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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  GLK350 - 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By tcornejo - October 2 - 4:32 pm

  Bought the car for the name only.

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  repair-a-month - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Eminem - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent driving and looking car, very comfortable, but no fun to maintain. The front brakes wore out twice on me ( in 16k miles), and I was trying to make them last the second time around ( using factory pads you only get about 8k ) Other problems in 6 months: Water pump, sensor, air conditioning leak, antenna, and some engine rough problem that was fixed with new expensive plugs. Notice all the repairs were minor, but even minor stuff is expensive on this car. If you have money to burn on maintenance, than its a dreamy car to drive ( its huge and heavy yet quick and handles well ). I just wish is was as reliable as a japanese car.

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  repair-a-month - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By eminem - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent driving and looking car, very comfortable, but no fun to maintain. The front brakes wore out twice on me ( in 16k miles), and I was trying to make them last the second time around ( using factory pads you only get about 8k ) Other problems in 6 months: Water pump, sensor, air conditioning leak, antenna, and some engine rough problem that was fixed with new expensive plugs. Notice all the repairs were minor, but even minor stuff is expensive on this car. If you have money to burn on maintenance, than its a dreamy car to drive ( its huge and heavy yet quick and handles well ). I just wish is was as reliable as a japanese car.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By - October 2 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car that I have ever owned! It is good to buy them 3 years used because of depreciation. The acceleration of the inline 6 is swift and smooth. Of course the reliability is top notch. The timing chain helps prolong the life of the motor. The build quality is unparalleled for a production car. I love the solid sounding "Thunk" when I shut the door. The interior is tastefully decorated and is extremely quiet. Other than that the car is perfect. It is a perfect blend of performance, style, class and luxury.

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  Great Machine - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lockheed - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Great machine for east coast winters. Large trunk space and drives more like a car.

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  00 CLK - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Raleigh Benz - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Too many rattles, tires do not wear evenly, already had the power top malfunction.

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  Sexy, Sleek and Powerful - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ShannonWeller.com - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely LOVE driving my Black/Black CLK 430 CAB. I traded in my 02 996 Carrera Cabriolet and there is no comparison in terms of styling, quality, comfort, features and build quality for the amount of money spent. Porsche has gotten a little greedy at the cash register. My CLK Cab gets more play than any other car I have owned plus it is able to fit 3 girlfriends (slim ones!) and some luggage in the rear for short jaunts to Las Vegas.

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  Geared too low / Poor gas Mileage - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By P3 IFO - October 1 - 8:23 pm

  Overall I love the car. 4500 miles with no repair issues. Car handles and rides great. Low road noise. Very good looking car. I have 3 minor issues; Manual transmission is geared to low, need a different rear end. This leads to poor fuel economy. Driving conservitavily I get 17-20 mpg around town. At 3500 miles the engine developed a low pitched howl. Dealer say it the metal chain on a nylon sprocket that drives the oil pump

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  Buy Lexus - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DONNELL - October 1 - 4:00 pm

  Im sorry but this car is junk. Replaced cluster module, rear stan, and engine. CD player now doesnt work, light over license plate has been replaced twice. Too many electrical problems for a vehicle that was purchased brand new. Quality is gone and Ill never purchase a Mercedes Benz again. My next vehicle will be a Lexus. Ive had a lexus in the past with no problems at all.

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  Best 6cyl car in America - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Melvin Norman - October 1 - 9:40 am

  This is my 4th "S" class Mercedes. I have owned Jaguars, Lexus, Cadillacs in the past 20 years. I went back to Mercedes when the 6cyl S Class became available again. This car has plenty of power, no need for an 8cyl. The sound system is superb. Leather quality is lacking, would like to see a 10 disc CD changer rather than the 6. All around excellent car, fun to drive.