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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  Benz is back! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By JimG - July 26 - 8:06 pm

  This car is absolutely stunning, and with the seven speed transmission, 302 HP feels like 402! Less than 6 sec. to 60 in a first class luxury sedan is nothing to sneeze at. The build quality feels superb like previous generation Benzes when engineering came first and the price was set as an afterthought. Anyone looking at this level will be impressed with this car...if they can find one to see and drive. This makes my 7th Benz in 13 years and it is without question the best of the batch including my vaunted 92 S class. No car is perfect, but for me, this one comes very close.

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  Superman of cars - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By van001 - July 26 - 11:43 am

  Very stealthy by looks. Looks like another C class on the block but when you press hard on gas it becomes super car ;) . I like its underdog appearance which does not attract attention everywhere I go but folks who knows about AMG and see quad exhausts, they know its a beast. Gives the feeling of a race car when you need, comfy compact 4 seater rest of the time. Wifey get 22.5 mpg and I get 16. So it keeps everyone happy.

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  CLK 500 Convertible - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Mike Parker - July 26 - 9:13 am

  Of the 35 cars that I have bought new in 6 countries and on 4 continents this is by far the worst experience that I have ever had. I strongly suggest that you keep away from the CLK 500 as I have had nothing but problems in too many respects that there is space to advise. The car is an absolute lemon and is being returned to Mercedes Benz. Be warned, the looks are good and that is where it all ends.

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  German engineering with a bit of fun - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rick - July 24 - 10:10 am

  When you buy a C 300,or a 328, or A4, youre buying a good German engineered automobile that delivers sporty and capable driving dynamics without being a performance car, enough features to please most drivers but no luxury amenities (unless you add optionals that will shoot up the price), and comprehensive maintenance/service (every 10k miles or so). Its a very good car that makes me look forward to the E550 or E63 AMG.

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  Nirvana - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Amer - July 23 - 1:43 pm

  This car is fast and fun to drive. It offers race-car speed and handling with four-door sedan comfort. The steering is not BMW-tight, but in the sports mode it makes a pretty close approximation. The car has a bunch of add-ons which should have been standard in a 90000+ dollar car(final cost). I did not like the styling changes with the new 5- series so the M5 was not an alternative I felt worth exploring. The AMG styling changes make this car standout. I am completely satisfied with driving experience and the seats are amazing. Im 6 5" and my wife is 50". We both have found comfortable seating positions

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  I Love my ML350 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ch6168 - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I love my SUV. Its roomy, comfortable, sits high. I test drove the car also, but the SUV seemed to fit better. The heated seats are great. Im looking forward to driving it in our New England winters.

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  What women over 50 think - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jkp - July 22 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive. Great handling with tight turns. Significant blind spot with top up but when its down, what a rush. The excelleration is exceptional and the ride is so smooth with higher speeds. Limited trunk space but can do overnighters without a problem. Comfortable even on longer drives.

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  Bravo Diesel - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jeff smith - July 20 - 10:56 pm

  I own both the BMW 5 series and this Mercedes 320 CDI. The Mercedes is so much more fun to drive! It has the power of a V8 yet sips fuel. The power matches the extra weight to give you the ride of a larger car. The leather seast are well made. The sound system is the best Ive seen in a Mercedes ever, remember Becker? This will be a great car for many years.

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  Joy to drive, but painful to service. - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JDA - July 20 - 9:40 pm

  Inherited this car while under warranty. This car has beautiful lines, a comfortable interior, and sensational performance. I love to drive it, and I will miss it in three days, when the new owner takes possession...sniffle, sniffle. However, having owned Nissans and Toyotas prior to this vehicle, I have to say, the reliability on this car...not so good. We have had $4,600 of repairs since 2001, mostly electrical, frequently involving window motors - and the car only has 70k. Further, we had to have rear car- seat tethering mounts installed - very expensive on something that should be standard. Electrical issues/ $ repairs outweighed road performance; we switched to an Infiniti.

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  Buy Stock in a Tire Company - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jack - July 20 - 7:46 pm

  My 2005 MB c230 Kompressor so far has been a pretty big disappointment. It only has 16K on it and Ive already had to buy three (3) sets of tires. It chews them up like cheap candy. The dealer has done 2 alignments already and multiple tire balances. The road noise is horrific after only a few thousand miles on each new set. The dealer has NOT been helpful. I try to drive as conservatively as possible but it still chews the tires up. Im considering going back to a BMW. The MB is a nice car but I cant afford to keep buying tires like this. My dealer has been ZERO help. MB has not returned my calls or letters. Guess its time for an attorney. Buyer Beware.