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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  CL63 AMG - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By LG - June 10 - 7:50 am

  Phenomenal car. A beast to drive. Driving stability is incredible thanks to ABC. The front is aggresive and the rear tends to grow on you after a while.

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  S-500 Solid, Reliable, Fun to Drive - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Brent Johnson - June 10 - 2:56 am

  This is the 6th S body I have owned in the last 3 years. Great car!

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  Happy-Despite the Break DOWN - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MzDoubleR - June 6 - 11:13 am

  Overall the car is nice, I just purchased the vehicle less than a week and it cut off on me, now I do have a loaner, but why should a brand new car cut off especially on the highway. I think actually the new cars are too loaded with the new space age devices, which probably caused my car to cut off. I still love the car though, but Im hoping I dont go through the horror stories that has been issued pertaining to the other models.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By TNTPALMBEACH - June 4 - 9:26 pm

  I have had 4 Mercedes Benz vehicle in the last 10 years ( C280 Sport, E350 Sport, C230, R500 AMG) This is a great little luxury sport sedan. Very German like, great handling, looks, quiet, bulid quality is superb, Harman Kardon sound system is fantastic. I like my new little toy very much.

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  Terrific - 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Hank Goldstein - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my 1996 320 SL for for 4 years and 20,000 miles. I have never been more pleased with a car. Performance, reliability, etc. are superior. It gets 24 mpg. and is serviced by an after market shop. If I ever sell it, I will buy another.

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  Saw it. Fell in love. Still in love! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Another_af_chick - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE my GLK! After purchase and p/u in Stuttgart, Germany, was even more impressed with the customer service provided by MB! I relocated (military) to Alaska, and it handles SO WELL up here in the Arctic terrain/snow/ice. The ride is comfortable and safe! The quality of the build is exceptional and feels "solid." The remote latching system is wonderful when your hands are full. Vehicle is reliable, in which i look for here in -40 to -60 degree weather. Impressed that not even ONE hairline surface scratch has developed after 20+ washings! The ceramic coat paint job makes the difference! Remember that properly maintained vehicles last a lifetime! That is out of MBs Hands!

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  Amazing - 2011 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jay - June 2 - 10:00 am

  Many improvements and changes since my 02 ML-320. Averaging 28.4 mpg combined driving for first 1400 miles. For highway driving- 29.7 mpg. GPS shows where ULSD Diesel stations are located. Good safety features- Transmission will go to park (P) if you open the door. Doors have reflectors so if the door is open in dark, will reflect when hit by other light source. Actually is lighter than 02 ML, and a little longer. Very well done.

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  Forever Mercedes-Benz - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By foreverbenz - June 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is a rolling bank vault. When you close the door you hear the wonderful thunk. I never noticed the C-class before. Just the feeling of security makes the car. Other than that what else is there not to like about this car? It handles on rails; the steering is well balanced and the brakes are superb. The transmission is also extremely smooth. I wouldnt necessarily can this car a "rocket-ship" but it does pack quite a punch. The most important message Im trying to convey is just to test it for yourself. The BMW 3-series may have a little bit of better handling but in my opinion the interior is cheap-looking. Overall, the C cannot be beat on style, comfort, and safety.

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  Thanks Rudolf - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By andrew - June 1 - 2:43 am

  Bought my 95 E300D in Jan of 07 with 282,000 miles on it and 1" Benz 430 wheels with a spare in the trunk. I have put almost 20k more on it with 12K+ using Biodiesel B99/B100. On the Bio, this car is as quiet and smooth as a Corolla. It is also great with an Elsbett veggie oil kit. Plus, in LA stop and go, the car averages 25-27mpg, which is almost the same as my wifes 2000 Corolla. This car is a solid as they come. I hope that it never gets totaled.

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  Great Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Don O - May 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car that is just as quiet as any hardtop when the top is up and wonderful with the top down. The electronics are a little over the top and the car should be about $15K less however then more people would have them.