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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  Nice Ride at a Price - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Volcalisa - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive been driving MBs for the past 12 years. The C280 is an excellent ride and the MB warranty is very appropriate for a car that seems to have its share of problems. In the past 2 years Ive had 2 problems that had it not been for the warranty would have totally bankrupt me. One is the headgasket (which from what I hear is a common problem in the car) and the other was the gas tank gone bad. MB dealers are great. Awesome service and awesome car. I just wish it was more reliable.

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  ml32001 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By adams2 - July 19 - 2:00 am

  The ML320 has been a great experience for me. This has been my first SUV owned and I have truly enjoyed and still is enjoying this vehicle. It handles very well (sturdy with a safe feeling). It just the perfect size and I can pretty much get around anything. Im like a vehicle with a bit more pick- up and that is my reason for possibly trading and/or selling. Other than that this is one good riding/driving vehicle.

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  DISAPPOINTING - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By NJFL - July 19 - 2:00 am

  This is the second SUV I have owned, and my first MErcedes Benz. Unless I can afford the S500, it will be my last Mercedes Benz. It is a very unreliable as parts that I have never even heard of break down with minimal notice. I have been at the repair shop so often that I know every service agent by first name. THis is a very disappointing car for the mercedes benz logo. It has destroyed almost every degree of respect I have for the brand. This comes close to being the worst item I have ever owned.

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  Enjoying the experience - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By swami-g - July 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Mercedes and I must say that I am impressed. Everything about this car seems solid. The standard features are excellent and the handling is very sporty for a sedan.

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  Perfect Balance of Sports and Luxury - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Alex Siu - July 18 - 9:26 pm

  I have had the car for a while now, and this car is really fun to drive.Lexuss cars are rediculously reliable but theyre not sports cars, they dont have much passion in them. BMW are very sporty by nature, but the interior lacks luxury and the iDrive doesnt help. Audis interior are first rate, but the performance lags behind most of its competitors. The E350 is accelerates smooth and swiftly, and the engine is also extremely responsive. It also incorporates everyday practicality. This interior is absolutely beautiful, Mercedes understands how to incorporate chrome to make the interior look modren and stylish while still retaining the classic Mercedes interior look. Its Just a great car!

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  Love my manual C300! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jaxdeac - July 16 - 1:44 am

  I bought this car used with 49k in June 12 Since then Ive put 16k on it with several long road trips. Until this body style came out, I wanted a BMW 325 as my next car. This is the first car Ive seen that compares with the Beemer in terms of styling. I love the looks of this car. I agree with some comments about the controls. Without the Nav system, you lose some features that other cars offer. However, these are minor issues that do not detract from the joy of driving this car. One negative is the different sized tires. Cant rotate and they wear out fast. I just replaced them. Well see how long they last. This car is great fun to drive and a head turner. No mechanical issues so far.

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  A truly outstanding vehicle - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By George H. Miller - July 15 - 12:40 pm

  The MB R class with a CDI engine is the perfect all around vehicle forany household. It is very large and very comfortable with outstanding fuel economy for its size because the diesel engine. Power and torque are amazing. My wife insists on driving this luxury car for her daily 45 mile commute. She pays for the fuel which averages 25 MPG overall and tops out at 27 with mostly highway travel.

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  Drive it to Love it - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By happyinTexas - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Our first Mercedes replacing a tired Isuzu Rodeo. What a difference! Solid feel and response, while enjoying great engineering and interior fit and finish. You know that in a Mercedes, the German engineers WILL have their way with you, and some of the American frills like temp control, cruise control indicators, decent cup holders, and change on the fly CD player will have been pre thought out and arranged FOR you! Overall, however, a wonderful drive. I make my wife drive it in bad weather, because I know shes safer up high and well surrounded by a good crash cage. I would buy another in a heartbeat!

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  Great car with only 2 design flaws - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By nbrray - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I was one of the first owners of the redesigned C-class. It is a sharp looking car and I get lots of compliments on the style. Mercedes had some original kinks, but they have worked them out.

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  2003 ML350 Limited Edition "Inspiration" - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By garyroseyu - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I previously wrote a glowing review for the 2003 ML320 that I purchased Sept of 2002. Well, just when I thought it couldnt get any better, MB delivers! The "Inspiration" package is a must. What an incredible value for all those upgrades (ML55 grill, ML500 rims, AMG seats w/ Athracite Leather, Chrome Instrument Panel Rings, etc.) I noticable increase in power. The AMG seats are great with add lumbar support and full bolsters. The interior is much more sportier. This is the right choice if you are looking for class and luxury.