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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  not as bad as they say - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By racephotog - July 11 - 2:20 pm

  this is my 2nd ML and if the fact that I bought it after owning a 99 doesnt tell you I think of them nothing will. Use it in my work in the deserts of Nevada and the mountains of Colorasdo. They have been nothing but exactly what one would expect from a Mercedes.

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  Gets better with age - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Happy ML - July 11 - 9:36 am

  Initial experience during the first 4 years of ownership was mixed, in and out of the dealership for various warranty repairs this was offset by the MB loan cars and MB USA extending my warranty for another 4 years. So far, the truck has been trouble free for the last three years. I recommend using ceramic brake pads, it last twice as long. I will likely keep this truck until for a few more years.

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  MERCEDES M-350 SUV - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BSK - July 9 - 2:00 am

  WE CERTAINLY LIKED BUYING THE VEHICLE AT RUSNAK. IT WAS A NON-STRESS EXPERIENCE. THEY WERE WILLING TO DEAL BELOW INVOICE. THE VEHICLE NEEDS A LITTLE MORE HEADROOM. I AM 6-4 AND IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY WIFES CAR AND SHE LOVES IT. IT HAS A LOT OF SAFETY FEATURES THAT SOLE US ON BUYING IT.

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  Just purchased car 4 month ago and PROBLEMS already!!! HELP - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By msbenz1105 - July 3 - 10:26 am

  Im a 1st Mercedes buyer that had my eyes on the r350 since I saw it for the first time 2 yrs ago. I told myself that car will be my next purchase and so i decided to get rid of my 2000 Lexus GS300 that I had for 10 yrs and LOVED and buy the R350. Excited and pleased with my new purchase until about 2 weeks ago. My SRS indicator lit up( and is still on just out of no where), my ac System continue to stay on and blow air after car is off and key out, sometimes dont even turn the ac on and fan still runs?? And now my battery dies everyday. Had to just start it for the last 4 days...Has any one every had any of these problems, please reply back.

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  Help Me! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By AnnS - June 28 - 10:00 am

  Wow, I should have read these reviews before purchasing this car. Started problems after 2 years (when I brought it to Canada and it got daytime running lights). Last 3 months in the shop 5 times, for weeks on end (there now for new engine mounts (2 weeks & counting). Replaced: catalictic converter, engine discs, mass air flow sensor, rate sensor, ignition coil, alternator, etc. Battery went dead, towed in. Embarrassing! UNSAFE, I bought it for the safety & reliability! Has put me & my family in dangerous situations when it stalls!

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  I LOVE my 2015 GLK 350 4 Matic - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Sonja Saunders - June 24 - 2:49 am

  I do wish it had heated seats. Although, I competed a lot of research, I didnt realize my truck didnt come with heated seats.

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  The Essence of Bland Styling - 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Russ - June 16 - 12:03 pm

  This car is amazing in every single category except styling, both in and out. Buttery-Smooth Ride, Excellent Materials and Build, Long Cruising Range (Important for all the interstate driving I do), long list of safety equipment, luxurious cabin and ugly looks in and out. Simply the ugliest vehicle to ever lay eyes on in the world. I would have jumped on the 7-Series in an instant if not for the firm ride, and the A8 lacked the AMG Power I needed. I almost downgraded to a Ford Taurus SHO because of the looks.

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  Disappointed - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By EMD - June 11 - 10:00 am

  After driving a 2000 wagon for 4 years and loving it I ordered a "new" 2004 wagon only to find the interior passenger room much smaller,the second row of seats are not as roomy, knee room tighter,the headroom seems to be lower, the 3rd row jump seat lost 5 inches head room due to the spare under the seat. I did not accept the car. I have been driving a Mercedes for over 40 years.

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  Form over Function - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Matt in Maryland - June 11 - 7:20 am

  I bought this car used from a dealership and quickly realized that I would encounter numerous issues with it. It looks great inside and out but it stops there.I have had so many repairs from the dealer they know which loaner car I like best and I have developed a friendship with one of the CSRs at the dealer. At one point they have my car for over 4 weeks trying to determine an issue and even brought Mb Germany into the mix. I didnt expect a MB to have so many issues...broken climate control unit,steering column,cd player,digital dash display and more.The paint chips and has faded in numerous places and the door seals have dry-rotted making for a very loud ride on the road.Poor form MB!

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  My first Mercedes c 300 sport - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By santosh phadke - June 9 - 6:33 pm

  I am completely excited on delivery of the vehicle. Great handling particularly in snow and ice in Michigan. Performs as per Mercedes standards. It has a big problem which is the security system. I had somebody try to break into my car at night, broke the driver side glass and the alarm of the car did not go off and the tele aid operator tells me it is a passive alarm and it does not go off until the doors have been tried to open. Funny because I think if someone trie to gain access to your car by damaging the window the alarm should go off and as an owner Im surprised with the answer.