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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  Beware of the 1st year - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MB Guy - February 1 - 2:00 am

  These cars look great and make a nice statement. But the quality is down from previous years. These cars used to drive like a tank but now they are more mainstream. This could be good for some folks but not for old MBZ people. My Lexus was superior in many ways when it came down to it. The service at Mercedes Benz is not as good as the service at Lexus.

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  E-500 Wagon tires - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rassr - January 29 - 6:23 am

  This is a superb touring vehicle with comfort, and all-around good performance. Original tires, Continental ContiTouring, were a problem. The rear tires had little wear left on them at 7000 miles, the fronts would have lasted a little longer. Upon complaining, MB service dept told me they were a high performance tire with a very soft compound. I think they were unsuitable for 98 per cent of the users who purchase this car. Advice if buying this vehicle? Look at the DOT rating stamped on the sidewall. Anything less than 400 ask for a different tire. I replaced them with Bridgestone Potenzas with a 50,000 mile treadwear warranty. Theres no difference in ride, comfort or handling.

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  e320 convertible - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gk - January 29 - 2:00 am

  EXCELLENT!

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  2003 CLK55 AMG - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Robert - January 28 - 12:03 pm

  Car is exceptional. I bought it used with 36000 miles on it in October 2007; it now has just over 42,000 miles on it. Car handles like a dream and corners like it is on rails, even at high speeds. Very fun to drive not to mention my wife and I both get lots of looks (not because we are weird looking either). My next car will be without a doubt a Mercedes. The power and acceleration offered with the AMG engine is awewsome. We have never lost a race at a stop light yet, even against a BMW M class. Mileage is not too good, even when driving normally. Averages around 14 or 15. Am taking it on a road trip this weekend.

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  A Dangerous Beast on the road. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By charles - January 27 - 3:40 pm

  I dont know what others are talking about when they give bad reviews about the CLK 500. Maybe they just bought one that had not been taken care of. My CLK 500 hurts a lot of drivers feelings on the interstate. The power is awesome and the luxury features meet the standard. However there is the cheap plastic trim above the door that evryone talks about, but you show me a perfect car with no deficiencies. My car has 19 chrome wheels with 265/30s in the rear & 235/35 in the front. It definitely looks intimidating. It almost takes the fastest 5-series BMW to make me sweat a little.

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  C230 Kompressor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jake1969 - January 25 - 9:33 am

  The Benz has handled well in all driving conditions. The OEM tires from Continental were the only disappointment performance wise because of the short duration (27000 miles). Otherwise, awesome for a 4 cyl.

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  My First Benz - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MKTurismo - January 25 - 7:46 am

  Ive owned nothing but domestics up until this point and I more than likely will never go back. This is my first Mercedes, bought it for $5k cash and it was a steal because it has had one owner (middle age woman), and is immaculate. Theirs 172k miles on the odo and Ive had not a single problem from her. Still rides smooth and quiet and no rattles or squeaks in the interior. Parts are cheaper than most people expect. I just changed front inner and outer bearings and seals on both sides in the front and only spent $60. Doors still slam solid no loose door panels and squeaking hinges like Ive experienced from domestics. Has enough power for the daily commute, amazing stability at top speed!

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  Fair is Fair - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By FairJudging - January 25 - 2:00 am

  Performance is loud but with manners. Overall comfort is good, but rear seats are a bit too firm. At first, the car seems to loud and harsh for its brand. After a while, though, things becomes right and everytihng feels very good; it becomes the only car you want to drive. I even find myself driving around just for the heck of it. I love the car to death now. Nonetheless, there is always small problems happening to the car.

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  18 mos and still luvn it! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Merl - January 25 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Would own two so we dont have to share. Car was delivered 7/02 and we have had no problems. Best decision Ive ever made. Love the Aegean Blue color. There is plenty of truck space - Two sets of clubs, four pairs of golf shoes, a suit bag and a duffle bag - AND put the top down! Who says there is not enough truck space. Also purchased the SL suit case that fits on the back shelf with its own seat belts. Looks fast standing still! Handles great at 130.

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  Worst benz ever - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MLHater - January 24 - 10:00 am

  When this vehicle came out, I was intrigued by its unique skin and the cache of the three pointed star. After being on a waiting list for almost a month, I bought the dealers demo vehicle for a reasonable price. The car performed well except for an annoying driveline rattle. I took it to the dealer, but they could not fix it. Annoyed and late for a meeting, I merged onto the interstate only to find that the car would not shift out of second gear. IT NEEDED A NEW transmission with less than 10000 miles, this was unacceptable. I traded it for an RX300 and have had no problems.