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! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By John - August 25 - 1:17 pm

  Get a warrentee if you buy it used

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  There is nothing else like it ! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By cmm - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Have had absolutely no problems with it, except someone felt they needed my hood ornament more than I did. Replacement cost was 7 bucks and theyve got boxes at the dealership. As for the window dropping on the auto up problem, I called the 1-800 # and they walked me thru a how to correct it with window button. Its actually a choice.

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  50k junk - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bernard doran - August 25 - 10:00 am

  vehicle has been in the shop more times than I care to remember, I bought this for my wife thinking it was the best I could do for her. It really hurts to see what a piece of junk this thing is. She still likes it, but I have grown to hate it. also have a SL500 with 75,000 mi it cost over 6k in repairs last summer as it has continous electrical problems. It appears that MB has no quality. MB shop said to consider what they mean when thay say "engineered like no other" I thought it meant great cars. Bernie Doran Centerburg, Ohio

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  My first and last MB - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By atria - August 25 - 10:00 am

  18m of problems.Many unscheduled visits due but not limited to: xenon lights (x2),cooling reservoir,brakes, brake lights,wipers,ashtray (x3),radio, trip computer. Nav. system/ heat/cool,flawed big time.MB too cheap to authorize a replecement with the DVD based system..If it aint broke (to pieces) dont fix it! Who pays for my wasted pers/profes time? Did not get my moneys worth.My wifes,same age,RX300 has not been back except for an oil change.Ill get rid of it soon and Ill never look back.

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  MB 230 COUPE WITH AUTO - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By baddog5309 - August 25 - 10:00 am

  i have experienced no problems with the Vehicle for the first 5000 miles of ownership combines outstanding performance with great milage and plenty of room inside for a 6.5 footer weighing 240

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  Best Luxury SUV out there - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By John - August 25 - 2:20 am

  We traded in our old ML for this one. We looked at the BMW, Audi, Lexus, Infinity, and Acura (wife wouldnt consider the Denali). This is by far the best vehicle if you plan on using the 3rd row, a real person fits back there. This handles like a big S class. Overall its not too big, not too small, performs beautifully, and fit and finish is as good as it gets. Best luxury SUV out there.

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  MB 2006 CLK 350 Coupe - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Bubba - August 24 - 8:10 pm

  Beautiful car, but I have had to get a new transmission and stability control system in less than a year after purchasing the car new.

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  Best Car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Brett Dunlap - August 24 - 3:53 pm

  Best car ever made, period

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  C-300 Sport Great Value - 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By san356 - August 23 - 11:48 am

  I just turned in my 2010 E350 Coupe for the C300 Sport 4Matic for weather issues. While it doesnt have the speed of the E350 (which of course, it is not meant to), it is spry and actually more fun to drive as the car has no blind spots and you can zip in an out of city traffic with ease. (I am 5 3" and can see over the roof.) I love it!!! Great traction on wet roads and the ECO option and the gas mileage are added benefits. Kept the same Panoramic Roof and stero system as I had in the E350. Couldnt be more pleased. I came from having BMWs and Volvos and Mercedes does it right!!

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  Great But Not Perfect - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By DCapo - August 22 - 10:00 am

  Remember its a baby Benz SUV and not a sports car.But the 20"SportWheelOption/Suspension makes it feel like it could be.Make sure yours comes with the Pirellis and not the Dunlops.The Dunlops wear out twice as fast.Steering may be a little too tight/it fails to re-center smoothly. Engine/Tranny are outstanding.Interior is great up front/too tight in rear.Some interior panels dont line- up well. Get the BiXenon/side illum option if you drive at night. Do get MudFlaps and CargoTray.Ours came std with the CargoCover. Paint does have some orange-peel.Fit on some exterior panels not even and a bit wide for a Benz. RoadHazIns.not worth it. Otherwise this intro Benz SUV is quite stunning...bye!