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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  Crossing 275k - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By riccar1 - April 5 - 6:08 am

  Couldnt be a happier owner. Purchased a formerly leased car with 43,000 miles and have just crossed 275,000 miles with zero problems of any significance. Of course have had some things wear out that are normal, but the car remains powerful and absolutely dependable. Much better car than the 1990 Lexus 400 it replaced in 2003.

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  I really enjoy this vehicle. - 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By George - April 5 - 2:46 am

  This vehicle is very comfortable to drive. Even in cold weather, the heating system keeps the vehicle comfortable. After about 1500 miles, I have had no trouble with it at all. The styling of the exterior makes me smile. It is a cute, stylish SUV.

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  True 4 wheel power - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By busch - April 4 - 8:16 pm

  An outstanding vehicle capable of any chosen offroad drive test. Unique power on the highway. Startup at trafic intersection to 75 mph within 6 seconds. Its extremely safe. I survived a head on colission with another vehicle in a previous model with out mishap.

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  2016 C300; First Impression - - WOW! - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert W. Kagen - April 4 - 10:20 am

  I have had the auto less than a week so my first impression I hope will be my lasting impression. I had a 2015 SLK250 and was not happy because it turned out to be just what it was suppose to be without the "Mercedes" feel and comfort. Then I test drove a 2016 C300 and it sure felt like I was driving a "sporty" sedan but this time it has the comfort and feel of what I wanted and expected in a Mercedes. The vehicle was made to order in Alabama and took about 4 weeks from day of order to day of delivery. Bottom line is the C300 Im driving is truly one of the best, if now the best driving car Ive owned, very smooth and quiet and handles like a dream. The "driver" adjustments for comfort are outstanding. Best choice in new cars for 2016 I could have made.

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  Nice car but too small - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bill - April 4 - 9:36 am

  We really like the car. It has good power and looks great. The star on the hood gets respect. Dont plan on having this car be your family car. Its just too small. Great as a single persons car or a married couple. The car has never left us stranded but has been in the shop often. Were going to trade down to a Chevy. Were also concerned about the cost of repairs after the warranty expires.

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  Be carefull - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bill Alexander - April 1 - 4:56 am

  Purchased in Dec09 was finally delivered Feb10 but NOT AS SPECIFIED, no HK stereo, no iPod interface, no 5-spoke rims. Dealer Automotriz Stuttgart refuses any adjustment. After only 2,400 miles the paint had flaked off the hood medallion, seats are horribly wrinkled, Bluetooth faulty, Stereo 20 system so distorted it is unusable besides missing a speaker. Worst is performance, takes a full 2-3 seconds after accelerator is fully depressed to get ANY reaction from the engine. When purchasing, make sure you take YOUR C class out for an extensive test drive and QC check BEFORE signing, as many MB dealers are famous to send their customers to hell after taking your money. Buyer beware.

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  Great to drive, but ... - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By djdj - April 1 - 2:00 am

  Responsive engine, fun autostick, reasonable gas mileage (if youre careful), wonderfully comfortable seats, great sounding stereo. But every six months its back in the dealer for something else, window switches (of course), rattles, CD, radio, paint (dealers fault). The build quality is dismal

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  Great Overall Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Thomas H - April 1 - 2:00 am

  My purchase of my CLK 430 was an impulse buy. All the right pieces came together (price, availability, desire, etc.) and I purchesd the vehicle with little forethought. My first reaction was a bit of buyers remorse because of downsizing from a sedan and that I already own a convertable. After the first week however, this has become my primary vehicle and I love to drive it. The styling is great and the performance exceptional. My only complaint is the lack of amenities unless you puchase a vehicle with factory Navigation, phone, etc. all of my Audis have more interior bang for the buck. MB should work on this.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Andyd987 - April 1 - 2:00 am

  I wanted somthing somewhat luxurious, sporty, comfortable and partical. This car fills the requirements almost perfectly. My car is a gourgeous bright red 6-spd with the stereo upgrade, heated seats and handlamp washers as the only options. Even after owning the car for a year and one-half, I get almost as many looks as I did in the C3 Corvette I sold to make room in the garage for the Benz. I get 27 MPG highway and 19 MPG mixed, mostly city. My experience with this car has been trouble free. When my 17 year old every day use VW GTI expires this car will replace it and I am sure will last even longer.

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  good but not great - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By da baker - April 1 - 2:00 am

  first MB. not overwhelmed by quality. hit bottom of fender paint off on ordinary curb. should be all rubber under front. temp. controls should be where stereo is access to CD player should be higher. too much road noise on concrete. Milage good even when new. awkward for six two guy to get into. looks sharp. desperate need for pro- tective covers over fog lights. they get broken by rocks quickly and there are no new replacement lenses avail- able anywhere, unbelievable!