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 Best Car Ever - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Ryan Jennings - July 3 - 2:20 am

  I recently bought this new S-class 500 at Atlanta Classic Car and it was my most enjoyable buying experience. Mercedes knows how to treat its consumers right. I love this car it has a strong engine and the technology is amazing. The safety aspect was one of the reasons I bought this car. It has the Pre-Safe system and 8 different airbags. The seats are very confortable and it can make you feel as if you were riding in a limo. Love the Car. If your in the market for a quality and powerful luxary sedan, the Mercedes should be your fist choice. Love this car!

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  BMW convert - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gp - July 1 - 10:56 am

  After 31 years of driving BMWs of one type or another, the iDrive and the exterior design forced me to look at this car. Fast, Fast, Fast. I dont know what in the world could ever replace it for me. An improvement would be a manual 6 speed. Its the first auto tranny I have ever owned. If they could ever get that BMW feel, no one would buy a Bimmer. I will look at the M6 when it comes out, but it going to take a lot to pry my white knuckled hands from this steering wheel. An all grown up luxury hot rod.

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  2003 S Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Hawk1 - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Magnificent car in every respect except reliability!! The vehicle was delivered to me with no refrigerant in the air conditioning system. It required service to charge the system within the first week of ownership. No leaks were detected by the service technician. Seven weeks later the AC failed again. The system maintained the charge, but another component of the AC system failed. Parts are on order but this means another trip to the service department--three within the first two months of ownership.

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  SL500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Kenny G. - July 1 - 10:00 am

  This is the only car...Everything else is a substitute...

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  Tight Handling Safety Features - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Neilpat - June 27 - 4:10 pm

  Really safe and solidly built. Leased 15000 mile contract. Mileage acceptable, sporty and classy compact. Easy to park. Great highway performance. Enjoy driving it.

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  Nice Ride - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Satisfied - June 27 - 4:06 pm

  Drive it and youll likely buy it. It must be the best riding SUV on the market, bar none. Love the Airmatic suspension as it really soaks up the rough roads in PA. Speaking of rough roads, not one rattle. Love that. Have only owned for 1 month, but so far the love affair continues. The 19" Continentals are a bit noisier than the 18" standard Michelins, but this is a very very quiet car. And by car, I mean smooth riding SUV. Very satisfied.

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  excellent - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By thomas park - June 27 - 3:34 pm

  excellent vehicle

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  shaspa - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By sharon spatz - June 27 - 2:03 pm

  Such a solid drive. Extremely comfortable. The quality of the vehicle is so amazing. We feel much safer with this heavy vehicle.

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  Solid Performance - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Veronica - June 26 - 6:26 am

  Great car. Solid performance, gas mileage as stated; zippy acceleration and powerful driving. After an eight-year SUV hiatus away from my last Mercedes, its great to be driving a Mercedes again. I quibble with Edmunds observation about back seat roominess; my husband is 62", and he sat in the back seat for a test drive with no complaints.

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  C280 - More Mercedes than Chrysler - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BeachLawyer - June 25 - 9:26 pm

  Sadly, this will be my last MB for a while. When compared to the new C class, the 99 has been rock solid and reliable. Cant say that for the post 2000 C class. Handles great, good fuel economy, a smart looking, buttoned-up German sport sedan.