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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  substitute for a BMW?? - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ITR driver - September 14 - 2:43 am

  I test drove BMW 335i before settle with MB C300 sport. I bought it because of good discount from factory + dealer. It is a well built car, not as fast as the BMW, and handling is just as good as BMW providing you are not on a track. I do feel the throttle response is slow! so is the Automatic transmission down shift! It takes about 1-2 sec. from gentle press down the gas pedal to actually see response acceleration. The AT also reluctant to downshift quickly when press the gas pedal deeply. It is ok in regular driving but will be a different story if try to avoid an accident or quick lane change.

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  G 500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By cmdierickx - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I love the G500!!! It is the most fun truck to drive. I agree it is a little hard to drive (makes it more fun), and its noisy (even more fun), but the feel that you have behind the wheel is awsome. I can drive anywhere and climb on almost anything without any problems.

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  CL 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By cmdierickx - September 14 - 2:00 am

  The most awsome car on the planet to drive. A sport car that can seat the whole family (if you have a family of 4:-)

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  SL500 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Robert Reese - September 14 - 2:00 am

  The SL500 is a dream vehicle. The power to weight ratio makes it a thrill to drive. Although it is a sports car it drives like a touring sedan. I can drive for hours and not feel tired of driving, like in others vehicles I have driven. It is a stylish vehicle that always turns heads. The engineering of the vehicle never ceases to amaze me. The only drawback has been the storage of the hardtop while not in use (9 months in New Orleans). The design engineers have corrected that in 2002, but I still love the body style of the 1998.

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  sick of it - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sick of it - September 14 - 2:00 am

  at first I was in love with it but after about 5/6 months things started to go wrong..the window switch broke twice,the sunroof would not close, the tires were losing air ALL the time,the driver seat became uncomfortable,the sound system would crap out,the lights would dim,the glove compartment door latch broke twice,the cup holders are a joke, and when it comes down to performance, I always feel "uneasy" when driving on a parkway at high speeds and turning..fells like it might tip..handles GREAT in the snow though, but crappy in the rain..seems very "delicate" and minor repairs are very expensive.I simply can not wait to get rid of it.

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  What has happened to Mercedes Benz? - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Disappointed-One - September 14 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this vehicle in 2003 with 19,000 miles with the intention of keeping it for 10 years. It was in the Mercedes certified used car program. In the 8 months we owned the vehicle, it was in the shop 5 times for a wide variety of reasons, including a failed instrument cluster, windshield washer tank failure, numerous electrical issues and repeated "Check Engine" alerts. I cannot express how disappointed we have been with this Mercedes-Benz. This was the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Buyers beware -- this is not your fathers Mercedes; its a disgustingly expensive vehicle that does not live up to the Mercedes brand and reputation.

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  Pocket Rocket - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By gajeffo - September 14 - 1:43 am

  Well Im still OK with this car. Just put new tires on it, Toyo Proxys, and it seems to have gotten rid of the road noise. The Dunlops stink! They just seem to be way too soft and as they got some age on them the ride was terrible, bouncing and swaying everywhere. This car has had zero problems mechanically and the dealership replaced the 2 back side panels as the clearcoat was coming off. (each side of the rear glass) I still think that for the money Mercedes could put a little more into this vehicle. ie: lumbar, power tilt and telescopic wheel. But go see if your Lexus can move like this!

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  Love it! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By raj - September 13 - 1:00 pm

  I love the driving this vehicle. Definitely the new generation of SUV from MB. I like the classic design (means wont be out of fashion). Impressive torque, and of course all the bells and whistles which step-up to the standards.

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  ML gets bad rap by reviewers - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Robert - September 12 - 7:50 am

  Great performance...this is my third ML...first one bought in 1998.. second in 1999....great improvements since first introduced...I get better gas mileage than listed by ratings... 350 engine is great.. great highway vehicle...I have put over 350000 miles on three MLs since 1998

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  Wow!! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MBat40 - September 11 - 9:16 pm

  I only have about 900 miles on this SUV so far, but its been the best 900 miles Ive ever driven. Granted, I traded in my 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 104,00 miles on it, but still, what a difference. Its like going from sitting in coach to first class. I look forward to driving it everyday. Its such a smooth and solid ride you have to be impressed. Its a much more luxurious ride than the BMW X5 I test drove, which was fun and sporty, but not the comfort I was looking for. Its hard to comment on reliability with only 900 miles on it, but so far so good.