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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  Conquer Everything - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Davids G500 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Incredible machine! It takes a few days to get used to the ride, but after you get used to it, you wont want anything else!

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  My First Benz - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By silverarrow - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I drove a 1977 Buick Regal for 17 years. Put 275000 miles on the original power train. That vehicle allowed me to save enough to purchase the car that I thought was a gorgeous automobile. Love this car. In the 5 years I have owned this automobile, I have lost a left rear window regulator ($100). BUT, if I had it to do over I would seriously look into an A6 (with an 8).

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  near-perfect - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By antul - August 14 - 10:00 am

  incomparable safety with flawless engineering makes for a perfect car under $40,000.

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  excellent excellent car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By anjeer - August 14 - 10:00 am

  very good car overall. Definately beats the bimmer 325ci hands down. Good power plenty room, cool cool pano roof and good stopping power

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  Fantastic and fun SL - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By rsab786 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Had a 2002 Silver Arrow - traded it in for this black beauty. It drives like a dream. The only problem I am having is a sqweaky wheel.

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  Fun in the Sun - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Robert Chiu - August 12 - 5:00 pm

  This car is an absolute joy to drive. Its like having 3 cars in one...luxury, sports, and convertible. I couldnt ask for a car that is capable in all 3 areas.

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  Red E350 Cabriolet = Maximun FUN - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By schnooky - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Ive only owned the car the past four days, and WOW, it is really FUN . Having owned many previous convertibles i.e. Valiant, Eldorado, Saab, MB SL-230; this one is the best. It is very smooth, even with the Sport Suspension and 18 inch low profile tires. I have been driving an 09 CLK 350 convertible lately, and this is so superior it is ridicules. Also my recent favorite has been my cousins 09 E-Bluetech, which is also so smooth, but the E350 cabriolet is even better.

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  E350 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By David Zelmon - August 12 - 5:53 am

  Very comfortable. Good pickup. Stylish.

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  not for the mediocre - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Neil Michaels - August 8 - 2:00 am

  If other SUVs promise the Moon, this one gives you the Sun. WOW, Unstoppable...this is definitely the ultimate in SUV comfort. The g-class has a firm feel to it yet does not give up a truly comfortable ride and still lets you know that youre not sliding along in some sedan.

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  what an amazing truck - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By rjoseph - August 8 - 2:00 am

  fun fun fun and lots of attention from the public