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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  Dont miss the point of this vehicle - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Knights_Bridge - January 4 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle gives you everything you want in the "modern day station wagon", also called the SUV, with the snob appeal of a luxury car. Go anywhere - literally - (except low level underground parking garages). A point to be made here is that you are buying this vehicle for what it is, A Mercedes Truck, not for anything else. Comparing the G500 to the new luxury SUVs is a like comparing a Hummer to a Rover... youre buying the Mercedes because of what it is... expensive fun!

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  Close to Perfection - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By benzlover - January 4 - 2:00 am

  After having owned both a Lexus LS400 and a Jaguar XJ8, I have finally found perfection in an automobile. This is quality and luxury at its best!!

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  C230K - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JJ Luranc - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Residual values on Edmunds.com mis- stated - much too low.

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  Best vehcile weve bought so far. - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Chetan Shukla - January 2 - 8:23 pm

  Bought this under the European Delivery Program. Picked it up in Sindelfingen, Germany and drove it first on the Autobahn. Great insurance & service. Loved driving in Europe. Car drives great. Very good and solid road feel. Very comfortable for the front passengers. Rear seats feel a little cramped for knee room. Our kid is in a M-Benz toddler seat (great seat with very nice head rest for sleeping - worth the extra $/Euros) and her feet touch the front seat back all the time. We also got the rear Entertainment system with dual screens, Universal Media Interface (that only gets installed when car arrives in the US at MB preparation center). Panoramic roof is very nice.

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  2005 CLK Cabriolet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MRCLW - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Great driving car. Need a 2005 manual instead of the 2004....Comfort not a main feature, but beautiful handling.

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  Bang for the buck - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Phil40 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  My c240 is a 2002.Great car for the price.An affordable luxury car with a lot of amenities. The c240 runs and rides like cars of a bigger size. The mileage is excellent, as I have attained 23/24 mpg city and a surprising 32 mpg highway. The 240 takes turns and curves with ease and is very smooth. The engine is highly responsive when the demand is put upon it.After owning this car for 2.5 years, it is like getting into a new car every time. Would not hesitate purchasing this product again.

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  Love this Car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By bmarlin475 - January 2 - 3:50 am

  Have owned several BMWs, Jaguars and E class Mercedes and not one comes close to matching quality and the ride of this S500. Quick acceleration. Super quiet at highway speeds and comfortable on long trips. COMAND system is a bit of a pain...

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  If You Can Love A Car-----I DO ! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ralph - January 1 - 12:03 am

  ...This car has no flaws. It is without a doubt the finest car Ive ever driven. I have driven Cadillacs for many years; now that Ive experienced my 2010 E550 I will never own any other car! All the 10s I gave the car ratings are for real. I can not think of anything I would change about the entire car. Driving has become a true pleasure,rather than a means of transportation from point A to point B. If you even think of owning a Mercedes,you owe yourself the courtesy of a test drive! Mine is black W/black leather--what an elegant combination! The aesthetics of this vehicle are endless. Try one and I bet there will be one more Mercedes on the road! Fuel mileage=18/24.

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  Love my 2013 Mercedes E350 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ray Edge - December 31 - 7:50 am

  This is an excellent car. The build and fit are meticulous. The ride, steering and response are top notch. The navigation system is the only criticism I have. It is not touch screen, it will not search for locations by category and the rear view camera does not have guide lines. However, Mercedess MBrace concierge service, for an annual fee, is a great service. In addition, Mercedes does not have the capability of upgrading the camera software to add the guide lines or to improve the nav system.

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  XLNT - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MB4LIFE - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Best car on the road