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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  A true fantasy car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By DBERRY - August 2 - 4:16 am

  This car is truly a dream car. Superior acceleration, Awesome exterior. My wife loves it so much she has decided to get the SL65 by January 2006. Imagined being the best looking car on the road(exception DB9), and the fastest car around(Bar None). The guys running the nitro will need a lot more than that to keep up. If you have the duckies, this car is worth the money, although I have had a few minor problems with the computers. But the positive outweighs the negative by far.

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  GREAT G500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By DM11366 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  AWSOME GO ANYWHERE DO ALL VEHICLE, BEST 4 WHEEL DRIVE OF THEM ALL!!!!!!!!

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  Fun in the Sun - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Lindaellen - August 2 - 2:00 am

  I had a CLK coupe prior, and this is a wonderful improvement! It handles like a dream, and feels great to be in. Its very comfortable, and roomier than the prior version. People are always giving compliments are coming over to take a closer look. I do suggest getting the power trunk closer, as the trunk lid is more difficult to handle than its predessor.

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  my opinion of my CL500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By D. Herbert - August 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a beautiful car. Unfortunatly bugs are always popping up. The most recent problems have been with the electric seats and windows not working. One time the car completely shut itself down due to a electrical problem.

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  Pegs critique - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By peg west - August 2 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 that I recently purchased is the 6th SL that Ive owned.. I love it!

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  My E350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gerald Netkin - July 31 - 2:53 pm

  This car exceeds my expectations for comfort, performance, and reliability. The 7 speed auto provides great power at any rpm. The 6 cyl engine provides great fuel economy. The car has that solid German feel while remaining comfortable. I especially like the semi active suspension with its three settings. I feel safe when im driving this car.

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  My Mercedes nightmare!! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Frank - July 31 - 10:36 am

  Im the second owner of this amazing e550, let me say its a head turner. However after months after buying the car I started to notice a "malfunction" light indicating a car with a lift symbol. Never thought much seeing how it came on and went away. After a few weeks it started to come on daily. I then noticed the car dropped about an inch!! The airmatic was broken!! The rear was on the ground! I brought it to Mercedes they told me over 3800.00 to repair the rear airbags and compressor!!! What a joke. Who builds a car on air suspension?!?!? It will always fail. Mercedes needs to recall this! Beware buyers. After 40k you will have to replace this! Go buy a c class youll be better off.....

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  2002 - 320 CLK - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By CBP - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This is the one of the best buys Mercedes offers. The car is extremely well built and drives smoothly. My gas mileage in combined city/highway traffic is 25 mpg. The car is nimble and quick and looks great. Resale value after 5 years will be almost $26,000.

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  sweetness - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sweetness233 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Its a miracle I love this car!!!!! I never thought that I would be able to afford a mercedes untill the C230 came out. this is one of the best deales around!!!!!!

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  I am smitten! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob Dixon - July 30 - 8:36 pm

  I am smitten! Having owned the Mercedes 350 coupe for just one day now my thoughts run to how much a pleasure it is to drive. The supple ride, the wonderful handling, and quiet power, all lead me to praise this car way beyond anything I have ever owned. My concern about leaving my Solara behind have melted into the expectations of getting the car out on the open road and enjoying the touring experience. I am constantly surprised at the little driver friendly touches I find as I move along. Does this car actually make you younger or just feel younger?