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 ML500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jims - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Im thoroughly pleased with this vehicle. The SUV provides a comfortable ride and feels safe in all weather. Great and comfortably priced introduction to a Mercedes.

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  Great truck!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By garyroseyu - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I was seriously deciding bewtween a MDX and the ML320. I test drove both and the MDX has great acceleration and it drove like a car. While the ML drove like a truck and lacked the pep off the line. So, why did I buy the ML? Its simply because I wanted to turn heads with a Mercedes. At first I was not sure whether I made the smart choice. However after 2 months I have fallen in love with it. The ML is well designed. One word says it all "SOLID". I have never felt safer in a vehicle. The interior and exterior is absolutely beautiful. Unlike the MDX, as soon as you sit inside the ML luxury immediately comes to mind. I would highly recommend the ML320.

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  Too fun to drive! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rami - October 17 - 7:36 pm

  Ive had my 05 C230 Sport Sedan for about 2 months now and I cant tell you how impressed I am with her. She is sexy, sleek and women love the car! I have about 3k on the car, and it hasnt given me a single problem to complain about. Gas mileage is great, especially because Im a student. The car handles amazing. My brother just got a 2005 Honda S2000 for about the same price as mine, and its not nearly as pratical and 20 times sportier, but the C230 is just as fun to drive. Its the best entry level luxury/sport sedan for me. I got a better price on her then the 325 or the a4, plus everyother person out there has a BMW or Audi. For 30gs my money is more than well spent.

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  Great SUV--but not cheap! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Brad - October 17 - 7:33 am

  We sold a 2006 Pathfinder SE 4x4 for the ML350 4matic. So far, we are extremely pleased with ride quality, comfort and overall ergonomics. The cargo area is plenty big (almost as big as the Pathfinder with the 3rd row folded down), and the standard features are all very nice (well, with Package 1). With options, it came out to nearly $56K MSRP, which is a bit high, considering you can get a comparably equipped and styled MDX or Lexus for a few $$ cheaper. But overall, we are pleased with the styling, performance, and ride...and it has the latest and greatest safety features, which makes me feel comfortable when the wife and kids are out without me.

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  Great Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By smohamme - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This is a superb car with great looks. It handles corners great and has pep.

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  Best Sports Sedan below $70k - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Al S. - October 16 - 10:00 am

  A very together car. Sharp looking, with a very silky smooth engine and transmission. Gobs of torque that comes on low in the power band. I thought I’d miss a clutch but now prefer the speedshift. Not as good as the Ferrari’s but better then Porsche. The C55 has a clean interior with great ergonomics. I tested the CTS-V, its cheap interior, confusing shifter, and wheel hop means it’s still a work in progress. I also tested the M3/M5.The M3 too small, becoming outdated. The M5(02-03)nice but a bit heavy in the handling, however nicer rear seating then the C55. All 3 Germans have great engines though. Tried the S4, not a fan of AWD and the styling is just ok. Interior is comparable to the C55.

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  Far from Fahrvergnügen - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gebrochen - October 16 - 1:56 am

  I bought this car used 2 years ago. In the time I have had it, I have had to replace the windshield wiper motor 3 times. I have had to replace the planetary sun gear. The sensor on the braking system failed and resulted in above average repair cost. The BAS/ASR system failed. The cost of this car has outweighed any pleasure that the turbo, design and features could have offered. It has put me off German cars altogether. Im going back to Japanese!

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  100% Satisfied - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Catbird - October 14 - 8:36 am

  Ive put 28000 miles on my CDI asnd like it more than ever. Fast. Agile, Outstanding mpgs. Very comfortable and feels safe to be in. The car is amazingly handy in the city - it has a very tight turning cirsle and maneuvers beautifully in tight quarters.

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  LOVE THIS BENZ - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By greg - October 13 - 10:43 pm

  Using it for state to state trips and it is a pleasure to drive. It stores quite a bit of cargo with the back seats folded down. The car seems to fit you when you are driving long hours and miles. To be honest I bought it for its looks but when I got it I had to suddenly press it into long distance trips and it excelled. I have had no problems but maybe the tires seem to be wearing out a little early but if that is the only drawback I will gladly by new tires. It is fast and turns on a dime and brakes with the best.

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  I Love This Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pebblebeach - October 13 - 6:00 am

  I was cross-shopping BMW 335i and Audi S4. When I drove the C350, I knew this was the car for me. Sure, its not as fast as either the 335 or S4 but overall it is perfect. Mine has the P2 package, Multimedia package, Panarama sunroof, 18" rims and iPod adapter. There are more audio storage options than I could probably ever fill. The stereo is great and the build quality is fantastic. I love driving this car and everything about it. I have no regrets and do not miss having a BMW. I will keep this car for a long time. Drive it, you wont be disappointed.