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:

• 

  Best of both worlds - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By gd77 - May 10 - 4:43 am

  While we only have 1200 miles on this vehicle, the MPG has been very impressive and at no loss in pick up. Average mpg to date is just under 22 and the cruising range is great with a large tank. The CDI has a slight diesel ting to it and you can notice that this is a diesel engine but it is nothing like the competitors diesels. No smoke, no loud clanging of the engine, and it is very refined.

• 

  E350 4-matic is a great all rounder - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sharvan - May 10 - 3:50 am

  I recently leased a silver E350 4- matic with the Premium pkg 1 and AMG sport appearance package and boy was it a great all rounder.It has great looks(courtesy AMG package), adequate performance(0 -60 in ~6 secs), and mileage(17-18MPG City), Advanced Tech features such as Voice activated Navigation, IPOD interface, Rain sensing wipers. Also the multi information display is right in front of you on the speedo which is a nice feature since you dont have to take your eyes off the road. I live in Colorado and wanted the 4-matic and i think that was a good decision. We had a couple of snow (spring)storms here and AWD worked just fine.The trick is to use the "C" setting for the transmission.

• 

  Awesome SUV - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By KKawz - May 9 - 10:00 am

  It seems strange to me that alot of these reviews are so negative about the M-Class. Other than a few minor problems (mainly switches and dashboard lights) my ML430 has performed admirably. It has impressive power and acceleration for its heft; the best qualities come out in high-speed driving. It feels very solid, and has that Mercedes vault-like feel. Also, it has cool styling that doesnt sacrifice function. Very luxurious and comfortable, yet doesnt have a real boaty ride like on some other SUVs.

• 

  Bavy Benz - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ron Buon - May 9 - 10:00 am

  I ordered this car in April of 2003, and it came in just a week ago.I love it, i odred it fully loaded with C!,C2,C4, auto., heated seat,CD, Zenon lights. i had no problems so far. Thsicar rides so solid and smooth, and is built very well. It stands out compared to the other cars on the road. Also the dealership emlpoyees are extremly nice and caring.

• 

  Has exceeded my expectations - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sodbuster - May 9 - 10:00 am

  After two months if ownership, have found very little to fault. In past 15 years have driven BMWs and Audis. Mercedes C230 sedan with Sports package outshines others in just about every category. Value, appearance, handling, build quality (so far), and features have convinced me that buying this car a no brainer.

• 

  One of the best cars I have ever owned. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By cc-1945 - May 7 - 9:36 pm

  This is my third Mercedes and by far the best This car has great looks and the interior styling is excellent. I love driving this car. Like others, Im hoping that the long term service history will be good.

• 

  First Mercedes Exceeds Expectations - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By wofatbill - May 7 - 10:06 am

  Ordered this vehicle in January and did not get delivery until May. This is the only thing that disappointed about Mercedes. After almost 6 months and just over 10000 miles, I have found very few shortcomings and many pleasant surprises. The most pleasant has be fuel efficiency. Overall combined mileage is right at 27 MPG. Trips up and down the east coast this summer registered almost 30 MPG, both better than the ratings on the sticker. Solid construction, quiet operation, real luxury feel, terrific acceleration and very comfortable seats among the most pleasing characteristics. Only disappointment so far is iPod integration bug which MB has promised to fix. Highly recommended.

• 

  ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By joe - May 7 - 2:33 am

  Bought as a certified vehicle with 25K miles. Now has almost 100K and has been a pleasure. By far the best vehicle I have ever owned. Still as solid and smooth as the day I bought it.

• 

  Great ride, great looks, great performance - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Derek Visocky - May 6 - 9:58 pm

  Even with the sports cars Ive owned, Ive not received as many or as frequent comments about the great looks of this car. In nearly 40 years of driving, this is easily my favorite car. Whether it is a trip to Home Depot by myself to load it with project materials, or filled with 2 parents and 5 munchkins for a birthday outing, this car really does it all. From both a performance and luxury standpoint, it is everything that you would expect from Mercedes. During inclement weather, this is absolutely one of the best snow-fighters Ive ever driven - and thats just running standard all-season tires. Im not the best one to quote gas mileage figures because I often run it in Sport mode in a very spirited fashion. And it does that very well, surprising quite a few other drivers at the stop lights.

• 

  All Engine..Lackluster Steering - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By socalh2oskier - May 6 - 11:36 am

  This is an extremely fast car, with terrific brakes, a genuinely usable back seat, and decent trunk space (for a convertible). Unfortunately, the steering detracts markedly from the driving experience. Drive the new 3 series convertible, and you will wonder why anyone would pay almost double for the Mercedes, as the 3 series is loads more fun to drive. I had the 3 series, but traded it because of the minuscule trunk space and issues regarding run-flats. I like the AMG--but I have to admit-- reluctantly--that the 3 series was much more fun, at just over half the price, and it gets much better gas mileage. However, given the trunk space issue with the BMW, I am glad I made the switch.