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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  Mecedes Forever - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jon Vattuone - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I can`t believe how this car/truck handles. You can "jam" a tight turn,and it stays with you. No lean at all. I`m getting 20 miles per gallon, or better. It has lots of power!!! I`ve taken it off road several times.It is as sure footed as my Bronco was. I am "blown away" by its performance in every catagory. I`ve been a professional Teamster for over 30YRs. I know Vehicles!!!

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  you pay for quality, not just the name - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Otis723 - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Cant get over how well thought out this car is both in driving terms as well as maintenance. Will own nothing but MB if finances allow. And with used C classes so cheap why not?

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  Best Car Ive owned or driven - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Lloyd Torchio - April 3 - 11:16 pm

  Excellent performance - - 19 to 28 mpg - - stunning looks(black)- - its a head turner, people comment on the vehicle

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  Update to my earlier review - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CarolB - April 3 - 5:40 am

  Now have 6600 miles on the Benz. I still absolutely love to drive it & my overall rating doesnt change. Have found a couple of minor things that could be improved upon. The auto- sensing wipers are not very good. They sometimes come on when there is not any moisture at all. You cannot adjust them other than slow, med, fast and auto. My Toyota had a variable speed ajustment like a dimmer switch that was quite useful. The second item is the nav which doesnt allow anything to be entered while the car is in motion. While I understand this is likely for safety reasons it is aggravating since it prohibits the passenger from making any course adjustments while riding.

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  2005 ML 350 Special Edition - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By moto - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Our 2005 ML350 SUV is great. Love the Special Edition package,navigation system, and park distance option. The interior is roomy. Cant wait to see how it performs in the snow.

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  Simply the best - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By michael georgariou - March 31 - 12:16 pm

  A car I have fallin in love with. When driving it seems the car is an extension of my body. Easy to drive and all controls make sense. The best car Ive ever owned.

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  Good all around Wagon - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ymbz - March 31 - 10:03 am

  I purchased this wagon with 82k on it and now it has around 117k. It has had a few repairs, but nothing truly outrageous. It drives very well, especially at high speeds on the highway. This wagon can take on 85 mph all day. I have averaged about 21 mpg, with about half highway and half city. The 4Matic AWD is truly a dream. One nice touch is the third seat. Its not habitable by adults, but my children think its a novelty to sit in a rear- facing seat. One maintenance item to watch out for: the rear window regulators WILL break, and they are about $400 to replace from the dealer. Try to find a European auto mechanic rather than always bringing it to the dealer.

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  Ole Reliable - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dluvly01 - March 31 - 7:40 am

  Never let me down plan on 1 million miles >

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  The best car Ive ever owned! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Scott Hall - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for just a few weeks now, and every time I drive it it gets better. I had a CLK 430 before this, and the ride is softer, the acceleration and handling better, and the build quality superior to that one. I looked at the Lexus GS430, the BMW 5-series and this and the MB wins hands down. The stereo is awesome and the seats are comfortable yet sporty. Nothing to complain about - just a blast to drive!!!

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  One of the Best Latest Efforts From Benz - 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By 4maticbenz - March 29 - 7:53 pm

  This car has got it all: style, comfort, sportiness, oppulence, neck-snapping performance, build quality that reminds me of 1990s Mercedes, and the safety and security of AWD. I get countless compliments and stares while driving the car and the interior styling is quite impressive as well. Even with the airmatic suspension set in sport mode and the transmission engaged in its sport setting, everything is just buttery smooth. Its truely an outstanding car.