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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  Xjagowner - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Howard - February 17 - 6:53 pm

  For a cabriolet its a great car compared to my 2001 XK8. Easy to drive nice ride, decent visibilty with top up. Only one cupholder drives my wife crazy.

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  Comfort and luxury - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By David - February 17 - 5:05 am

  By far this is the most comfortable Mercedes I have owned. Beautiful interior that no cars can match. Much more leg room in the rear than the GL550.

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  My First Luxury-Sports High Performance - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By My FIRST BENZ - February 15 - 6:06 pm

  This car was a fleet car owned by a company for their top executives and has been taken car of extremely well! The car has no dents, scratches, looks brand new & drives & runs as if its off the show room floor!

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  Much more fun than expected... - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By markcla - February 15 - 1:17 am

  After reading various car magazine reviews on the CLA250 4Matic, I was a little nervous about taking delivery of my Mountain Gray/Brown leather specially ordered vehicle. After 200 miles in the car, I’m ecstatic! Let me put to rest some of my concerns:

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  Excellent Vehicle for Our Needs - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By RPC - February 15 - 12:53 am

  We had a Mecedes wagon with a rear seat but were looking for a vehicle with a larger interior. We also waited for the 2008 that created a 3 person seat in the second row. This vehicle has been everything my wife has wanted and she can handle its size even in tight locations. She loves to drive it. I happen to like to drive it as well. With all the SUVs on the road and having two younger children, we feel much safer in this vehicle, even over the MB wagon. The long wheel base makes for a very smooth drive and ride (even in the 3rd seat that two adults can sit comfortably in). This is definitely a vehicle worth test driving! It will make you strongly consider it as a purchase option.

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  FAILURE OF IMPLIED WARRANTY - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By asg - February 13 - 10:00 am

  2003 PUCHAASED 2/2003 FROM DAVID MICHAEL MOTORS. oRDERED CAR WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM "PREWIRING" FOR RETROFIT WHEN NEW SYSTEM BECAME AVAILABLE IN SPRING OR SUMMER 2003. LEARNED THAT MB HAS DECIDED NOT TO RETROFIT 2003 CAR WITH NAV SYSTEM AND THAT CUSTOMERS WHO ORDERED WITH THIS INTENT ARE "JUST OUT OF LUCK. DEALER CLAIMS, " NOT HIS FAULT" IT MERECEDES BENZ DECISION. IS THIS WORLD CLASS SERVICE FROM A PREMIUM AUTOMAKER OR MORE LIKE CHRYSLER CORPORATION 198090.? bE cAREFUL OF PROMISED WITH MB AND GET IT WRITING. HAS ANYONE HAD A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION? NO LOW END TORQUE. CAVBEAT EMPTOR=

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  The Ultimate Driving Machine... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Michael R. - February 13 - 10:00 am

  When compared to the outgoing BMW 530i, the MB is a clear winner, with better comfort, similar performance, nicer cabin, and a much more modern chassis and drivetrain. The optional Sport package on the E320 includes the Airmatic suspension which is phenomenal. A real engineering achievement, it provides unbelievable good ride, while keeping the car flat and tight in corners. The Sport interior is also beautiful. Judging by the pictures, BMW has taken a real step back with their design of the new 5 Series interior. It is less clean looking, has too many "bumps" and curves and the switchgear looks scattered.

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  Worth the wait. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By K.T. - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Beautiful car. A great looker, smooth ride, and effortless driving. All the traits that one would want in a luxery auto.

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  2009 ML-350 - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Will - February 13 - 9:46 am

  Ive had the ML-350 for 4 weeks now with 1000 miles, performance is acceptable. I have been disappointed with the car. Few days after owning the vehicle, started the vehicle in garage, noticed two problems, 1. white smokes (only happened once). 2. Notice an engine knocks on cold start (listen carefully- make sure radio is off). Squeals noise coming from steering column and passenger driver. Drive Seat moves (under my knee) during acceleration. Rough idle. More wind noise than my Ford SUV.

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  I Love m=My Mercedes M Class - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By maryhamiltonhoward - February 11 - 9:26 am

  I just took delivery of my ML 350 the other day and I can not drive it enough. I prefer to be in my car over anywhere else. I recearched the entire Luxury class SUV collection and after test driving them all and researching them all on the Internet and after getting advice from those I really trust, I bought this car, trading in my 2004 Lexus RX 350. I loved the Lexus but had some difficulty in snow on my very difficult driveway in the northeast.However I watched for 2 years as my husbands EClass 4-matic traveled both up and down our snow covered drive without so much as a blip! And so,decided after careful, considered study to invest in this vehicle. I am so glad I did!