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:

• 

  great disappointment - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bad car owner - October 8 - 10:00 am

  car is just horrible. i have visited two dealerships and still the car is not up to mercedes or for that matter any other manufacturers standards. problems in all areas; electrical, mechanical, heck the inside door pull came off in my hand.in 25 months have visited dealerships about 14 times. thanks but no thanks for the "fine" service. stay away from this vehicle it really is terrible

• 

  Bad buy - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Nomore - September 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought the first edition E430 4 yrs ago. I have nothing but trouble. It seem like I have to take the car in for repair almost every month. Every single light bulbs in the car has been change at least once. Fan belt broke on my way to airport. I wish I bought a Luxus. I will never buy another Mercedes again.

• 

  Outdated and overrated - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By craner - September 17 - 4:26 pm

  This was the 1st Mercedes I ever had so maybe I was expecting a little to much. Many issues and concerns. Firstly, in this age of $4 a gallon gas, whats with the premium gas only? Im an Ivy league grad yet I never figured out the venting and air regulating mechanisms. The air conditioning was average and the car had a tendency to run hot in the summer, so I had to turn off the AC! Lastly, whats the deal with the dealer installed "emergency" phone system. Im guessing that the visionaries at Mercedes couldnt see the advent of cell phones and replacing this antiquated system! Center console storeage never worked either and CD system in the trunk...cmon!!

• 

  What has happened to Mercedes Benz? - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Disappointed-One - September 14 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this vehicle in 2003 with 19,000 miles with the intention of keeping it for 10 years. It was in the Mercedes certified used car program. In the 8 months we owned the vehicle, it was in the shop 5 times for a wide variety of reasons, including a failed instrument cluster, windshield washer tank failure, numerous electrical issues and repeated "Check Engine" alerts. I cannot express how disappointed we have been with this Mercedes-Benz. This was the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Buyers beware -- this is not your fathers Mercedes; its a disgustingly expensive vehicle that does not live up to the Mercedes brand and reputation.

• 

  Honda Civic with a different logo - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By djyohimbe - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Buzz, rattle, clank beep beep "random fault code" clank rattle beep beep creeeeek

• 

  I think we got a lemon - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By gaspasser3 - September 3 - 9:10 am

  Our Gl450 has 70000 miles and the transmission locked up on the highway. Thankfully no one rear ended us. The vehicle is at the dealer and Mercedes is refusing to goodwill the transmission. The car has always been serviced by Mercedes. Cost to fix $8300.00. In addition we have had 3 air compressors go out, cam plugs leak oil, power steering pump replaced and the window trim paint peel off. When you buy Mercedes you expect quality and service, we have had neither. This is our second Mercedes with problems. We have have had BMWs and they very reliable. We will not buy another Mercedes.

• 

  ML320 new engine mounts - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By yorgo8 - August 30 - 9:03 am

  The car is fun driving; safe and sturdy, even on slippery roads. The dealership offers excellent support. But the cars reliability is poor. Even under warranty it required many repairs. And lots more thereafter. Excessive costs to maintain vehicle make it unattractive. Support from MBUSA not great either.

• 

  50k junk - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bernard doran - August 25 - 10:00 am

  vehicle has been in the shop more times than I care to remember, I bought this for my wife thinking it was the best I could do for her. It really hurts to see what a piece of junk this thing is. She still likes it, but I have grown to hate it. also have a SL500 with 75,000 mi it cost over 6k in repairs last summer as it has continous electrical problems. It appears that MB has no quality. MB shop said to consider what they mean when thay say "engineered like no other" I thought it meant great cars. Bernie Doran Centerburg, Ohio

• 

  My first and last MB - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By atria - August 25 - 10:00 am

  18m of problems.Many unscheduled visits due but not limited to: xenon lights (x2),cooling reservoir,brakes, brake lights,wipers,ashtray (x3),radio, trip computer. Nav. system/ heat/cool,flawed big time.MB too cheap to authorize a replecement with the DVD based system..If it aint broke (to pieces) dont fix it! Who pays for my wasted pers/profes time? Did not get my moneys worth.My wifes,same age,RX300 has not been back except for an oil change.Ill get rid of it soon and Ill never look back.

• 

  Good looking, horrendous quality - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By KenS - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Quick, responsive, fun to drive fast or slow. Lots of wow factor for passengers (voice command, navigation). Integrated phone is very handy. Great dealership and service, too bad I am there all the time. What have I had replaced in the past year? Keys (5 times), floor mats, purge valve, a/c controls, voice command (3 times), rear seat belts, drive train shudders, pneumatic seat pump, phone, shifter trim, washer/turn signal stalk (3 times), washer pump (4 times), cd changer, driver seat frame, seat memory, mildew, outside mirror malfunction.