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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  impressive luxury - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mathew MacDonald - December 29 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love my new Mercedes-Benz. I used to have a BMW 3 series, but this mercedes is much more of a car all around. I love the new sleek and modern styling which is so much more stylish than the BMW 3 series.

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  BEAUTIFUL CAR - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kenny rogers - December 29 - 2:00 am

  BEST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. I love it!! I would reccomend it to anyone. It is a great alternative to the BMW 3 series.

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  beautiful!!!!!! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Barbara Pasqualelli - December 29 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with my Benz the first time I saw it. Its fast, reliable, and very comfortable. I am a business woman who travels often for work, and Ive had no trouble with it. Its great on the highway and has very distinctive styling. I love it.

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  Merging Chrysler Showing in MEBE - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Hank B - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Dangerous Aspect: Unpredictable total hesitation (as if engine stall) when accelerating from stop. Life threatening situation if crossing lanes of oncoming traffic. Uncomfortable Aspects: Smoothness of Ride: Better than a lumber truck. Not as good as a 1981 rear wheel drive MEBE Model 300D Drivers Compartment: Very cramped. Lumbar positioner is essential. Height: Needs more clearance. Head- rattling if not careful entering. Rear Seating: If passenger dont have rheumatism when getting in they will after sitting in rear compartment. Glove compartments: Thats about all they are sized for: Cup holder is useless space clogger.

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  C300 Not Worth It - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Barb Morri - December 27 - 7:10 pm

  At 24K needed a transfer case, at 58K needed a drive shaft. Just got my car back from the drive shaft repair and now coolant level warning light came on and a new grinding sound is coming from underneath the car. My warranty is over August 2017 and Mercedes will not extend the warranty. Im so disappointed Im going back to Lexus. I had 2 Japanese cars before the C300, I put 180K on each of them and between both of them I had to replace only 1 alternator. The alternator was replaced at 170K. Shame on Mercedes for not offering to extent the warranty and stand behind their car. Shame on Mercedes for putting a car on the road with such inferior parts. Never again!!!!

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  Hard decision was the right decision - 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By jn.meyer@hotmail.com - December 27 - 10:12 am

  There are lots of choices in todays marketplace for the person wanting a two seat sports roadster. I ordered my SL 450 on the day that the dealer was allowed to enter orders for the 2017 model year. The homework prior to selecting the SL 450 was many months of soul searching for the right car, and in the end my list of wants played a role in my final selection. I nixed many models and brands because of over budget price and worthiness to be classified as a luxury roadster. My final decision was made on a budgeted amount I was willing to spend, overall styling, interior comfort, entry/exit, technology features, available options, ride quality, how well the engine was matched to the transmission, safety features, trunk space, outward visibility, and industry magazine articles. I have owned 1981 and 2001 Corvettes so I had that American experience behind me and fulfilled that past teenage desire to someday own a Corvette. As part of my research, I also considered and drove the Corvette Z51, the Jaguar F-Type, the Porsche Cayman S, and the Audi TT. They all had entry/exit issues and trunk space issues, and only the Corvette passed the interior comfort, technology, and ride quality test. The final decision became easy because the Sl 450 met my expectations in a luxury Roadster based on the 2016 model year, and automotive journal comments about the 2017 which I found to be accurate. The motor transmission match-up is an absolute joy, and the motor has plenty of torque to make the driver feel that he/she is not being held back by torque lag. I bought the Brilliant Blue, with the Designo Sand interior and Black Ash Trim, and it is a beautiful classic look. It has every option except for the Automatic Body Control and the Upgrade Sound System. The improvements over the 2016 SL 400 made it easy to wait for the 2017 model year. If you want a car that gets lots of looks and thumbs-up, this car pretty much does that. There is enough trunk space with the top closed to satisfy a week trip worth of luggage. With the top down, and the windows/wind screen up, you can easily carry on a conversation at interstate speeds. I own a GL 550, so moving from one to the other is very easy because the controls are very similar. I had concerns about the small video screen, but it has not been an issue. The only thing I had issues with was learning how to pre-set stations for the radio, its awkward and more complicated than it should be, but great to use once the up-to 100 pre-sets are programmed. I would not spend the additional $20,000.00 for the SL 550 unless you have a personal need to have that emblem on your car. The more I drive this car, the more I want to drive this car.

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  i had to exchange my first ml 320!!!!!!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jimC - December 27 - 10:00 am

  There were just too many problems with my first ML320, the computer system got messed up for no reason and shut down my car!!! However, they let me exchange for a brand new one. The second one had no problems.

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  Engineered like no other car... - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By vinsonphd - December 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive enjoyed my E430 from day one. I purchased it in Washington then drove to California later that year. I also drove it from Los Angeles to North Carolina and it was such a fun drive. I drove alone yet felt just as safe in the deserts of New Mexico as I did right here at home in Los Angeles. The car is very fun to drive and really is a superb automobile.

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  Classic Roadster - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By tallyho3 - December 26 - 5:16 pm

  I bought the SL 500 with 32K miles.The car has lots of sex appeal.It is fun to drive and the handling is amazing.I bought the car on E-Bay.The seller under promised and over delivered.The car is all original and the owner had all up to date records.The car draws a lot of smiles of approval.I can see the car as a true classic and the resale potential for price appreciation is definitely there.On a scale of 1-10 its a 91/2.Drive one and youll see what Im talking about.

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  Monster of a car but well balanced - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By oldstocks - December 25 - 7:33 pm

  I bought a used E550 and it is the best car I have ever had - balanced, powerful, smooth, ergonomic, roomy .... love that V8 and cannot ever go back! I have had 3 Mercedes, a Volvo, a BMW (M3), Saab, and several Fords. I have also driven my parents 4 Mercedes. The E550 tops all of them combined. It has 382 horsepower but I get 28 mpg on the highway (25 if I goose it). It looks sedate but keeps up with unwary Porsche and Corvette drivers. Fantastically smooth driver on the interstate with fantastic response for passing. Right now, I am shopping for an convertible (for fun) but cannot find anything as great as my current E550. Maybe an SL550?