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:

• 

  NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Never Never Again! - March 17 - 10:00 am

  Mercedes advertises as a luxury vehicle- they should also advertise as dont give a crap customer service!This car is way overpriced.Have been to several dealerships for warranty work and not one of them has ever done a good job.Its the same thing time after time. When I called Mercedes to complain they said that each dealer is independent and that they have no control!What a load of crap! Toyota,Nissan,Honda care-even BMW.We need to get the word out about Mercedes so people will quit buying and the company will be forced to comply with consumers needs.I tried to trade this car in-even with factory warranty no one wants it.Dont buy Mercedes!

• 

  Glam no gutts! - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By Mushi - March 11 - 9:00 pm

  Looked liked a Honda on the inside. Too expensive for what you get. Might as well buy a CRV.

• 

  Hope Im Not Sorry! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Picky Lady - March 3 - 3:03 pm

  After owning two Audi A4s and a BMW I thought I would explore the "competition" in the auto world. I too was "lured" in with the "fantastic deal" and appropriate trade-in on a 2010 C300 4-Matic Sport that I had purchased in late November 2009. I live in Minnesota (which this year has had a lot of snow. So far, I must say that the handling in snow is not what I had expected from a all- wheel drive car. It does not compare at all to the A4 Quattro (much more sure-footed)or my BMW for that matter. MBs back end swerves out (and not at a fast speed!) when turning or cornering in snowy conditions. So far the final verdict is still out, but right now,not very impressed with Mercedes handling.

• 

  Bubba Gump musta made dis un - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Wolfgang - February 25 - 10:00 am

  This is a sad example of a decent brand stuck on a poorly-made SUV. Mine has been in the shop 16 times in the last 12 months: engine mysteriously stalling, broken door handles, window lifters stopped working twice, malfunctioning turn signals, ripped seat covering, sunroof came loose, etc. Even the San Francisco Mercedes dealer (European Motors) is laughing about the quality of this car: "well, you know, it IS a truck made in Alabama after all". So if you want a Mercedes, buy one from Stuttgart.

• 

  No BMW - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Adamcharles - February 13 - 2:00 am

  I own a E500 and it is not worth 60,000 dollars. The inside is cheap looking the braking it elctronic, the engine sounds like a civic and its handling is not the best. It is a nice looking car but I would not reccommend it. I have driven the 2003 540i 6-speed and man is that a nice car, its simple, fast, fun and with the new body work its still up there with the E in looks.

• 

  Brand New E-350 MB- DONT Do IT! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By notafane350 - February 8 - 11:37 am

  I bought a brand new 4Matic E-350 Benz in JAN 2011. The car needs a transmission. I have been fighting with MB USA to just give me an even trade. I now see I paid TOO MUCH for it because they want me to take a $16K negitive equity. Im very dissapointed in the customer service that I have received. I would never recommend anyone purchase an E calss or any other car from MB in Alex, VA. I needed a car with all wheel drive so I traded in my 2002 S-class for the 2011 E-class; BIG mistake. I went back the next day to get my car and they sold it. What does that say? All I want to remedy the situation is a fair trade in. They have offered to pay my notes for 2 months! NOT HAPPY.

• 

  Now Seeking Leagal Advice - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Erwin - February 4 - 7:10 pm

  This vehicle will be going into the shop for the fourth time. I have had numerous problems with this vehicle stalling and ideling rough. I have had issues with the window trim pain peeling off to the EGR Valve being repleced. This vehilce is now becoming a thorn in my side. I only want what I paid for a reliable vehicle which this is not. Save yourself time, money, and most importantly the saftey of your family think before you purchase this vehilce.

• 

  Piece of Junk - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By disappointedguy - February 1 - 11:06 am

  I bought it from my sister with very low mileage and extremely well maintained. Now I refer to this poorly built SUV as a "Piece of Junk!" It is plauged with problems. I have had interior parts falling off and breaking, sun roof deflectors broke and looking at the cheap plastic used in the build really disappointed me. Then the brake fluid drum breaks. Makes funny noises when driving and recently jerks badly when stopping at a light. Now a paint sealant or something seems to be peeling off at the back and dealer wants $500 a pop since I have run out of warranty! If anybody is intrested in filing a law suit, please count me in!

• 

  The Last Days of Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Richard E. Savoy - January 28 - 2:03 am

  The E350 is chintzy. It manfiests the dreadful consequences of the abominable decision MB made in the early 1990s consciously to debase the quality of the fine automobiles on whose splendid engineering and construction MBs century-old reputation had been built. Those of us who knew the quality that once epitomized MB can tell the difference with but a moments inpsection. The car has 2 batteries to support needless electronic junk; one battery has already failed. There is a bicycle spare tire. The barely used radio produces an echo sounding like crows cawing in the background. Just touching the "bumper" to a sleeping cat can cost $300. The Mercedes Benz we knew belongs to the ages.

• 

  2017 Mercedes Benz E300 - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ed - January 26 - 11:46 am

  Ive had quite a few E Class Mercedes, but just tested the new 2017 and wont consider it. It is only available with a tiny, 2.0 litre 4 cylinder, about half the size of the prior E Class models sold in the US. If you are not a car person this might be ok, but Im interested in the mechanical side of the car and this one is a loser! Under hard acceleration the car is "screaming" under the load. While MB is trying to trick customers by added two speeds to the tranny, you cant disguise the characteristics of the 4 cylinder. Open the hood, it makes the typical 4 cylinder noise. If I wanted a car with a tiny standard engine (no options) then why not get a Hyundai Excel or similar? There are AMG models coming, but only with the so called "sport" styling which is anathema to MB purists, not too mention who needs that much horsepower. A 300 HP six like Audi or BMW offer, in addition to their 4 cylinder offerings is fine. A smooth refined 6 is appropriate in a car in this class. I am aware that in Europe small engines are the norm, even in the E Class, but at least you can get a diesel that is better than the 2.0 "mouse motor". If you like cars, Id steer clear of the 2017 E Class. Wonder what compromises MB thought they were making to make this engine mandatory. One more thing, its a gas hog also. 24 mpg rating, my E350 with 61 HP more and faster acceleration gets 23 mpg, So what benefit does the buyer get to live with a new E class thats noisier and slower than the outgoing model? One mpg! Not a good trade off in my opinion.