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:

• 

  Strong reliable car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MR.DPM - October 4 - 6:13 am

  I purchased My 99 E320 with 99k miles on it from the original owner with all of the records. I also own a sports car (Porsche 993) and a truck, and it seems I am always driving this car. The car just "fits" me and get good mileage (30 on the open road)and in solid as granite. I have owned several Mercedes and this car is as all of them tend to be, reliable and solid.

• 

  ML350 vs. the Bimmer X5 and Lexus GX470 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By John V - October 4 - 3:00 am

  MB has hit a home run with the 2006 ML350. Weve clocked about 1300 miles on our 2006 ML350 and are very impressed. It surpasses the BMW X5 in every capacity and Lexus in all but one capacity (ease of use of Lexus navigation is far superior than MBs). Mileage is excellent, the engine is capable and very quiet, comfortable yet sporty ride and much better looking than any other 5 seater luxury SUV in the market. Dont bother with the ML500 ... its a much thirstier and heavier beast. The ML250 with its 268 bhp engine is very capable and quick. Very well put together, fit and finish is unparalleled.

• 

  The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Beachlivin - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car to cruise the highway and indeed, a pleasure in L.A. traffic. Its very comfortable, turns heads, and will hold its own in an accident. The V6 & 4-speed are srong and reliable, with no major issues at 160,000 miles. However, the electrical problems are a nightmare. A dashboard light comes on every 3-4,000 miles. Notorious problems include faulty EGR valves, sensors, rattles, and a stereo amplifier that will eventually die. The only ugly thing about this car was the cost to maintain it. 10 months = $3,000, without a major repair.

• 

  My 1st E-320 Mercedes - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jecdl - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Have only had it for 2 months -- less than 1000 miles. Superb quailty. Quietest car Ive ever owned. Gorgeous interior. Peppy acceleration. Sporty and sleek exterior. No problems so far.. Some people have complained about the "hard to modulate" brakes, but I havnt had any trouble using them. And the brakes are quite strong.

• 

  All-weather Commuter - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Long Drive - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I commute 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day, plus customer calls. This car is solid, reliable and sure- footed in all weather. It goes through monsoon-type rain, blizzards and ice storms without missing a beat. The car handles extremely well, is responsive and it is a pleasure to drive. I am also very impressed by the numerous safety features. There is not a car on the road with more safety technology for the money.

• 

  My C230K!!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Gene Chou - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Changed from an 00 Camry to this car is a whole new experience. Has power when you need it, yet very fuel economical, safety features, luxury look, and best of all, its a Benz! Bought the Premium Package, gotta love the Bose sound system. The only two drawbacks I can find is the visual of the back, sometimes tricky to see when you want to change lane, and also the non-power seat is hard to adjust sometimes.

• 

  My C Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By morganlf - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Well I finally bought a Benz- and I am not happy. Its ok and the All wheel drive has worked out -but I sure miss the performance of my 3 series BMW! As for the intriour the Beemer blows the Benz away- the C Class has leather "inserts" what a joke and the stereo is some no name - no match for the Harmon Kardon I had- and the engine- so sluggish I took it back in to the dealor - but is has no horsepower and even the E Class they loaned me could not compare to the BMW. I switched for the all wheel drive since we have been getting a lot of snow- but the gas mileage is very low.

• 

  World class vehicle - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MR JENKINS - October 3 - 5:23 pm

  By far the best car Ive ever purchased. More than I expected and exceeded all my expectations. First class.

• 

  Black SL65 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jason Harvey - October 3 - 11:00 am

  I drive this car every day and enjoy each and every minute of it! The power is unlike any other vehicle I have ever driven. Mercedes definiteley delivered this time with AMG! I love my SL65 and I highly recomend it.

• 

  Near Flawless Vehicle Even 14 Years Old! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jason Coon - October 2 - 7:30 pm

  Not sure about all the negative comments. I bought this car for my wife as she has always wanted a convertible and geez you just cant go wrong with MB. I bought it over a year ago. It was a 2003 with 29,000 miles on it! I bought it in 2016. The car has never been in accidents and appears to have regular maintenance from records. We have put 8000 miles on it since owning it and almost all the original components are on it and have not failed with one exception (see further below). We do not drive it in the Minnesota winter. The car has been near flawless, fun, reliable, extremely comfortable, and surprisingly a good handling car. Its the whole deal. While it does not have the power my RS6 does, nor equal the cornering and braking of my Porsche or RS6....the comfort and styling just cant be matched. I would rather drive this car than the others. I was so impressed with this car I bought an AMG MB days after. The only thing that does not work is the lumbar control in the drivers seat. We are still on the original brake pads and only have had to do one oil change.