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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  Bullet Proof - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By jd - April 8 - 1:46 pm

  I have owned too many suvs and trucks to mention. This one is the very best. Fuel Economy is much better than advertised. Driving in Phx I get 23 in town and 28 on the highway. Great design and build quality. I pull a large tent trailer with a gross of 5,000lbs with no problem. I will be going "long" on this one. Also, it is fun to drive. Everything is well layed out. So far 7,800 miles without a single problem, nothing.

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  Looks nice but - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By RLP - April 8 - 4:43 am

  This is the most uncomfortable car I have ever driven. As a professional chauffeur who drives fifteen hours a day, five days a week its important to feel comforable.The noise level is not as good as in previous models.The drivers seat needs a lot of improvment. Mercedes Benz needs to ask "real time " drivers for suggestions.My 1976-450SLC, 1985- 500SEL,1992-600SEL, 1998-S420, 2000- S430, and 2003-500 4matic. All were more comfortable and quiet than the new 2007-550 4matic I have now. Mercedes is not what it use to be.

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  Best $60k Youll Ever Part With - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Chuck Dee - April 8 - 1:03 am

  Picked up my new black (not metallic) CLK550 two weeks ago. Just passed 1000 miles. My previous cars included 330i, 911 C2, Audi S4. Never have owned a Benz before. This Benz is incredible. The car is supremely solid and capable. The engine is a beast you simply cant miss experiencing. 391 lb-ft of torque without a turbo is so much acceleration you wont believe it. And I have owned some very quick cars. That engine sound! 7-speed paddle shifter is also wonderful. Requires some practice in making it do what you want when you want. Anything over 3000rpm is all you need. For the truly adolescent (like me), you will walk away from M3s and 911s quite nicely.

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  Best small premium sport sedan ! - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ed Chandlee - April 7 - 6:45 am

  Great car !

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  MY MB C280 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By PAPADOC - April 7 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS A GREAT CAR HANDLES WELL GOOD MILEAGE FUN TO DRIVE AND SAFE

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  2003 CLK320 Coupe - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By John Doe Wilson - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I simply love this car. Im very critical of vehicles, but Im hard pressed to find fault in this one.

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  HORRIBLE CAR! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Daniel - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I have always liked BMW much much better than Mercedes. but 1 year i gave Benz a chance and i went and bought the ML55. I have only a couple things to say about that car. IT SUCKS. my wife has a BMW X5 4.6is and it is sooo much better than the ML. I will never buy another Benz as long as i live. You think Benz is better because they have been known longer but it is HORRIBLE! THANKS!

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  Best E-class to date - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Johnny Appleseed - April 5 - 3:16 pm

  Test drove many luxury vehicles before deciding on the E350. Great offerings from other manufacturers. Electronics not as reliable as Japanese models, but only BMW felt as solid and refined. By far the best E-class to date. Very smooth with very little noise intrusion. Good accelleration, solid handling & strong, consistent braking. Relatively conservative styling, but still an attention magnet. The no-cost Sport pkg gives the styling a bit more edge, but still classy. Navigation isnt 3D and you cant type in the name or # of a business you wish to travel to, but otherwise, no complaints. Harmon Kardon sound system is great for most listeners and is far beyond earlier Bose systems.

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  Absolute P.O.S. - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By hrspeech - April 5 - 10:21 am

  I fell for the "oh, weve completely redesigned the E-class to be more reliable and compete with a Lexus line of B.S." This car has 27,000 miles on it and is sitting in my garage DOA. Not because we mistreat it and not because we dont do the outrageously expensive services. Its left me stranded because its a normal piece of "german engineering." The only folks who appreciate "german engineering" are the service techs who get rich on servicing this garbage. Run the other way and buy yourself a Lexus before you make the same mistake I made. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever fall for this line of B.S. again. The best cars are engineered and made in Japan. Plain and simple.

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  great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Rick B - April 5 - 6:23 am

  The best E class ever made. It has a look of the S class and drives great with added horse power!