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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  FABULOUS - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Mary Margaret - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I love this car, it is dependable and very fun to drive.

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  The Best - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Gstrof - July 15 - 2:00 am

  This Mercedes is the best that we have owned yet! Very sporty and moves like the wind - performs like a beautiful machine. The service we receive is awesome.

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  BMW owner buys a Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pj42nato - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I priced a 325I & a C230. With the same options the Benz came in $3K less and had more bells & whistles. The acceleration on the Benz is excellent from the 1.8SC engin. The sport suspension makes the car hold the road very very well. I compare this car to my 91 525, which was the best car I ever owned. The C230 driver seat SUCKS. There is no lumbar support. No upgrading to the multi-contour seat unless you spend $10k more & go to the C320. The std radio is a big disappointment. The bass is hardly noticeable. When you start off slowly the electronic trans gets confused & the car bucks. The car is worth the $30K.

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  Problems encountered at 3,070 mi - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jood - July 14 - 4:00 pm

  I cant complain much about the performance of this entry-level-luxury Benz. Though it has a weak V6(168hp), its still FUN to drive. At 3,070 miles today, Im taking my car to the dealer because of the SRS MULFUNCTION and a stereo system sound problem - sound was distorted last week, both radio & CD. Yesterday, there was no sound coming out at all -and i got the "entertainment package". But its the SRS problem Im worried about. Its a safety issue, and I still have to drive all the way to the dealer (without aibags and safety measure devices)

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  Worth the extravagant price - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By newyorker - July 14 - 5:40 am

  This was a perfect buy even though the 65k total cost is excessively priced. The car has utility, style, power, comfort, safety and AWD making it the most practical car my family has ever ridden in. The E350 wagon is one of the very few cars that has utility for a whole family w/ luggage and the ride quality of a sport sedan. 4MATIC is very grippy and 3.5L V6 is powerful and sounds very classy when revved up. While its no gas guzzler, I average 18 mpg wherever I go and thats not exactly great considering premium fuel can cost over $4 a gallon. But the car is so comfortable and the drivers post is excellent. Piloting this car is truly a pleasure. Styling is gorgeous!

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  C300 is now a performance car - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Al - July 13 - 9:19 pm

  Pro: As you expect from a Mercedes, they have designed a performance and yet comfortable luxury which positioned the car on par or slightly above the competition. Cons: The car has a default setting for a "Comfort" mode and this cannot be changed. Unfortunately, this means that we have to live with the "Auto Engine Off" function which for some people can be very annoying. If you want to change that "feature" you will need to switch the @ button every time you restart the engine.

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  One Great SUV - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mr. ML - July 13 - 12:26 pm

  The 1998 ML320 was a ground-breaking vehicle when it was first introduced and I had to have one. The early production models did have a few minor annoyances(transfer case, various squeeks and rattles) but reliability was never a concern. Overall this is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. I highly recommend it to anyone in the market for a rugged yet elegant SUV.

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  Love My Little Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BarbaraTina - July 13 - 10:43 am

  My experience owning a C230 has been delightful. I enjoy the spacious interior especially the fact that even someone with long legs may ride comfortably in the backseat. The sunroof has been such a pleasure. Also the glass top over the rear passengers seats make it unique. The car is very maneouverable and easy to fit into almost any parking space. The option to go from automatic to manual is fun. I appreciate the safe design of the car and the high crash test rating. The car is fun, safe and such a pleasure to drive. The only thing I see they could improve upon would be the comfortability of the seats. They feel too hard and flat. The actual seats leave alot to be desired.

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  Awesome - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MLP - July 13 - 4:03 am

  Having owned several performance Mercedes over the yrs including the SL series, the CLK 550 is proving to be the best road machine I have ever driven. Mechanics wedded to aesthetics.

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  A sporty cross-over GLA250 - 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By Grazelgarcia@gmail.com - July 12 - 4:59 pm

  I love this car! Its a small crossover but its perfect enough for me and it doesnt feel like Im in a big family SUV. I got the car with the sports package and it drives really really well with good handle on turns. The trunk, however, is small so if you have huge cargo at all times, this may not be the right car for you. The car is worth test driving and if you like it make sure that you do research before you lease. Dont forget to utilize edmunds.com for the resources they offer!