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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  Happy and Proud - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Pat B - September 19 - 8:10 am

  We bought the diesel variant of the ML for the MPG and torque ratings. We have been very happy with power and the MPG. It is a turbo diesel so I knew to expect the 1-2 second lag when hitting the gas but love the punch once the power hits. I have been lucky not to experience any reliability or odd little noise issues and am thank full for that.

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  Sweet ride - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By samphel - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Real fun to drive, Solid design, Excellent acceleration. Compared to the Acura RSX, the torque on the C230 crushes the Acura, hands down. Overall, a safe, and fun car to drive. Usually, safety and fun dont often go together but in this car, it just does.

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  New E class will impress - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MBnewbie - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving the new E class three months. Very nice car. Frim yet luxurious ride. Teh 32o has plenty of horses for me buut some BMW converts may opt for the 500. The new exterior styling in nearly perfect. I really love it. That charcoal gray interior is tough to beat.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Magic - September 17 - 2:50 pm

  I always dreamed of buying and owning a Benz and when I saw this beauty I had to get it. After driving it for three weeks now I have no regrets. It feels like a rugged luxury SUV yet drives like a race car. It takes off like a rocket but drives so smooth. Love everything about the car.

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  Delightful Improvements - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By beechtiger - September 14 - 11:28 pm

  I was delighted with significant improvements in Mercedes GL450 in the last few years. The firm seats are comfortable for both short and long distance driving. As a previous Land Cruiser owner, I am mighy pleased with the third row seats in GL450 as compared to Land Cruiser. It was a very simple push-button to set up the third row seats.

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  The true family hauler! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gandeesinla - September 14 - 6:17 pm

  With room for seven and nearly 500 hundred horsepower this wagon delivers a safe and fun experience for up to seven passengers. This car is very expensive new but is a serious piece of engineering. Its luxurious and fun to drive and looks subdued but sporty. Its a sleeper....

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  An amazing ride, an amazing vehicle! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ken - September 13 - 3:30 am

  This diesel engine marvel is everything others have said about it: quiet, clean, LOTS of torque, and great gas mileage! Driving the car home from Texas I drove from Amarillo, TX to Holbrook, AZ on less than a tank of gas. I then drove from Snowflake, AZ to Salt Lake at 75-80 mph via Flagstaff (625 miles) with fuel left over for a few days of driving around town. Climbing mountain grades and passing other cars was effortless. The ride and handling were amazing. This is my first Mercedes and first diesel powered sedan. Given my experiences so far, Im not going back to a gas powered car. It has the navigation system, which is nice, but easily outdone by my iPhone. It also has the Harmon Kardon audio system which is great. While its almost 10 years old now, you wouldnt know it by how it handles. Later: Ive had the car for 8 months now. In that time its had a few rather expensive repairs. Ive had to have the o-rings in the oil-cooler replaced, the turbocharger has been replaced and there was an issue with the valve-body controller of the transmission. None of these have been cheap. I was fortunate I could swap out the turbocharger when I had the engine torn apart to replace the o-rings. I winced at paying $2000 to replace a $10 o-ring. But that said. I still consider myself money ahead on the vehicle. In real world driving Ive gotten as much as 40mpg on one leg of a trip and average about 30-31 mpg between commuting to work and driving around town. The body and interior are so nice, people are surprised to learn its a 2007. Would I buy this car again? Probably. Will I drive anything other than a Mercedes? No way! When I ride in other cars, I can tell the difference, both in noise levels and ride quality. Its superior to any Japanese or American-made vehicle.

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  Extremely Happy - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Armando - September 11 - 3:06 pm

  I purchased the SL500 from the original with 35k miles. I had a 1998 911 Porsche which I regret selling until I purchased this 2004 SL500. Reasons why: the hard top, the comfort, the sound system, and the look! I would not buy a new one, because of the minor changes, plus the money that I save. Its A great car to buy used because they are very reliable and lots of fun to drive. If you do buy an SL500 get an extended warranty because they become costly as they grow old!

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  Amazingly great car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By musicman24 - September 9 - 6:20 pm

  I bought this car a few months ago and love it. This car gets awsome gas mileage at 23 mpg city-33 mpg hwy and is very comfortable to sit in on long trips, not to mention it turns a lot of heads.

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  Smoothest gasoline engine of all time - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Hirnbeiss - September 7 - 10:00 am

  At 143000, this car has had no more reliability issues than other cars. The ride is still unsurpassed by new cars. Good luxury feeling. These cars are great for the technically minded - theres plenty of info on internet websites. If you cant do a lot yourself, though, many simple maintenance/repair items will cost you. Repairs since 100K: ignition lock, neutral safety switch, water pump