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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  Great Car to drive - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ceglarz Motor Repair - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had my MB C230 Kompressor since May of 2003 and I cannot express how much beauty, comfort and the way the car handles that this car has. This is possibly the best car I have owned by far.

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  Outstanding Automobile - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Barondane - June 6 - 5:23 pm

  The E350 is the perfect car for those who drive more than 25,000 miles yearly. This E truly lives up to the MB mystique. Fantastic ride, build quality, and exterior styling.

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  Ive Found My Brand. - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By 5280realtor - June 6 - 2:23 am

  Excellent vehicle, all around. Sure, it has some weaknesses, but through and through this thing is an impeccably built tank. Ive waited awhile to review this small SUV until living with it for some time (not quite 2 years now). Ive previously owned Lexus, Saab, and several BMWs. The GLK demonstrates what Mercedes-Benz is all about, and this is (was) their 2nd least expensive model -- bodes well for the more expensive lines. Ive had exactly one problem with the car in nearly 25,000 miles; a failed wheel bearing that the dealer had only ever seen twice before on the GLK. Lets not discuss how many times my SAAB saw the dealer in 25,000 miles, nor the BMW for that matter.

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  So far so good - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By whchuang - June 5 - 5:13 pm

  We used to own a 1993 300E 2.8 (the legendary W124) and really loves it. However the steering wheel was too heavy for my wife so we had to sell it and replaced with this 2012. The 2nd day of the ownership (new car with 15 miles) the SRS warning light went on for no reason. Dealer did a lot of diagnostic and couldnt find the problem. However, that problem later one just disappeared. I guess that again too many complicated electronics made the car less reliable. That said, after that incident, its been about a year now and we didnt have any other trouble. The car drives great. Just wish that the build quality and reliability can be on par with the old school W124 though.. (sign)

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  Grand Touring at a fair price - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Dan - June 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for almost two months now. This is my second Mercedes and Im even more pleased with this car than i was my first (which was an E-class wagon). My car is steel gray/ stone, has the P3 package, the AMG appearance package, the huge wheels & AMG rims, and the sport-tuned suspension. It handles like a grand tourer and has the typical ride of a Benz, far smoother than most convertibles. I must say, this style has aged gracefully. Even after being around since 2004, the CLK cabrio looks clean and fresh. (Audi A5 looks more handsome, but this car has the better interior, MUCH better motor, and the better price). Its a great CPO deal. Better value than Audi A5 or BMW 6-series

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  Impressive diesel SUV! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Scott - June 5 - 6:03 am

  Very surprised how well this diesel SUV handles. Extremely comfortable on the highway. Backing off a few mph significantly increases fuel mileage and can exceed sticker.

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  Great Car, Great Price - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By K.L. Nadzak - June 4 - 7:16 pm

  Hey, I "acquired" this fine vehicle back in 1995 and it has been a wonder. Ive driven it everywhere and have had no mechanical issues. Example: I had to mysteriously travel from Florida to NY numerous times, stopping only for gas and the occasional White Castle. I put 9K on the car during one such trip, and she was running like new when I got back. Talk about reliability! I wish other things in my life were this reliable. My wife, girlfriend, son, and mother could all stand to learn something from this car. Hey, unlike my son, this car is a winner. If you have to evade people and institutions via long-term, interstate travel, you cant go wrong with the 95 E-Class

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  Who needs Hybrids - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By TD Austin - June 3 - 2:40 pm

  I have had this car for one month and 1300 miles - what a car. I am getting 33 MPG communting to work, great acceleration, great passing down kick at 60 MPH, and I can chirp the tires at a light - what more can you ask for. I traded my GS300 for this car and could not be happier. This car is not your fathers diesel

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  Trading Up - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By observer1992 - June 2 - 1:40 am

  I recently bought a 1995 E320, I was just looking around because my 1995 Saturn SL1 was starting to have some reliability issues and had just reached 210,000 miles. I was looking at Ford Focus, but the Mercedes E320 caught my eye and after the first minute of the test drive I knew I had found a solid car. My E320 has 155,000 miles on it and I had a mechanic check it out and it was given a clean bill of health. I would recommend one of these cars to anyone who is willing to give a 16 year old car a try.

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  Great Little Gas Saver - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By John D - June 1 - 10:06 am

  I bought this car off lease with 26000 miles on it 6.5 years ago. Other than oil changes, only had to replace brakes at 50k miles. The best thing about the car is the 25 city/35 highway gas milage (I am a little heavy footed on trip). I may keep this one for 15 years.