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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  German Beast - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By golfdino - August 26 - 2:01 am

  I have to say this car is best all around for commuting and long travel trips. Its not the best handling of the competition but it out accelerates all others in its class including BMW. I was in a 3 car crash at 70 mph once and walked away with no scratches. The bodyshop said if I was in a chevy, I would have lost my legs. Car is like a tank. The chassis is strong and stable. You feel very safe driving it at high speeds - but not as much as in the rain. Bose system is great- which is worth the option upgrade. The paint holds up for years and is strong against scratches and dings. I have had BMW, Lexus, Caddys, and Porsche - and I have to say the build quality of MB is the best.

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  Buy It - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Traildriver - August 26 - 2:00 am

  This is a very important model---The 2000-2002 series is the last of the masculine, broad-shouldered, zig-zag shifter, well-tuned brakes and steering, E320s --also faster than the 2003 model (150 lbs lighter). The classic lines with the deep fender-hood sculpture is more MB than the current model. Absolutely no problems.

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  great car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tony Romas - August 26 - 2:00 am

  The car is great on the highway and in the snow. Very happy with it. Some small problems had to be fixed more than once. Over all would recomend the car. My inlaws have the Bmw 3 series. While it is more "athletic" The Benz feels like it is a safer car. Great ride.

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  Lovin it - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CDI Impressed - August 25 - 8:43 am

  This is an amazing car. Luxury, power and economy. Our test drive sold us on the CDI. It was more powerful than an E320 gas model.

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  Love My CLK! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By lovemyclk1 - August 24 - 8:49 pm

  My 2007 Benz CLK 350 has been an awesome car! Very dependable and reliable! No complaints here! Well, maybe wish it had a bigger back seat....then I guess I should have bought a 4 door sedan then! No! I am very happy and highly recommend the CLK! I have seen many negative remarks about this car but if you research all cars no matter the brand you will find flaws and defects with all makes and models including the BMW brand etc. Also, the Mercedes is so much cheaper to maintain than the Beamer, I know first hand experience! :) on this one!

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  SL550 as every day driver - 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By carnut130 - August 24 - 6:23 am

  The strength of the SL is that is sort of like a 2 passenger GT Touring luxury vehicle. Compares with Maserati, Jaguar XK, & BMW 650. This car is the peak of technology and easy to learn. Holds two tour golf bags in trunk with top up and one with top down. The negative is that the look is getting a little boring. Even though it is different from the 2012, it is only slightly different. Inside is major, outside is not. I ding the value on this car, not because it is not the best of its competition, which it is, but because they lose so much money the first year. Outside of that, the car does so much more than its competitor and does the more excellently.

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  Happy Wife - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By L1 - August 22 - 8:40 pm

  Love this car for the styling and performance. We picked it up in Feb 2005 for my wife and it gets stares everywhere we go. It is the best looking Mercedes I have seen since the Gull Wing. The rear seat headroom is marginal as to be expected with any coupe. I am 6 tall and have an inch or two to spare. My wife is very happy with this car and I am considering buying one for myself.

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  Most comfortable ride Ive ever had - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By Jmp325 - August 22 - 5:27 pm

  I drive about 20,000 miles a year for work, so I needed something that would be comfortable and also safe, and the GLE 350 is both! Not to mention stylish and sporty, its the total package.

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  My first Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By animechan - August 21 - 6:56 pm

  Having driven many Mercedes in past but never owning one until now, I am not disappointed. I bought mine barely used with only 3000 miles on it over 18 months ago and the true market value on Edmunds for Private Party sale is about the same as what I originally paid. Great value for the money. Would considering buying again when the next model comes out. Definitely worth buying compared to comparably priced cars such as Accord V6, Acura RSX, etc.

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  My Dream Car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By SLKFranklin - August 21 - 6:10 am

  I have wanted a C230 for a long time. I finally sold my 2007 Ford Fusion and bought a used 2007 C230 Sport. I love this car. Man was it an upgrade from my Fusion. I have read a couple of reviews on here that people have written. There was one person that knocked the C230 on driving in snow. HELLO! It is rear wheel drive. It doesnt matter what brand of car it is. There pretty much isnt a rear wheel drive that is going to be good in the snow. So far the only problem that I have had is my check engine light. I plan on taking it to the MB dealership. I am not worried about it because it is still under the factory warranty. I am looking forward to owning this C Class for many years