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 - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kmag53 - August 9 - 5:26 am

  Purchased a C300 in palladium silver with black MB-Tex seats. This car gets noticed no matter where you go. Very smooth ride and you hardly know the vehicle has a transmission it is so silent. Seats are very comfortable and all guages are in the proper place. Gas mileage has been very good..averaging 25 plus on the highway and 19 in town. This is our first MB and it is definitely a winner. One to keep for a long time.

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  Great car for under 20k - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By seanj76 - August 9 - 4:41 am

  Bought this Mercedes Benz C230 Sport edition after owning a 94C220 for 12 years. My old 94 didnt age so well, the transmission had issues and engine lost most of its power early on. I had driven a few of the 2006-2007 Cs as loaners and I fell in love with the C230 sport 2.5 V6 automatic. Great change from the earlier 4 cyl Kompressors! I got this car for $19,300 with 22k miles Certified from Motorwerks of Barrington, IL. I didnt have to haggle much either, I bought this car on Black Friday 2008 when NO ONE was buying cars due to the recession. Black on Black fully loaded, and I mean loaded- GPS, 10 speaker surround Harmon Kardon stereo, seat warmers, full power seats, leather, etc

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  This Car is incredible - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By bigmirsh - August 7 - 4:16 pm

  Imagine a car that has everything one could ask for. This car was built for someone who wants a daily driver that is fun as hell and fits like a glove. Driving this car is like eating the perfect meal.

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  Best - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Mercedes - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This benz of mine is very fine. I love the interior, it similar to my wifes S- 600. The offroad capability is amazing. The ride could stand some improvement. The G55 AMG is the third best mercedes in my opinion. I have had no problems and it is very reliable. If you have the 90000 dollars for standard G55 buy it, if you have the money for options get those too. Its great.

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  ML 500 slightly disappointing - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By hairydog - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle overall, however a number of minor defects take away from the overall positive impression we have. Defects include: window trim that is fading extremely quickly/unevenly; rear windows which watermark w/o remediation possible; climate control fan system which randomly sends air to areas of its own choosing (noisy as well). Dealer resists repairing despite informing me these are "common problems" on ML 500s.

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  A Must Have - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mercedes Man - August 6 - 5:40 pm

  This car is definitely a must buy if you dont already have one. Acceleration is exceptional and handling is sharp and very responsive. I took a road trip to Utah last summer and let me tell you, the car felt great at high speed. Overall, the Mercedes-Benz C280 is definaitely worth the money.

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  Over-engineered cars are not reliable - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mike - August 6 - 10:53 am

  The 2001 C240 is a solid ride. Looks good,is safe,but not dependable! I am at the delearship every other month. Everyone there knows me by name. Where do I begin? Locking problems with the keys, then locking problems with the cpu. The leather de-laminated from both doors. fuel pump had to be replaced at 42000 miles. rear brake lights not working,defective SAM card. Front directional not working, defective SAM card. finally car will not start when engine is warm, the timing chain-cam sensor is defective! Most repairs were not under warranty, and averaged 800 dollars per event.

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  1000 miles and all is well. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By DGDanieljr1 - August 5 - 10:06 am

  So far this has been a great car. I do miss the robust horsepower of the Vette I had but this car does have some quiet acceleration. Seems to be a very nice car.

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  Sore elbow - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gtr - August 4 - 5:10 pm

  Ordered in June after driving 2005 demo. 2006 arrived with no arm rest; roll top desk top instead. After 5 weeks, driven it only about 100 miles. When I go to use it I think "sore elbow," and use a different car. I have a C240 wagon and until recently a CL600. Both had a plastic runner at the bottom of the door opening. This one has fabric - great for attracting stains. Mercedes appears to consider its customers incompetent when it comes to lowering the back seats. An interlock moves the passenger seat forward, after which it might just accommodate a five- year-old. All kinds of hassle to overide this interlock so as to be able to use the seat. Wonderful vehicle spoiled by dumb design.

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  My SL320 - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Joan Ortlepp - August 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my 5th Mercedes. Have had an older 230SL, 2 diesels and my most recent large sedan 300SE. Have sold my 300SE and Miata convertible and combined the features of both in SL320. This car is fun to drive, very comfortable and quick (even though it is only a large 6 cylinder). I got the SL320 because it had the same engine as my 300SE.