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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  Run away from buying a MB - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bill - October 30 - 8:36 pm

  There is no possible reason for anyone to buy a car like this. I have owned many cars in my life and this is probably the most unreliable vehicle I have ever experienced. Known problems are MAF sensor, suspension, electronics, brakes etc, etc. Cheap vinyl seats that are passed off as leather. Any Ford, Honda, Toyota etc. would be a better purchase. If you must have a Mercedes lease a new one and dump it before the problems start.

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  Love my ML 350 - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lgasaway - October 30 - 5:14 pm

  I had a Lexus 2010 RX 350 which was a great auto. Have no complaints about that car. My Benz though is much more comfortable, very, very quiet and has good performance. The Lexus comes with more features for the same price which I lament on my Benz. I have had my Benz for 1 1/2 years now and I still love it. Best car I have ever owned. Not too happy with the gas mileage but then I knew that going in. The interior controls are just where I want them. Love the easy gear shift on the column. No problems at all and Mercedes Benz of Fresno treats me like a VIP whenever I go to their business. I highly recommend the ML 350.

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  Overall it blows away my expectations! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By rosemr1 - October 30 - 1:52 pm

  There is not enough to say about how much I love this car. From the stylish design to how solid the car is....its just the finest automobile I have ever owned. Mercedes has won me over to the point that Ill never buy another domestic car again. And their customer service is bar none! Spending 55K on a car, I expect a certain level of Customer Service, and Mercedes has delivered. Go ahead, buy a Cadillac and see how GM treats you. We now have 2 ML 350s in the family and I honestly do not see another brand even being considered at this point! So long GM, it was fun while it lasted!

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  Speedy and Classy - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Corey Foreside - October 30 - 4:23 am

  My dad got this car earlier this year and I think its quite ugly. But, the performance is superb. It is also very well made and fun to drive, as well as comfortable.

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  Worth the wait - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By IN2DWWW - October 29 - 7:13 pm

  There is an obvious increase in power. The seven- speed transmission is silky smooth. The engine/ transmission can amazingly propel the car from a standstill in jet-like fasion. When accellerating, the car keeps moving forward without any hint of giving up, similar to taking off in a DC-10 or 727, the car shifts to where it never lets go of the forward momentum. Sometimes I could swear that the E350 is a V8, but when I seldom go to the gas station, Im glad its a V6. Theres nothing extra special on the car that the E320 didnt have, beyond the addition of dynamic seats to the premium package. After looking at the Lexus GS, Jag S-type, & Audi A6, I have 0 second thoughts.

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  Absolute Blast to Drive! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By IridiumCLK - October 28 - 10:56 am

  Since I purchased my CLK350 in February 06, I have had nothing but an ear to ear grin while driving my car. It handles like its on rails and performs incredibly well. I recently took it to the track and ran a 14.3 second quarter mile. Nuff said. Oh, and got 33.5 mpg on the highway on my drive home with cruise set to 70mph! The 7-speed transmission is very slick... not many cars can boast a 70mph cruising speed at only 1,700-2,000 rpm! It is very versatile; it is an extremely refined executive sports car but will effortlessly release the beast within whenever you want to! This is an incredible car and I have no regrets on my purchase whatsoever!

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  Surprising Wagon - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pennk - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I have owned it for 1 month, and so far there have been no problems. The car rides good and drives great. I love the feel of the car. The only concern is that sometimes the engine seems very sluggish from the start, especially when it is hot out.

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  I Love It !! Its fun, exciting & FAST - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Don-SCI - October 26 - 11:03 pm

  To me it is beautiful to look at - the best designed car by Mercedes in many, many years. It just keep getting better. You get into it, it is comfortable, well layed out and a sports car that holds 4 people well. 0 to 60 = 4.3 seconds! Fun-Fast-Exciting The sound is perfect, it just sounds as though it will go fast. Fuel mileage (for those who worry) has been between 12 & 14 MPG - pretty good for this type of rocket ship.

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  Never again for Mercedes - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jhduesterbeck - October 26 - 12:36 am

  I traded in my Cadillac Deville that had no problems with 112,000 miles (never one repair) for this SUV assuming that it would be more reliable since it was made by Mercedes- Benz. Was I wrong. After 55,000 miles I had to replace the drive shaft. Then the harmonic balancer went out and took everything else out with it, that cost 1200.00 and turned out to be a recall. M-B reimbursed me 200.00 of the 1200.00. I have also replaced the transmission, transfer case, rear shocks, front struts. I have put almost 10,000 in repairs in this vehicle. The only good I have to say is the safety. I was the first car rearended by a surburban in a 4 car pile up and neither myself or daughter was hurt.

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  Love my ride! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By LexingtonLawyer - October 25 - 5:20 am

  Overall, a very nice vehicle. Highly desirable, fun to drive, and way smooth looks. Have gotten many compliments and requests to "take a peek" inside. This is my second Benz and Im keeping this one for the long haul. Stable and solid ride. Good acceleration. Feel very safe whether Im in agressive, heavy traffic or bad weather.