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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  This is a fantastic car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Aramis - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I decided to change my old Mercedes 320 CE this year. I was hesitating between Jaguar XJK coupe and Mercedes SL 500 but I have bought the last one finally. Now I am happy to have this car. Its a dream, I have fantastic feelings of pleasure

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  Great Car! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Carmel by the Sea - June 5 - 6:56 pm

  As a former Porsche 911 SC owner it would take a pretty impressive automobile to compete with a Porsche. My Mercedes is such a fun car to drive with an impressive list of safety features. I didnt think that it would have much power, however. Although not the Porsche, it does have impressive pick up when needed. My only wish for the car would be a rear wind shield washer. I love this car so much that my best friend went out and bought the identical model! She loves it too!

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  MUST READ R500 REVIEW - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By rwagen - June 5 - 6:06 pm

  I am writing this to inform any potential R500 buyers out there of what to expect from this car. First the good stuff - this is the best car you will find with three row seating. It is really fast and luxurious. The V8 which they dont even offer anymore is bullet proof. It is the same engine that they have perfected over 10 years. The R350s are underpowered and there is a problem with the engine. There is a pending class action on the R350s. The gas mileage is not the best... FWY is 21 around town you will average 14-16 The 3 things that WILL need to be addressed are the transmission valvebody $2k, the airmatic shocks $1K and the rear taillights wiring $250 they WILL fail .

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  Sports and luxury combined. - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By merlin - June 4 - 6:56 am

  After test driving several convertible sports cars including the BMW 6 series and the Porcsche Carrera I found the SL 55 to be by far the best available combination of fun, luxury and safety. As an additional bonus when the top is up the cabin is so quiet you would never know youre driving a convertible

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  WOW...I love this car - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By buttermilk - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This car now has 51,000 and it is hard to understand how it stays so solid. This convertible has virtually no flex in the body. It has adequate power to do some "enjoyment" driving. It is refined, even by todays standards. I can put the kids in the back and cruise for hours.

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  Excellent SUV in Rain and Snow - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Clee - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Surefooter in rain and snow!

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  More UTE than SPORT - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Steven Kirschner - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is our first Mercedes, but not our first SUV (we have had Jeeps in the past). We stepped up for lots of reasons - Safety, performance and Status (this car is used in a sales environment). The ML500 is simply an amazing vehicle. It is comfortable and FAST. I would prefer a smoother ride with less jostling over the bumps in the road, but the trade-off for that kind of safety seems well worth it. The ML500 has had its share of little picky issues - namely a touchy fuel gauge and mirrors that do not adjust with the memory seats. Again, small potatos for that kind of peformance. It feels like a car that will last forever!

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  the worst car i ever had - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By cindy39 - June 2 - 2:00 am

  From the second week i bought this car. I have nothing but problems. I usually keep my cars for 5 years. I CAN"T wait to get rid of this car. It drives like a pick up truck the rear view mirror fell down. The breaks clunk. What can i say except that the list can keep going,,,I am not happy at all

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  Whats Not To Love - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bigrob - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car about a week ago. I didnt really test drive anything else in the class, I didnt have to. Right away I loved it, the sleek design, interior comfort, Mercedes Quality, and most of all the price. My question is why is the car getting the cold shoulder with the experts? Almost every expert rating including this site doesnt like the car and it has recieved bad marks compared to The Audi, BMW, and Lexus comparable model.

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  Super SUV - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Master D - June 1 - 10:00 am

  When i first saw the car i thight it was a minivan, but when i drove it the first time it was like a miracle. It was fast, and agile. People do tell me though that the car is more expensive than the BMW x5, but i wouldnt trade it for the world.