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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  Finest car made at any price - bar none - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By landman - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for about 2 1/2 years now and its the finest car ever. Solid car that is extremely fun to drive. The car rockets from 65 MPH to 85 MPH at the press of the accelerator, great for highway cruisin. I have had nothing but regular maintenace costs, no repair bills so far. I would argue that if you like the style of a Mercedes, buy it, it could be the last car you buy for many many years. Besides as for as safety goes you will be keeping you and your family safer in this car than ANY other car at ANY cost. Thats value!!

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  Sleeper cell - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By EDBLNKL - May 12 - 11:03 pm

  Nanananana... Ive got one & the rest of the world is jealous. This is the real zoom zoom. Fastest car Ive ever driven. Passengers noice the speed. Steering is as good as an EVO. Acceleration is somewhat violent and obnoxious as is the speed leveling, but still worth the effort & the money.

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  Wow!! Great SUV!! Very Happy!! - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By markss2 - May 10 - 12:36 am

  My last car was a Cayenne V6. I like the new ML much better. I cant say enough about every aspect of the car and the great dealer, MB of North Olmstead Ohio. You should be willing to travel a long long way to do business with these guys.

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  The Beast - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Vazgen - May 9 - 12:23 am

  I had one of the best expiriences driving the new Mercedes Benz E63. For some reason I just did not find anything wrong with the car for me to say oh they should have done this like this or anything like that. If you like the E55 then youll love the E63. Not only does the car have speed that you need but also the handling that we all seek for. Taking turns at like 40 mph the car sticks to the road like its on railroad tracks. Anyways long story short, if you have the money, this is the car you should get. I am a hundred percent that you will not regret buying this car.

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  Terrific Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Rich Hanson - May 7 - 9:56 pm

  This is my 3rd Mercedes (98 C230, 02 C320) and the best car Ive ever owned, besting 4 BMWs, a SAAB and a Volvo. It is extremely comfortable, especially with the Comfort Package seats. Controls, while still over-engineered, are easier to use than the 02 C320. Handling is great, and performance is just fine. $7,000 for the V-8 is a waste of money.

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  ML-350 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Debhazz - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Great fun to drive and classy style. I chose the Bordeaux Red & really like it as it is not a color I see often. My only complaints are the gas mileage and the rear loading cd player. Impressive vehicle. Plan to keep it many years.

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  E500 Dream - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By bailey - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Performance, especially acceleration is unmatched. Road noise almost non- existant. Interior controls are intuitive and properly placed. Styling continues to turn heads

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  E55 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kevin89 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  ITS A NICE CAR!

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  Fun in a small package! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Panahi - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Eventhough the car looks small on the out side its roomy on the inside. Feels sport when driving and I have had positive feed back on its looks as well. An all around car at resonable price. After all its a Benz.

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  My C320 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mikey - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Much better than my 95 C280, a bit pricey, but worth every penny...especially with the COMAND system.