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:

• 

  Rating the C240 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bradsrq - September 5 - 4:53 am

  We bought our C240 preowned back in Dec 07. So far, there have been several issues. Cup holder had to be replaced as well as both rear door outside handles. Now there is an issue with catalytic converter. Dealer says it may be defective. Car had 24K miles when we bought it. Now has 28K miles. Love the way the car looks and interior, but not sure about quality. Gas mileage not that great either. We traded in a 99 230 compressor which was a better overall car. Not sure if we would buy Merc Benz again.

• 

  My Benz - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Allen - September 5 - 1:26 am

  I am so surprised at how much I love this car and how peppy it is. Youd never know it was a diesel. It is smooth and holds the road so well. Mileage runs 35 on the road and 27-30 around town. Better than what the hybrids are projecting for Lexus and Toyota.

• 

  Done Right The First Time - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Brent10020 - September 4 - 12:40 pm

  Wanting more room than a sedan and not willing to drive a minivan, this vehicle seems a perfect fit. Truly fun to drive, much more car-like and better performance than any of the sport SUVs currently available

• 

  Dont Buy the Star - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By German Unengineering - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Bought a used ML 320 in good condition. First thing I noticed was the rough ride for a "Luxury SUV." Averaged 12 miles a day since I owned it. The next day after bringing it home had to have the gas gauge fixed. It never read accurately afterwards. Then with less than 29000 miles had to have smog components replaced. Final straw was a "computer module" failure that left me stranded. Wrote to MB, U.S.A and they failed to take accountability for the product they market and sell. Traded it in for a Japanese luxury SUV and will never have anything to do with German engineering built in the U.S.A. MB reputation at an all-time low with this one.

• 

  Honda Civic with a different logo - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By djyohimbe - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Buzz, rattle, clank beep beep "random fault code" clank rattle beep beep creeeeek

• 

  Fantastic Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JSchwartz - September 3 - 10:00 am

  We have had for one month. Combination of city (DC-Baltimore) and highway (I95) driving. Fun to drive, fuel economy is fantastic. This is our 2nd Mercedes and we love it.

• 

  I think we got a lemon - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By gaspasser3 - September 3 - 9:10 am

  Our Gl450 has 70000 miles and the transmission locked up on the highway. Thankfully no one rear ended us. The vehicle is at the dealer and Mercedes is refusing to goodwill the transmission. The car has always been serviced by Mercedes. Cost to fix $8300.00. In addition we have had 3 air compressors go out, cam plugs leak oil, power steering pump replaced and the window trim paint peel off. When you buy Mercedes you expect quality and service, we have had neither. This is our second Mercedes with problems. We have have had BMWs and they very reliable. We will not buy another Mercedes.

• 

  Solid Performance form my ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By RM - September 2 - 8:50 pm

  I bought my ML430 in 04 with 22K miles and some remaining factory warranty. I have had some minor issues but for the most part it has been rock solid. It has used 3 sets of brake pads and a set of rotors over 90K miles. I did have a leak from the power steering pump that required service. The only issue now is that the interior is beginning to show its age. I use this car to tow a race car trailer long distances, it could use a but more power. The Nav system is very dated now but still works OK but there are no data updates anymore. Back seat fold-down system is just plain dumb. Like everybody the glue from the door insulation melts onto the windows on hot days. I still love this car!

• 

  1st Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mel - September 1 - 6:50 am

  I was skeptical to buy a Mercedes, and felt it may be over priced, but it has been worth the money. Compared to other high end manufacturers, Mercedes drivers recieve the best overall performance and feel of a luxury car.

• 

  The ML320 is Dead - Long Live the ML350! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By scottg - August 31 - 2:00 am

  The ML320 is dead -- replaced by the much-improved ML350. I bought the Inspiration Edition and have been very pleased. The upgraded interior has sport seats and better leather, both lifted from the ML55 AMG, and wheels and tires from the ML500, which make it handle much better on dry roads than the old M-Class. The new 3.7 liter engine of the ML350 has enough new power and torque to give the M-class new vitality. It also has terrific second-row seats that fold perfectly flat to the height of the load deck. I am very impressed with the quality of the new M-Class Inspiration Edition. It finally drives and feels like a "German-made" Mercedes-Benz.