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 design and ride but quality stinks - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Island - August 29 - 6:26 am

  I have owned a 99 ML320 since new and it now has 105,000 miles on it. I love the ride and utility of the vehicle and to be fair it has never failed to start nor has it ever stranded me except when the battery failed (and then a nice MB tech arrived to replace it at cost of battery). That said, the quality stinks. The car has been in the shop about 20 times for various bits and pieces failing or falling off. Everything from rusting lug nuts (within 90 days of new) to a failed steering sensor (requires replacement of entire steering column). This car is expensive and annoying to keep on the road. Final insult is that now the drivers door has penetrating rust. Buy a Honda Pilot instead.

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  VERY NICE - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ONECALL1 - August 28 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS MY 53RD CAR...OVERALL #1 BUT ONLY DUE TO THE COMFORT FOR SPEED REASONING. AN M5 IS MORE COMFORTABLE, A LOTUS QUICKER, BUT THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS.

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  Suggested Improvements - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Frank D. Piperato - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I love this car!!! Only problems, 1. Location of buttons on the drivers side door panel to adjust seats are difficult to find at night while driving.

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  My best car yet - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Andy Lejnieks - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Excellent value for a lease. Excellent performer, even for a 6 cylinder, on the highway. Tight and precise on local roads. The car is flawless. I only wish I got the convertible.

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  500,000 km and going strong - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jjroadtrip - August 28 - 4:31 am

  Just reached 500,000 km and its still a reliable SUV. Body starting to rust, minor wear and tear repairs. Still getting the occasional recall notice.

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  SOLID MB - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Laguna Hills - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Solid SUV, smooth ride and very comfortable. I dont feel like Im riding in a "tin" can like other cars. Its a fun SUV to drive. No mechanical problems.

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  2002 320C Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jeannie19 - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This is my second 2002 C Class. I bought a 2002 230C and traded it in 18 months later for the 320C. I enjoy driving the car and like the feel of the larger engine. I had a lot of lights blow out in my 230 and have not had that problem in the 320.

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  Dont Do It !!! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Ian Bourne - August 26 - 7:26 am

  I bought this car in 2003 and kept it 5 years. It was $118 new, I paid $66k, I sold it in late 2008 for $19,500. Is that a clue ? Great looking , great driving and the absolute worst reliability. Mostly electronics, although the trunk brake light popped off when my wife closed the lid gently. the V-12 side emblem broke its plastic self off twice while I gently washed it. The car developed oil leaks, my " Nice People, Nice cars dealer " quoted $9,200 for that. Suspensions tend to collapse also I was told. When we sold it it only had 42k miles on the clock. Oh, We also replaced a computer fuel feed unit, $1,400. Youll fall in love but be ready for an expensive divorce !!!

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  Worth the wait! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jEmEmUrIU - August 25 - 4:06 am

  This being my first luxury car, I’m very happy with my purchase. MB has just found itself a customer for life! I have the special edition with all the available options. The beefy brakes, strong engine and manual shift capabilities help make it a very involving vehicle. On the negative, though, certain people at my job now look at me differently even though I’m still the same person. Maybe it’s the marque. Oh well, the joy I get from the ownership experience makes up for the attitude I deal with at work!

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  Traded In at 62,000 miles - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By J Ziomek - August 24 - 9:50 pm

  I absolutely loved my C230. It was a blast to drive, looked great on dates, and I could blow by most cars on the highway. Up until 2 weeks ago the only problem with car was tire replacement, $600 every 12-15K miles. But that was to be expected. Two weeks ago I was driving home from NC to PA I stopped for lunch and the cars electrical system failed. The SRS, ESP, BAS warning lights began flashing and stereo stopped working. End result $2000 in repairs including replacing the stereo and various other parts. These repairs are to be expected after years of ownership but not at 62,500 miles. I traded it in on a Volvo and the trade value was $16,000 without repairing it.