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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  nimble big car - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By W T - September 21 - 11:56 pm

  second MB 1st was a S.The E has much better handling,power.Super strong motor. JUST BOUGHT 2007 E 320. Feels slow heavy. Never had any problems other then false computer reads and expensive headlight replacements[xeon] Best car so far better then the 2007. never buy a V 6 again.

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  Buy One - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Wonk - September 21 - 4:16 am

  Beutifull styling, lots of torque so this car is fast - and Im getting 34 MPG. Excellent handling on narrow rual roads that we drive in TN; love the electronic manual shifting. Most dealers order without many options, but many features (i.e. navigation) can be added by the dealer.

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  Your Personal Adrenalin Pump - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Mpyles - September 20 - 10:26 pm

  I wish it were 800 pounds lighter and $30K cheaper. But mostly I wish this car had been on the market when I lived in the rolling hills of Connecticut instead of downtown Chicago. My biggest problem with it has been the urge to rise at 5:00 a.m. on weekends to find a clear roadway worthy of its capabilities. Cars (and Ive had a lot of them) just dont get any more fun than this one. A few -- very few -- beat it in handling or acceleration, but none beats it in cool quotient when you factor in the hard drop top which looks as good up as down. Porsches are Mozart. Bimmers are Mahler. This car is Beethovens 9th.

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  CLK 320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By LARRY S - September 20 - 2:00 am

  OVERALL PRETTY GOOD A LITTLE SLOW IN THE PICK UP FROM STOP

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  Car of My Dreams - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By dlmedeck - September 20 - 2:00 am

  This is the car of my dreams. Purchased it in September - it has been a blast to drive. Everything has worked great - no problems. The engineering is awesome!

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  MB should not have redesigned it - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Dan - September 19 - 4:56 pm

  I purchased this car new and still have it after almost 9 years. I was driving a Dodge Avenger back in 1998 and saw this car on the road. The next day I was at MB dealership and ordered one with every possible option except for ski sack. The 3.2L engine is more than I need but it accelerates smoothly without any delays or gaps until you go above 60. The car is still the best looking vehicle on the road. Too bad MB had to redesign the look of it, I would have bought another one again. Now, I am keeping it. Ive had mostly electrical problems including failed front computer twice and blown bulbs here and there but nothing major. Sometimes the car fails to start on first crank in any weather.

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  Sophisticated Supercar - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Mike - September 19 - 7:46 am

  Unbeatable combination of luxury, performance and practicality. Beautiful but does not attract unwanted attention. Comfortable,quiet and smooth, totally reliable (so far). Easy access to local dealer service (nearest Ferrari, Aston, or Bentley dealer is 100 miles away). Was considering Porsche Turbo but dealer wanted me to make an appointment to drive owners used turbo, rather than the new one I wanted on the lot.

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  The best car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sergey - September 19 - 3:26 am

  This car is the best car that I ever had. I would not change it to any other car except a newer one but the same model. When you drive this you enjoy it. You do not want to stop driving it!

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  Bad buy - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Nomore - September 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought the first edition E430 4 yrs ago. I have nothing but trouble. It seem like I have to take the car in for repair almost every month. Every single light bulbs in the car has been change at least once. Fan belt broke on my way to airport. I wish I bought a Luxus. I will never buy another Mercedes again.

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  Long Legged Tourer - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JeffG - September 18 - 10:00 am

  Even 5 years and 70k this car looks fresh and feels new - great power and a well-balanced solid chassis are certainly the high points of the car. Im still impressed by its capabilities and the outstanding build quality.