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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  Great car...acceleration is amazing - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mustapha - December 26 - 12:40 pm

  I bought 2015 used C300 4matic with leather interior. Ive had it for more than a year and bought it used. It now has 21k . Let me tell you its a great car. No issues so far. I really enjoy driving it. The suspension is sweet and feels your riding on air in the comfort setting. It has this sport/sport+ shifting mode and man the pickup is fantastic even in the comfort mode. The economy mode is not recommended as it feels sluggish (I guess it turns the turbo off and feels like a 2L engine). Its built solid and gorgeous looking in and out. You will need premium gas though. Fuel economy is good for a luxury car. Its in the low thirties, not bad. Stability on corners is excellent. The engine can turn off on stop lights that take too long but you can turn this feature off. Navigation , blue tooth are all great.

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  My 2nd ML500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By kwg - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Repeat buyer of ML 500: With enough room and power, backed up by a superior service network, this SUV makes my life easier.

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  Not for the faint of heart - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Rob - December 26 - 2:43 am

  By far the best vehicle Ive ever owned. I traded in a 1999 E430 for this car, and she was certainly worth it. The acceleration of this velicle is unbelievable. My wife hates to ride with me, especially if were merging unto the interstate (prime opportunity to to show off). I would only recommend this car to those whom a doctor has certified as healthy.

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  As promised - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bargamon - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Truck has been solid performer, good MPG for a truck, excellent all weather perfomance, engine great, not problems except power steering hose, covered by warranty.

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  Excellent Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By James Chan - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Good work MB,, Good Truck after the update.. Lot of well design features..

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  The Best SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Business Man - December 24 - 10:00 am

  If youre reading the negative comments posted here and wondering wether or not to buy an ML, trust me...... BUY ONE. I have owned other SUVs and believe me, there is no comparison. You have to experience it to understand

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  Most Excellent! - 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By wpaoli - December 22 - 9:44 pm

  The GLK is exactly what I was looking for. A lot of the SUVs out there today are nothing more than mini-vans designed to appeal to male drivers. That being said, I purchased the GLK for two reasons: performance and quality. The GLK moves; its nimble, deceivingly quick (when in sport mode) and it holds corners very well. The paddle shifters are awesome! The exterior has very distinct, bold lines and the interior is luxury as it should be. If you have need for more cargo room than a sedan, but dont want sacrifice performance... the GLK is for you. Oh, and its a Mercedes- German engineering. Need I say more?

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  Best Decision Ive Ever Made - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By alessing - December 22 - 5:40 pm

  Usually, when it comes to SUVs, Im a Ford guy. Their SUVs feel like trucks and I like that... I never imagined myself driving a crossover. Until now. The wow factor is instant when you see this SUV. Inside and out it is just fantastic. Faster than my old V8 with better MPGs and no problem towing our 22 foot boat. Ive owned a Hummer H2 in the past and Ill be the first to admit that his Mercedes is an off-road legend in hiding! I love it. Its perfect for the whole family. All 5 of us (plus 2 dogs.)

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  Diesel Better than Expected - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By stiney9 - December 22 - 3:50 pm

  First diesel I have ever driven, and Im quite impressed with it. Averaging about 29 mpg on the highway with 22 mpg in the city. All that from a full size SUV!

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  E Coupe - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ty - December 21 - 10:17 pm