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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  best sedan/coupe Ive driven - 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By hgoldstein - October 18 - 10:18 pm

  Tested the Audi s7, BMW 6, Jaguar and then clearly decided on the CLS 4 matic. Incredible design inside and out. Perfect driving in terms of handling, pick up and comfort. Keep getting compliments almost every time I take it for a drive. Could hardly recommend it more highly.

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  Spare a trannie? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ed buhl - October 18 - 7:16 pm

  This rocket ship has been nothing but trouble. Turbo chirping, replace torque converter, replace trannie (68000), replace trannie computer, replace motor on drivers seat. This car has had factory service and was never abused, just driven. Would never own another Benz. Look forward to turning it in at lease end. Its in the shop now. Maybe they should just keep it !

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  Happy - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Happy - October 18 - 6:40 pm

  Love it! I have several vehicles and this one is a toy just for a kick. But I have found I am enjoying it more than any of my previous toys,(Corvette, 430 SLK, Jag XJS & BMWs)Power,comfort, handling and all in the best looking car on the market.

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  Very satisfied Benz owner - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benj - October 18 - 12:50 pm

  I like its combined simple, straightforward, yet sporty styling. It looks every bit as it drives and performs.

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  Pocket Rocket...But Still a Benz - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Adrian - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I salute Mercedes-Benz with the debut of this supercharged engine in this car. I used to have the older version of the C-Class with the old engine, and it was a slow poke. The car feals very solid, very well made. I usually drive the car in "Wet" mode, which gives you a much smoother, quiete ride. I put it into Sport mode when the kids and wife are at home to have a little fun on the way to work. I always arrive with a big smile on my face.

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  Benz beats all - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Shawn Elmore - October 17 - 10:18 pm

  Best bang for your buck bar none! Especially for a world class product.

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  Awesome acceleration - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MBforLife - October 17 - 8:33 pm

  Amazing features, breathtaking drive.

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  Good Solid Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ALEX - October 17 - 8:40 am

  This is a good solid family sedan. We special ordered the E500 with all the options( only missing is the distronic feature) Car has been trouble free for past two years. Keyless Go option is very nice to have, that you only need to carry the key with you in the pocket and you can open the car door and turn the ignition on without ever turning the key. Seats are very comfortable ( esp with dynamic seats, which automatically puts air into selective located area of seats when you turn the car in high speed for comfort" like G- suits in fighter jets" Engine is smooth and planty power with 7 speed transmission. wiht 305 HP engine passing is effortless and smooth and quiet overall.

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  Love it!! Love it!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Matt - October 16 - 3:13 pm

  I shopped around looking for a nice-looking, fuel efficient, powerful vehicle. Checked out Infinity, Mazda, Lexus and MB. This car has it all and won hands down. I can load up 6 sets of golf clubs, a dog, 2 kids. Plus this sucker is fun to drive. The craftsmanship is somewhat on the chincy side, but this puppy hums. Wish it had an I-pod hookup (but this is an 02). Test drive one, you wont regret it!

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  2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 - Odd butt, but I love it - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tommy New Wave - October 15 - 4:20 am

  Ive owned my 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 for almost two years and 7,000 miles without any no problems. I love it, and my wife has to tear the keys out my hands every couple weeks to borrow it for the day. It still feels new, looks new, and drives like it cost twice the money. If I could only find an AMG motor and brakes to drop into it...