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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  Open DTS case for misfiring - no fix available - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By latette - July 30 - 8:39 am

  Love the looks, mileage and ride of the ML blueTec, but having to drive for a mile or so, every morning since I drove it off the lot, misfiring is getting old! Upon returning it to the dealer I was told that there were numerous open complaints on the issue, but a fix was not yet available. They hope to have a fix out soon.....$57k and I need to drive a misfiring Mercedes through my neighborhood every morning.....I guess that will teach me for buying the first year of a new body style. So now I wait.......or do I start the lemon law process...time will tell...

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  Poor mans Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Chanze - July 30 - 2:56 am

  It has most of they features of the luxury Mercedes Benz like they S-class but it is priced reasonably. I just got out of high school and it is the perfect first car!

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  Trendsetter - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Edmund - July 27 - 12:20 am

  Excellent sports car with that extra bit of luxury that set this vehicle apart from and ahead of the competition. I just love driving it, be it on the road going to and from work or at the race- track.

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  Elegant traveling for the family - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MBZfan - July 26 - 10:06 pm

  Ive been looking at some of the new 08 E350 wagons offered from Mercedes and although theyre beautiful, my 02 E320 wagon still looks nearly as sleek and stylish, so I may hang on to it for a little longer. the car has almost 100k miles on it and it still runs like it did brand new! (always used synthetic motor oil and premium gasoline) I just put new Continetal tires on it along w/ a wheel alignment and the car doesnt vibrate at all even when cruising in excess of 80 mph. This car still gets 24.5 mpg on the highway! It has plenty of cargo room and AWD for the snow making it perfect for ski trips up to the mountains. while its not sexy, you gotta admit its stylish for a family car.

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  Not for family of 4 with kids - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MIBluetec - July 26 - 9:13 pm

  We bought the Bluetec for the fuel economy and the exterior styling. Little did we know that it is not designed for tall or larger people. I weigh 210lbs and 511" tall so I am not big. It is very uncomfortable to come in and out of the drivers seat. With the seat back, my kid does not have leg room from his car seat. I move the seat forward and have to drive uncomfortably. The rear entertainment is mounted very poorly in the back that my 4 year old has bumped his head hard 3-4 times. I do not recommend it for family of 4 with kids. With the 2 car seats, it is very difficult to seat 5. THe fuel economy is averaging around 24mpg which is not bad. Diesel is sufficient for daily drive.

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  Best ever S Class - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By BJ Arun - July 26 - 2:16 pm

  I was lucky enough to get one of the 1,000 launch edition cars. This was the only way to get the rear view camera assist + night vision. Came with 19" wheels, panoramic roof (front and back), designo (Graphite) color, napa leather, sat radio and multicontour seats. The front seats deserve special mention since not only do they have massage settings, but the drivers seat provides excellent wrap-around support by inflating/ deflating based on how fast you are cornering. The overall experience is fabulous since the design, build quality and performance have all been taken to the max. The famous Mercedes Benz S Class presence is back with this car. It definitely makes hearts beat faster!

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  Fun to Drive - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dan - July 25 - 11:06 am

  One of the best vehicles Ive owned. Ive owned 3 Infinitis and the Mercedez is the best by far. Its overall handling and performance makes it tops in my book.

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  "a service nightmare" - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By dissapointed - July 25 - 10:00 am

  The styling and sturdiness of the ML350 is great. The Harmon Kardon sound is very good. The trouble I have experienced has been the worst of any vehicle I have ever owned. I have it in the shop now for balance shaft replacement ( out of warranty and a few grand to fix) plus I was told that the transmission control module needs to be replaced ( another $1700). I have had the temperature controls reprogrammed ($150) parking lamp wiring harness replaced ( $200+) parking brake release handle repaired ( $200) plus normal maintenance service of $1000.00 plus already just this year. Stay away from 2006 MLs - maybe all MB vehicles! My servicing dealer is not good either which compounds the issue.

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  E550A Cabriolet - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MIKEMNH - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Traded 2009 Porsche 911 Cab PDK on this. 911 great but rough ride and hard egress/exit. Mercedes is a great all around car. If you really arent ever going on a track, this is the perfect car. Very torquey V8, brisk in normal or sport mode. Tip-in and shifting very aggressive in sport mode. A quality car with great electronics. I have 1400 songs on 1 8.5 Gig DVD, Player will take 5 more!! Transmission is not as good as Porsche PDK, but way more than you need for aggressive road driving. Exhaust note is a pleasure. I think Mercedes gets it, and Im glad I got it!

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  7 speed automatic is a plus - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Melear - July 24 - 10:43 am

  I drove the Lexus IS250 and looked at the BMW 3 series. The C230 is my favorite by far. The car has a great feel for the road, and handles like a dream. Ample power from the 2.5 liter V6 really gets you up to speed in a hurry. On the highway, the C230 likes to fly. I find myself having to set the speed control to avoid excessive speeds. My highway mileage is better than the EPA estimates of 25mpg. I have gotten 29mpg on two 300 mile trips with the cruise set at 80.