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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  Mercedes Benz C230K "Car of the Year" - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jigga - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I love my C230K. I have the Alabaster White w/ leather interior and moonroof. The car handles real well and I love the power for such a small car. It accelerates like a champion. The only complaint that I have is the stock tape deck. Whos idea was it to make this stock? Why didnt they throw in a CD player?

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  MBZ 2002- C 320 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By WHALER - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Attention to detail is excellent as is the layout and comfort features. Finish and fit is flawless. Bose sound system is without peer and the CD player works well. Layout of controls a little different and take getting used to,but once you are used to their placement they are convenient and make a lot of sense. Car is consistant with MB reputation and quality.

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  Best in Class - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Joel - October 30 - 3:59 am

  Superior styling, excellent technology, spacious interior, seats and ride more comfortable than prior E class, dont even notice the change from 6 to 4 cylinder in everyday driving but notice the mpg improvement. The only negatives I have noticed to date is the electric brake release can be glitchy and exterior noise.

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  Just bought this in Silver (S430 4Matic) - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By johnmassaria - October 30 - 3:01 am

  I will be taking her home on Monday. The car has 29,000 miles on it and all I can say after all the crap my family has gone through for 7 years, this car is a blessing. My we enjoy it in good health and may the car always come though for us. So far it is crazy awesome. Previous cars I have owned new were: 1994 300ZX 2 seater with T-Tops, 2001 Audi A6Q 3.2 , 2006 Audi A6Q 3.2, 2009 BMW 328XI. This will be the first time I have bought a used vehicle in 18 years. So far so good, will follow up with real review as I drive it more.... :)

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  Great used car! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By 34 yo father of 3 - October 29 - 8:50 pm

  Compared to a used 2004 2D BMW 325Ci 5- speed coupe with similar mileage and my previous 4D BMW 325i auto -- the MB wins hands down: more elegant and classy, while almost as sporty and peppy. Ride is smooth and quiet. Seats are very comfortable for a family of 4. Mileage is terrific considering performance. Put side-by-side, the MB is much more of a head-turner than the BMW. No regrets so far!

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  Great Commuter - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By K RIchart - October 29 - 3:04 pm

  I purchased this car to be a daily commuter for a one hour one way daily commute. I paid about blue-book wholesale price then spent about $2000 to get all service updates. Almost 50K miles later this car has been fantastic. Comfortable, 30MPG and very quiet on the Interstate. It does like to eat tires and due to the front and rear wheel size difference it is expensive to rotate tires. I am really glad I decided to buy this car over a comparable Camry or Accord

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  Overpaid, Underachieved! Dont Buy - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By alleers - October 29 - 1:30 am

  I purchased my GL 320 with 115 miles in May. During the 14 months it was in the shop 25 times for repairs. I had the following items fixed or repaired, DVD, parktronic sensors, new struts, mystery oil lights, battery, computer upgrades, air temp sensor, hatch corrected, would not come out of gear, sideview mirror pivet replaced and this is only part of the list.I called MB to file a complaint for buy back or compensation with NO LUCK.Several attorneys said they will not deal with MB because they dont recognize they make lemons. We took a loss to get out of this car and avoid lawsuit. BTW, maintenance is $450 and tires are $1200. Tires last 15,000 miles. Look around at other cars before buying

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  Good ML - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By happy - October 27 - 9:40 pm

  I bought this SUV as a second hand from the MB dealer in Vancouver Canada. When got car it had 10000 km ,the car works pretty good till now i drove about 30000 km in 8 months , it never let me down .

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  Mercedes Money Pit - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By or_cagirl - October 27 - 3:21 pm

  I bought this wagon in Portland from a European used car dealership a few years ago. It only had 105 thousand miles, interior and exterior in great condition. My previous car was a 91 Volvo wagon and lasted 20 years but with teens being over 62, the Mercedes wagon has more leg room than the Volvos. Car ran well for the first year, then the mechanical problems started one after another. The cost for just an oil change is minimum $200.00. I paid $6000.00 for the car in 2010. Since then I have put over $10.000 into it in repairs. I spent less on my Volvo in the 20 years I owned it. I love the room of the E320 but the cost has been a nightmare. Caution before you buy!!!!

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  AWESOME SUV. - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By NKDOWN - October 27 - 10:00 am

  By far the coolest car Ive owned. If your looking for something different, something that turns heads and is a solid car, this is the car for you.