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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  first one on the road - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By capac - August 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive as the power is incredible. acceleration and handling excellent. drawbacks are the car rides stiff and rough due to the low profile tires. the tiptronic sometimes downshifts by itself and the integrated phone system is not very good.

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  dissapointed - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Penny - August 20 - 2:00 am

  Bought two year old car in May 2002 with 8000 miles on it for 31000 dollars so it was no bargain especially since I have had it back to the dealers three times in one year. I have persistent problems with the transmission. The car jerks when I accelerate from a light or stop when it is moving in to first gear and the dealer hasnt managed to fix it yet. Now I know why the previous owner gave it back after only driving it for 8000 miles! Drives very well once it gets to third gear and on highways but for the most part I am not enjoying it. My next car will be a BMW or a Lexus.

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  pretty disappointing - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Longtrain - August 20 - 2:00 am

  My rating number does not tell the full story. My wife and I love the truck for all that is Mercedes. We both agree though that the build quality is poor. Sure all the stuff is fixed under warranty, but going to the dealership every month and a half gets old. I should have known what I was in for when the door broke on delivery. Failed window switches, radio glitches, hoses that develop holes - in addition to shoddy work at the dealer. Cant say I would buy one again, and in fact, are shopping to trade it in on something else. Really thought I would get something more for a $500 a month payment.

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  2002 S 500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By drsayad - August 20 - 2:00 am

  A well built car that drives much very smooth and yet powerful

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  Not a bad car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By zekester1 - August 18 - 11:49 pm

  Bought this car new, and have no problems other than replacing brake lights and the fuel filter ($3000+). Ive 118000+ miles and have no serious complaints other than shoddy switchgear (sunroof switch is broken). Roomy, decent gas milage (23mpg+) and fully-featured, this I believe is my perfect car. However, the 8-quart oil requirement makes for expensive oil changes when using synthetic ($100+).

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  Exactly what I expected - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Roscoe18 - August 18 - 7:46 pm

  Its no RR Sport. Not as fun- but 27.4mpg hwy and between 20-22 overall. The gas mileage is great and less carbon emissions. Diesel engine noise is annoying. Porsche will win if they can combine sport and "green" in the new Cayenne!

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  Nav system is an antique - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bill - August 17 - 2:06 pm

  The E320 CDI is very fuel efficient and fun to drive, but the transmission has occassional problems. Slipping during takeoff which my dealer says is normal. Styling is rather bland. Seats could stand to be a little more comfortable. The lumbar support should be power and easier to reach. My biggest complaint is the antique nav system. Somebody must have bought these on a $59 closeout. Charging $2900 for this system should be a felony. Its an unbelievably antiquated system with few features, no touch screen, and no voice command. Also theres no bluetooth unless you buy their phone. I own a 2007 Toyota Camry that blows this car away with superior luxury features. Sorry MB, you need to catch up

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  Great for 2 types of people - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By nwb2 - August 15 - 8:47 pm

  Mercedes particularly the c280 4matic is great for two types of people: the first of which being the people who can afford the the maintenance fees and shop labor charges, but your buying a Mercedes not a Kia its somewhat an investment. The second type of person to purchase this vehicle is someone who ive very mechanically inclined and able to handle some of the basics themselves, i.e. brakes, belts, transfer case fluid, Diff fluid, spark plugs, etc. If your not one of the two listed above and your budget can not allow for a dollar oil change this may not be for you.

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  Antiseptic - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mr. Lee - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful car for hauling clients and family. Stability control intervenes on any fun. Acceleration which once was blazing is now considered merely above average with new offerings from MB, Audi, and Porsche, and of course rumors of the new BMW M5 and M3. Still one of the best values in luxury automobiles. Now if we can just put the supercharger from the 04 model on this one, it would have a power to weight ratio of a 911 turbo.

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  Performance and Enconomy - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Carl Stringer - August 8 - 11:03 pm

  This is my first MB and I bought it for reliability, economy and style and it has not let me down. Economy is amazing. I get 26 mpg in town and 28- 30 mpg on my 55 mile commute (at 80- 90mph!). Passing is effortless and silent, it really has quite a good mid- range punch. The 580 mile range is also great, a lot less time is spent at the pump. A 13,000 mile service interval is also a time saver. You can hardly tell that it is a diesel at all. The motor only rattles at low rpm, low speed with the window down. Ive had just one issue, a buzzing speaker which was fixed under warranty. One small gripe is turbo lag, but you learn to drive around it. Buy one!