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:

• 

  Beautiful SUV - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BLKmercedesDRIVER - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This car doesnt just look good, it feels and handles good. I am so glad I got this beatiful SUV

• 

  Driving a $90,000.00 Car!!!! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Car Nut - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I paid $45,000.00 for 1999 Sport SL 500. The car is outstanding handles like a dream. Maybe in three years I can get 2003 SL500 for the same price? We shall see in 36 months.

• 

  Driving a $90,000.00 Car!!!! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Car nut - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I paid $45,000.00 for 1999 Sport SL 500. The car is outstanding handles like a dream. Maybe in three years I can get 2003 SL500 for the same price? We shall see in 36 months.

• 

  Gotta luv it - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By gman - September 30 - 2:00 am

  We got a great deal on this ML430 with 6 months and only 6000 miles on the clock and a 100K Starmark. Better deal than any new purchase. Yes, weve had to endure the stupid small fixes: drivers window stuck down, back passenger door sticking, left side of drivers seat broke. BUT, this is one heck of a drive and we love it on our 400 mile trips to Jay Peak. We had Pathfinders before, which we thought were comfortable, but this ML430 gets us there in such a refreshed state (and with style) that we now realize how mcuh of our energy went into driving the Pathfinders.

• 

  Gotta luv it - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By GMan - September 30 - 2:00 am

  We got a great deal on this ML430 with 6 months and only 6000 miles on the clock and a 100K Starmark. Better deal than any new purchase. Yes, weve had to endure the stupid small fixes: drivers window stuck down, back passenger door sticking, left side of drivers seat broke. BUT, this is one heck of a drive and we love it on our 400 mile trips to Jay Peak. We had Pathfinders before, which we thought were comfortable, but this ML430 gets us there in such a refreshed state (and with style) that we now realize how mcuh of our energy went into driving the Pathfinders.

• 

  A NICE SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FFS - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This is one of the safest SUVs available in the market. The 3.2L engine has sufficient power for most applications. Handling and ride quality are good for a truck with a body-on- frame design. Climate Control is very efficient but the sun sensor is a little too sensitive. Reliability has been very good with 12,000 trouble free miles so far.

• 

  2002 C240 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By asecks - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun to drive when you want to be sporty but can be a luxury car at the same time. Roomy enough to fit my entire family but small enough to feel sporty.

• 

  MB just builds em better - 2013 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jeffreid - September 29 - 11:21 pm

  My wife and I traded a 2008 E350 for a 2011 RX450h when our first child came along for the ease of getting a carseat and a stroller in and out. I had assumed that the Lexus was going to have the same solid feel as a Mercedes-Benz due to its very high regard within the auto industry. While the Lexus is a fine auto, there is no substitute (in this price range) for the solid build quality and the road holding ability of a Mercedes. Before I got out of the dealers lot, I could feel the difference with the ML. This vehicle just feels so much more substantial than the Lexus in every way. When paying $50k+, I want to feel the vehicle is built like a tank, with the ML thats what you get

• 

  Great Sports Convertible - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Hesam - September 29 - 8:06 pm

  This is my 8th Mercedes, including 3 turbo-diesels, and 4 gas-sedans. The build quality is excellent. The ride is somewhat firm but it sticks to the ground and handles turns easily. It quietly reaches 100+mph and theres no wind-noise. The top and rollbar operates with 1 button. The auto-pullup windows are kind of awkward. The break- pedal travels toofar before stopping making easy stops difficult until you get used to the car. It can use a backseat and a larger trunk. The gas mileage is around 16 in city and 22 on freeway, as high as 26 on straight freeway. Car is a bit too heavy at 4170 pounds which affects its acceleration. 6.3Sec 0-60 is a bit slow for a 315HP $90,000car. Parts overpriced

• 

  Ive Had Issues - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By PPilot - September 29 - 2:50 pm

  I love this car but unfortunately I have had issues. The check engine light came on and took 3 trips to the dealer to fix. The steering column angle sensor went bad and had to be replaced and most distressing (the new 7-speed transmission) a clunkly downshift from 3-2 when coming to a stop. The dealer fixed this but 2,000 miles later it is back. Of course everyone knows how it is impossible to come to a smooth stop with those electric brakes. It kills me because I love the car.