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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  The car is tops. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Burns - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I am in love with this car. It is my first Mercedes and wont be the last.

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  R350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Potomac,MD - October 12 - 8:26 pm

  Too bad some missing basics are extra cost options. The MB DVD navation system rates a 1 compare to Lexus which I rate as an 8. I got a great discount for a brand new model. My guess is that with gas prices being as high as they are, this model will be a slow mover. Ride is much firmer than I expected. Again I compare to the Lexus GX470. My wife hates the way it looks from the outside. She loves the interior. These are all first impressions. Im sure well both grow to love this car. BTW, the state of MD registers this "car" as a "truck".

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  Poor quality workmanship for an expensive car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jds70001 - October 12 - 8:08 am

  I bought this car brand new at 0 km, the interior quality wears out very quickly, it is made of poor quality materials. The leather seats are poorly sewn and has ripped on me after 3 years of usage. My car stereo has had problems, sometimes it turns on, other times it doesnt even turn on, it is very randomly as to when it works. Most of the issues I have been encountering has been RIGHT after the warranty expiration of 3 years. I have had older cars made by Honda and Acura that have lasted longer and have kept their quality. I would not recommend a mercedez benz if you are looking for a luxury high end, it is not worth the price.

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  2007 S 550 Special Order Delivered Nov 06 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By tedley - October 10 - 5:20 pm

  I ordered the Car in August of 06 and took delivery in November 06. I currently have over 160000 miles and have done all of the suggested maintance at the dealer. I have replaced items due to normal use but only had to repair one window that would not roll down and replace the Sirius portion of the radio. This is my first S class and I hope not my last. It still drives better that ANY car I have ever owned.

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  Stepping up to a Mercedes Benz - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By J Olson - October 10 - 6:09 am

  Love the boxy look and full window viewing of this model SUV. Its offers a comfy ride. Love it!

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  I hate fake leather - 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By Monica Kaufman - October 10 - 1:49 am

  for this amount of money, fake leather is annoying. Also, I know I live in TX but why is it so difficult to find a dark leather interior (I have dogs and teenagers...... light colored interiors are difficult to keep clean.... and light pleather doesnt clean well at all) so damned difficult to find.

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  Wind sound - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Carole - October 9 - 3:09 am

  I love my car with two exceptions. There is a constant wind sound inside the vehicle. I took it to be repaired and they advised this a design problem with the vehicle. Told they all sound like this. "Its normal". Also disappointed in the gas mileage performance.

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  great disappointment - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bad car owner - October 8 - 10:00 am

  car is just horrible. i have visited two dealerships and still the car is not up to mercedes or for that matter any other manufacturers standards. problems in all areas; electrical, mechanical, heck the inside door pull came off in my hand.in 25 months have visited dealerships about 14 times. thanks but no thanks for the "fine" service. stay away from this vehicle it really is terrible

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  covertible clk-320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By EAH - October 8 - 10:00 am

  The car is worth the wait for delivery. The German craftmanship is outstanding. The ease of putting the top down is effortless, the best of any convertible I have

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  Love this car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pfweintraub - October 8 - 12:46 am

  I bought my C320 wagon on Ebay and it is one of the best cars Ive ever owned (and Ive had about 30). No problems ever, gas mileage never goes below 20 and even on short trips goes over 25-26mpg. I put Michelin hi end tires on and it corners on rails even on wet pavement. Use premium gas, use Mobil 1, change oil every 5k miles and it will run forever. It was not a cream puff when I got it either.