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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  Raving Fans - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Len Gaby - November 26 - 2:00 am

  We have had SLs before and this is by far the best ever. A joy to drive!

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  Its an acquired taste - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MB&Caddy - November 25 - 8:00 pm

  Ive owned my ML500 for 5 months now. Coming from my 01 Seville STS, was a change of course. Overall I think the vehicle hits the mark. Not perfect, but what vehicle is. Gas mileage is decent, but this is my 2nd V8 in 5 yrs so Im used to the gas guzzling. Off the line snap is good enough to put you back in your seat. First trip was to Gatlinburg, TN and the MB was nothing but solid. Had to dial down the cruise in the mountains, it kept accelerating. Solid, comfortable, great view in traffic and a huge sunroof. Slips in and out of traffic and parking is a breeze, waiting for first real experience w/ bad weather. This thing shrugs off rain and wind like its nothing.

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  Best Luxury Vehicle - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Tonee - November 25 - 5:53 am

  The Mercedes S550 is by far the best premium luxury car in its class. It handles great, looks great and is overall a really awesome car. I love driving it around town everyday and getting all the looks, my children love driving it too. They say its a chick magnet.

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  Absolutely the BEST - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By GTL - November 24 - 10:00 am

  If youre reading the negative comments posted here and wondering wether or not to buy an ML, trust me...... BUY ONE. This has got to be one of the best driving vehicles I have ever driven. After over a year of owning my ML 320, I still giggle at how smoothly, quietly, and comfortably this vechicle really is. I have owned other SUVs and believe me, there is no comparison. You have to experience it to understand.

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  "Baby Benz" - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dnisely - November 24 - 10:00 am

  The "Baby Benz" is a fun car to drive. It hugs the road while giving a sensation of floating over the surface. It is made for high speed driving. Although I wish the hatchback/rear-end design could be modified, I find the car is a very practical yet sporty vehicle. I love my b-benz. For the money its a exceptional vaulue. It is a Benz!

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  not a luxury car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mbchica - November 24 - 8:43 am

  I have driven several luxury sedans and SUVs. If you are in the market to buy a high-bred, trust me when I say that this is not a luxury car. It is peppy enough considering what it is. It feels like nothing more than a VW Jetta. The interior is very plain and honestly kind of feels cheap. There is literally what looks and feels like aluminum on the doors and dash. Yes I understand that for 30K you cant expect to get much from MBenz. The car is cute and most likely reliable in the long term, but thats about it.

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  Its a Benz - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By aavoice - November 24 - 8:10 am

  I got this car with 75000 on it and have had to spend some money on it over the last two years. I had it repainted but it was due to a poor repair job the previous owner had done for a minor bump to the rear. Major expenses have been to rebuild the transmission, replace the wiper assembly and replaced the headliner. My mechanic recommended a transmission shop that did a good job for $1400, the wiper assembly was replaced with a used unit and after a year is starting to act up and the headliner was expensive with quotes of up to $500. The struts are getting weak so expect to have to part with some more cash soon. I look at it this say; I could spend it on car payments or..Hey, its a Benz.

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  Definite upgrade over ML350 - 2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By markss2 - November 23 - 9:37 pm

  Traded in my 2012 ML350 and wanted more power and features. ML400 delivers both. New MB 6 cylinder turbo is much more powerful at any RPM. Its not quite an 8, but gets better fuel economy than the regular 6 in the ML350. This engine is a new gem in the MB lineup. The ML400 adds a bunch of features standard, plus I ordered AMG wheels, halogen lights, panoramic roof, cooled seats and a few more. If you like the ML350, youll love the ML400. More money, but definitely more fun to drive. You may find a better value SUV, but the ML400 is tops in performance, ride quality and overall quality. Happy I stepped up.

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  The Best Luxury Car Ever. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Louis27 - November 23 - 2:26 pm

  Saying that the new S Class Mercedes Benz is lavish is an understatement. For me this has to be by far the best luxury sedan. I also have a 2006 750 BMW that I think its great in every sense of the word. But I like the S Class a little bit more. This is a better car than the older S Class Mercedes Benz in every possible way. It handles better, rides better, fit and finished, the sound system, navigation, and all of the controls.

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  not to be missed - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Syl Stys - November 22 - 2:10 pm

  I owned a 1956 190SL while stationed in Germany when I was a much younger man and always wanted another one. Well I couldnt afford that 56 now but the modern engineering, comfort and style of my "new" SL make up for it. Sitting in this one I can see and feel the DNA connection to that beautiful 56. You will not regret owning and driving this masterpiece. Shop wisely, do your homework, then enjoy. Very affordable.