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 DREAM CAR - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By TROOPER82 - October 21 - 10:00 am

  FUN TO DRIVE, RELIABLE, HANDLES WELL, GREAT LOOKS, EVERY CONVENIENCE-MUCH BETTER THAN PREVIOUS SL SERIES-SAFE, POWERFUL-FRANKLY, JUST A DREAM!

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  CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By james venable - October 21 - 10:00 am

  the main difficulty is that interior door trim is cloth rather than other more durable and more easier cleaned material. the car is in all other respects outstanding

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  Mercedes Benz E320 CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By augthedog - October 21 - 10:00 am

  We bought the new E320 CDI after deciding buying a new car every year was a luxury we could no longer afford. We bought a used 1976 240D in 1999 and had the car for 12 years. It was the most dependable car we ever owned and sold her in 1991 for the down payment for our first house. We always vowed that someday, somehow we would get another Mercedes Diesel and are we glad we waited. This car is amazing truly amazing. Fast, Firm, Quiet, and undeniably a Mercedes. This E320CDI is really a sweet piece of machinery. I have no doubt they sell the 3000 alotment for the US market. I want another one.

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  This is the car to buy! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Art/ La Quinta, CA - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I have owned BMWs before and was just ready to buy another when a friend suggested I check out the C230 Compressor.. Boy am I sure glad I did! Beautiful styling, luxury interior, smooth ride and with the turbo compressor engine, I have more horsepower than a BMW325- but with 33mpgs on the highway and 25 mpgs in the city! The best of all worlds!

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  The Best Car I Ever Bought - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By calvin lahham - October 21 - 9:00 am

  No BMW will compare to this machine. Great performance, good looks, and not many people drive it. So its very special.

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  E55 AMG the best perfomance sedan - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Boli27 - October 21 - 7:20 am

  I have owned BMW M5, Porsche 911 Turbo and I thought they were great. I love the way my new E55 drives, I love how fast it is and how well it handles. I think the 911 Turbo I had was one of the best handling car, but this E55 its up there and it has room for 5. . It is a shame when you have some one pull up to you in a new Corvette and you leave them behind.

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  Love this E250 Luxury model - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By profe9 - October 21 - 5:43 am

  If you can, order the active multi contour drivers seat. It makes driving a real pleasure. The 40 plus mpg highway adds to the experience. Diesels are making quite a resurgence in the states, and for good reason. The suspension on the Luxury truly provides a much smoother ride than the Sport model. I highly recommend it and, at a minimum, try to drive both before you buy. It is becoming more difficult to find this type of "your fathers" luxury car ride. Look no farther than this automobile. Buy one and enjoy the ride!

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  After first year - BEWARE - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jeff C. - October 20 - 5:56 am

  This is a warning to anyone looking for a 2004 or 2005 E320. It is well known in the auto world about the problems with this model and Mercedes in general right now. It is basically an electronic nightmare. Since January of 2004, I have had the following replaced - rear door lock, instrument cluster (in speedometer), brain for the Dynamic Seats, 2- rain sensors, Command Center/GPS, 6 CD-player, brake issues. All of this in 11 months! It is a beautiful car and rides wonderfully and has some neat extras but you really need to think hard before buying this car. This is my first Mercedes and after paying $57,000 I am at a loss for words. Please take my words to heart - BEWARE.

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  What to call the R-Class...Nice! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Rodney - October 20 - 3:46 am

  My wife and I were in the market to replace our Yukon XL 4x4. We were looking at the GMC Arcadia and Buick Enclave when at the time I became aquainted with an R350 at our research lab for vehicle design and repairability review. With all of the safety features this car provided along with the amazing interior room, the R class was just right for my family of 5. I am a first time MB buyer so this may be the last one I buy or the first of many. We are so very pleased with the vehicle. It drives like a cloud. We thought we would miss the Yukon, but those memories are gone. This car provides for all of our needs and then some. We just love this car!

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  Not worth the price - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Not worth it - October 18 - 1:23 pm

  I traded in my 2004 C230K which I loved and thought I was getting a good deal. I was very dissappointed with the performance and quality of this car. Gas mileage is terrible and then was caught of guard by the cost of the schedule maintanance. It used to be included with the price of the car but now you have to pay for it and it is expensive. Then I had to replace the tires at 25,000 miles and they were not cheap, The car is also very sluggish and I had several electrical problems that they couldnt solve. I felt at the price I was paying the quality of the car and the service should have been better. My suggestion buy a BMW you will get better mpg and service is included in the price.