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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  My 2013 Benz E350 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Martha Dieter - October 1 - 8:07 pm

  Great car!

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  The New ML - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dave Richmann - September 28 - 7:10 pm

  This new ML is entirely different than the previous model. It is smooth as glass. With a new unitized body and 7 forward gears, this car has the most car-like ride of any sport utility available today. Performance is surprisingly powerfull. Easy to drive yet rugged when it has to be. This new ML has huge interior space. Makes the RX 330 look like a Tonka-toy when you park next to one.

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  Runs and handles as new - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Just like new - September 28 - 10:30 am

  Although I bought my E320 8 months ago, I do drive it pretty hard, and I drive it often. Even at 54k miles, the car shifts quieter than my 2004 Grand Cherokee and my wifes 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. The city mpg for me is 17 city. The pick-up is fantastic while the handling is great! The interior is simple, but functional. My wife doesnt quite like the seats (she says that they are uncomfortable). The dash cluster is much friendlier than the 2003 BMW 5 series. My mother has a 525 and the steering wheel blocks the dash. I cannot see how fast I am going. Even though I move the steering wheel, the dash cluster is still blocked. I am glad I bought the E320. I favor it over the BMW.

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  First Mercedes - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Pantina-Dick - September 26 - 3:36 pm

  Traded in my 2002 Lexus ES 300 and could not be happier with my decision. Although somewhat smaller than my ES 300, it still offers plenty of room for 5. Innovative styling along with a very comfortable ride add to the driving experience. Car is very quiet and offers smooth highway acceleration.

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  Beauty and power - 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By GreyBeard - September 26 - 1:21 am

  Great smooth ride, the air suspension works. Lots of electronics and features, really too many to comprehend but some are setup you only do once.

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  Review - 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By Ram patla - September 24 - 12:35 pm

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  Sleekest looking sedan on road - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Julian Juster - September 24 - 12:00 pm

  Having recently owned an 03 SL500, an05 CLK55 Cabriolet, and having an 03E320 in the garage, I rate this new model just what I have been dreaming of. Handling, acceleration, interior stereo, rakish looks, and so on! I also owned 2 CL500s and this is such a perfect follow-through.

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  GREAT CAR - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ROBERT - September 24 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS 2002 CLK430 CONVERTIBLE. WHAT A FUN CAR TO DRIVE

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  The car spoiled me - 2013 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Blondell - September 24 - 4:56 am

  The car is very good but watch out for service and labor.

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  Great 2nd owner car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By J Hood - September 24 - 12:43 am

  I purchased this car as a certified preowned car with 24000 miles on it. I have read other owners concerns which I assume have all been addressed during the initial ownership. I have had a fantastic experience with an essentially brand new car for the past 4 mos. Definitely a drivers dream but a pleasure to travel in for 3 other passengers. Slightly challenging to get in and out of but a pleasure to own.