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:

• 

  happy 10 months & 10,800 miles after - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By merc2009 - March 8 - 9:53 am

  This is my second review after 10 months and 10,800 miles. Please, see the very first review in the series. I am overall very happy with the car. The ride is solid, well controlled, and the steering is light, which I personally like. Surprised to read others horror stories about gas consumption as I get 17-18 mpg in the city and 28-30 on the highway at 65 mpg. The manual shifter is not the slickest on the market (Acura TSX is better, I tried), but pretty short throw and works without failure. The car isnt super fast from the start, but enough power for me (after all its 228 hp, not 300 like some others). Like how quiet the car is. The electronics are great (got P2 package).

• 

  NEW AND EXCITED OWNER - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ELENI - March 8 - 2:00 am

  From the first time I ever laid my eyes on the CLK I knew I had to have it. I had to wait a couple of years to fit it into my price range but alas that time has come. So far the car is magnificent. From the look and feel to the pick-up and speed. I havent had too much time with it but can tell that this car will never lose my interest.

• 

  WHAT A GREAT CAR - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ALEX SHULMAN - March 8 - 2:00 am

  FIRST LET ME START THAT I SPENT A FEW MONTHS CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAR FOR ME. THE ISSUES WERE DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, HANDLING, QUALITY OF THE RIDE, STYLE, COMFORT(ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS SEAT), EXCLUSIVETY. THE CONTENDERS WERE BMW M3 (COUPE), LEXUS SC430, BMW 540 (M SPORT PACKAGE)AND CLK500. AFTER TEST DRIVING ALL OF THOSE CARS, I BOUGHT THEE CLK500. IT EXCELS IN ALL CATEGORIES LISTED ABOVE; ESPECIALLY THE QUALITY OF THE RIDE (MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF THE NEW SUSPENSION) WHICH IS SIMPLY AMAZING. THE M3 IS A PHENOMENAL CAR, BUT FEELS STIFFER AND MORE ROUGH. SC430 FALLS BEHIND THOSE TWO.

• 

  Best Car I ever owned - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jerzy J - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I am extremely satisfied with the Vehicle overall. I am confident the reputation of a German Engine / Transmission will prevail. Provides the Chrysler comforts. No compaints none so ever I have on comforts. Their safety features are unmatched. Miles per Gallon can be better.

• 

  Luv it so far! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By aaragam - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Nice work by MB over the 2002 model. This is my first MB and have loved it so far. The best deal was the re- engineering w/o the price increase. The engine is barely audible in city and bit more on the xpressway. The stone interior gets dirty soon, wish they had a better material for and around the foot wells. The digital display is not readable in sunlight, but the dash is neat and well organized.

• 

  Suprised by Reliability - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jim - March 6 - 3:36 pm

  I have owned 3 other MBs, 2 New and 1 used. This 500 SL was puchased from a reliable dealer. (non-factory) I have always had good success with MB but this older, two owner SL has surprised me with its reliability. All systems have performed flawlessly. Many reviews have spoken disparagingly about this series of SL so I had some concerns about its longevity. So far it has been perfect after 18 months of ownership. The performance is exhiliarating but my best surprise is my fuel mileage. In the city I get a consistent 22MPG while on the road it is 26MPG or better. This model year (1996) or perhaps the care given by its previous owners had provided me a car thats a joy to drive.

• 

  Great Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - March 5 - 10:43 pm

  The 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Sedan is very fun, Comfortable, and reliable. Its great styling turns a lot of heads.

• 

  Id Buy It Again - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JA - March 5 - 4:20 pm

  This is my 1st Mercedes. I traded in a Toyota 4Runner for a 2005 Special Edition 350ML and driving has not been the same. Before, driving was just going from one location to another, and I could not wait to get out of the car. Now, I love being in my car and sitting in traffic no longer bothers me (to a point, of course). My Mercedes is like my home away from home. I love it and would recommend it to anyone. I would definitely buy it again if I had to do it all over. Perhaps Mercedes will have a hybrid SUV when it is time to buy my next vehicle.

• 

  The best - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bob Johnson - March 2 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd M.Benz. My first was a 1994-190-E. It is Mercedes entry level car at $30k in 94. I was very impressed with how heavy duty it was. I was SOLD on M.B. In 2000 I decided get a new C-230. Again this is Mercedes entry level car at $30k and it is packed with features that I never expected. This car is a great value for the $ (Same price in 2000 as it was in 1994) Go figure? I believe that M.B. sells these at a very low profit in order to get you hooked on M.B. And belive me they do!

• 

  Top of the class - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By taproot_crn - March 2 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the classiest muscle cars you can own. The acceleration comes at any speed and blows away others on the road.