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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  Profoundly Dissatisfied - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Tracy - November 19 - 11:40 pm

  This automobile is a mechanical nightmare. I have replaced: two catalytic converters, electric motor in drivers seat (2 times), pressure sensor in the fuel tank, CD changer, one motor mount and now it is having electrical problems with the braking system. However, I love the drive and the styling. Unfortunately, with all the problems the bloom is off of the rose!

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  ML500 Sport - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Rosenblum - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I went with the sport package and put aftermarket 295s with lowenhart rims, looks great with tinted windows. The Nav system is great once you figure out how to use it. Bose is fair. The small radio and Nav controls are a friggin joke. They have to make the car safe because you stand a great chance of having an accident while you change radio stations. Ive had two service problems.Wish I went for the AMG to get the bigger engine.

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  POOR CRAFTMANSHIP - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Nathaniel - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I had my SUV for 3 months and been to deeler couple of times due to poor product design: First the astray failed and have to keep the car overnight co, they have to take apart the median console area. Second the driver side sealer pop out they to replace the section that hold the fancy mercedes name as you step in the car. But its fun to drive, the luxury feature are great then again it drink gas. Overall Im happy, as long little things will hold.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ralph W. Cutter - November 19 - 9:00 am

  Quality, all the way around. No complaints. However, I do have a problem with the CD changer in the trunk. The radio shows there is no CD in the changer when there is. Cant get it to work. Mercedes says it will be hefty charge to fix! Other than that the car is unbeatable. I have only had oil changes and routine mait. done in 6 years. Mercedes knows how to build a quality automobile without question. This is my 4th Mercedes and without question not my last!

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  SL 500 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By F Scheckton - November 19 - 4:43 am

  Geat body style and excellent handling. It would be helpful if the trunk were an inch wider and deeper to accomodate two golf bags. Averaging 21.5 mpg. Negatives: Command system reliability. Navagation and sound system occasionally malfunctions. Sound system not up to par for a $100,000 vehicle. No fade control on sound system.

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  German Toy - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By John - November 18 - 5:06 pm

  My wife and I picked up her 230 from the factory in Stuttgart and I was immediately looking forward to getting over that first 1000 miles so I could really see what this baby could do. Well, I wasnt disappointed. It handles superbly on the Autobahn and is as quiet at 130mph as it as at 30mph. Considered a BMW, Audi, or Volvo, but were happy with the choice we made.

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  The Best Luxury Coupe! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By mykelsang4lyf - November 17 - 5:00 pm

  The standard features for this car are amazing. Basically the options for the other models of Mercedes are standard on this model. Navigation, Bi-Xenon headlights, etc. The performance from this is phenomenal. Mercedes has stepped up with not only performance, but they also topped the world of automotive technology. I would not trade this car for anything else.

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  My 1st MB (C300 Sport) - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jiamin - November 16 - 11:13 pm

  Bought it yesterday and only put 30 miles on it. My previous four new cars are all Japanese and never thought about a european car because of reliability concern. Consumer report recommendes it so I get it. Gethered a few premium compact car ratings side by side. C300 has the highest overall score, especially the noise level rating. Excellent quality inside out. Back seat passenger can easily talk to the multimedia person. Time will tell me if its reliable.

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  Not Perfect - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Jay - November 16 - 6:33 pm

  There are some things about this car that are exceptional. Engine, drive train, performance, handling and styling are all terrific. MB has also done a really nice job with the electronics. I could figure out how to use all of the controls without the manual. The less good news. Stereo sound should be better. XM radio doesnt work well if you have many trees in your area. Dashboard dials look worse than my old E class. Materials on interior arent noticably better than on my old E class. The biggest beef I have with the car is that it has some squeaks and rattles in the dash and doors. This is unaccepatble in a car of this price/class.

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  2007 ML500 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FredinMD - November 15 - 11:46 pm

  Purchase based on one criteria: Im 65" and fit comfortably. With the seat all the way back, I can barely reach the gas. My previous vehicles were Suburbans/Denalis but GM lowered to roof line so my line of sight was the sun visor! ML500 exceeds my expectations. I was concerned about comments re: navigation; it has some Teutonic quirks, kind of like a Siemens cell phone I had, but its great and I like that it recalculates the route when you choose to deviate rather than chastise you to turn around, like some systems do. If BMW hadnt reduced drivers cabin space length in 07 for the sake of the ridiculously little 3rd row seats, probably would have gone with X5, but I couldnt be happier.