functional problem is opening/closing windows/sunroof with fob. Excellent acceleration and passing power. Definitely one of the finest autos I have ever owned. Dealer service has been splendid.

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  The best automobile I have ever owned. - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Dick Dyer - May 14 - 2:00 am

  This is the most exerhilarting automobile I have ever driven.It gives me a rush just to press the accelarater and feel the power. It also gets a lot of attenion wherever I go.

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  2003 - Sport Pkg going strong - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MBOwner - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Great car & a joy to drive short or long distance. Could use more HP, but then fuel milage would also suffer. Better milage, lower HP. I think 8s is a good number for this cars power. Perhaps quality has suffered a bit since the merge, but overall well engineered.