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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  get what you pay - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Robert - October 1 - 12:01 am

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  buy snow tires - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By glatzel - September 30 - 10:00 am

  great suv for all around use , but needs a set of four snowtires for winter use

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  E320 Review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mattie Taylor - September 30 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd E320. I bought the first one to hit the dealers floor in Oct. 1993. Bought a 2000 in Oct. 1999 and now own a new 2004. I looked at other cars but have not yet found one that tops this model. The ladies that bought my 1994 and my 2000 are still enjoying the cars. Have a waiting list already of friends who want my 2004. Handles like a dream, makes perfect responses to driving emergencies, always feel very safe and under control. Great car.

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  Never again....back to Lexus - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dpendley3 - September 29 - 9:59 pm

  Once I hit 65,000 miles... - Engine oil leak - AC motor bad - Motor Mounts collapsed - 275.00 key If this is luxury driving, I want out. I will go back to Lexus, Acura, or Infinity. This is a joke. Now I know why they have free cappuccino at the dealer...because you will be there a lot! Never will buy a Mercedes again! Horrible car for the money.

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  A Great "Baby Benz" - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By S Penn - September 28 - 7:26 pm

  It has the crisp, tight, precise driving that one can only enjoy from a Mercedes Benz. I have owned many bigger and more powerful Mercedes, yet the C230 Kompressor is an absolute pleasure to drive. Its quick, responsive, and still gives the driver the confidence of a well built, secure vehicle.

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  GLK on the go - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By charlie taylor jr - September 27 - 1:46 pm

  purchased 3 18 09.in shop twice for radio.drove range rover,looked at lexus sold on looks of glk.drive very well.I THINK IT SHOULD BURN MIDDLE GRADE GAS. A finu suv.With the cost there should have benn acargo net and acargo cover

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  Excellent Car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By shahzadacn - September 27 - 10:00 am

  Excellent German engineering. The car handles and drives like a champ. Solid in every aspect. I had to replace the fuel gauge once and other than that, it has been wonderful.

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  Very Pleased - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By BenzHappy - September 27 - 10:00 am

  This car has it all - looks, style, comfort and performance. Inside and out, it is the best looking sedan on the market today. Sure, you pay a little premium, but that is more than offset by the quality and extremely high resale value. I have never owned a Mercedes - buying BMWs, Lexus, Jags and Porsches in the past. I have been pleasantly surprised with the E and see myself in Benzs in the future. PS - has anyone seen what BMW is doing with their cars lately - what is up with that (inside AND out)!!!!

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  Fast & Beautiful - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jon Chancellor - September 24 - 5:46 pm

  Have a new E550 coupe with Premium 2 package. This is a major upgrade from my GS430. The car handles like a sports car in sport mode. Can immediately tell the changes in injection/shift points as well as suspension stiffening. The new tan color interior is awesome! Seats are phenomenal. Trying to master the Command system--getting better at it each day. I was looking at the Lexus460,the BMW5series and the Jaguar XF premium. Drove them all and chose this coupe. Cost less and is quicker. Not bad on the eyes either. Just test drive the competition and then drive the E550 coupe. And no, I dont work for MB. Jon C./Tulsa

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  Oh Why? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By my last benz - September 24 - 2:26 am

  Not even five thousand miles the fuel pump gives out. Its in the shop for a week. Then a month later the engine goes out completely. They say it was caused by metal shards in the fuel pump lines. All is good for the next six months then I open my garge door and the dam car is sitting in a pool of gas.