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 but still unreliable - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Robb - August 16 - 10:13 am

  To purchase a 100+k car, you would think that it would be devoid of cheap plastics. Think again. Im also hearing fluctuations in the engine idle already, and I havent broken 7K miles yet. Yes, its still the status symbol to have, but one that is not as well put together as Id hoped. Im going back to the SC430 before I take an even bigger hit with depreciation. If I listen quietly enough, I can hear the dollar bills dripping under the car.

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  Best Car I have ever owned! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Bret - August 14 - 3:16 am

  Well I must say Mercedes finally came out with an S class I love. I felt the old one was very nice, but rather boxy and plain. I purchased the AMG model and its a stunning looker! They made great lines on this vehicle. I get looks and compliments everywhere I go, and its truly the most comfortable car i have owned. They really designed the car well. I just wish they would get away from i-drive like the BMW 7 series which I lemon lawed before I bought the Mercedes. Its just an unecessary feature and they need to go back to conventional controls.

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  CLK 430 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By frazier - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Excellent styling, great performance, OK value

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  Awesome Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jallopy - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Best 4 cyl ever made. You would never know its a 4 cyl. Even on the hwy at 90 mph, there is little engine noise. Exterior, the car turns heads. Stereo sounds great. Get the upgrade to the 300+ watt. Its worth it. 10 speakers makes all the difference.

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  Very Good SUV - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JT - August 12 - 6:16 am

  The 05 ML500 is the last MB suv I will be buying unless MB improves on the 06 ML and GL. MB cannot afford to build the 05 ML500 at todays material prices, hence the cost cutting measures on the 06 models. My main concern is safety. My wife drives the vechile on the interstate 40 miles each way and if I have to put a little extra money into maitenace in the 05ML its well worth it. A little noise and rattle is small price to safety of a loved one.

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  Long Live the Mercedes Brand....Not!! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By KJ - August 12 - 1:23 am

  Nice looking SUV w/great power and handling. Quality leather interior and sound system. Plenty of room for SUVs in this class. Goes downhill from here. Squeaky brakes that dealer says is s MB problem and they put on free lubricant for 1 yr then you are on your own. Dunlop tires are inferior for a 50k SUV. After 20k miles and a loud ride, dealer says you need new tires and not to replace w/Dunlop. Stiff gas pedal takes a lot to get used to, dealer says they made the cable to short. Dealer nor MB Client Services will stand behind brake/tire issue. Agree with another reivew that MB will be dead in 5 years unless radical changes are made

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  What a car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By sam - August 10 - 11:20 pm

  I had never driven such a car before. Head turning, excellent handling, powerful, beatiful, classy, easy to drive. I own several other cars among them a Ferrari 360 spider. No comparison between these two cars. The Mercedes is much more powerful and easier to drive. What a beast!

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  C230 Bag for not much Buck - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kompressorking - August 10 - 12:12 pm

  Recently bought my C230 Kompressor w/ manual 6 speed tranny. So far so good. Its just over 100,000 miles, 1 owner and care for... it shows. Also purchased and very extensive 5yr/100k extended warranty too. Ive owned 72 cars (all different makes/models) and have been a BMW fan for ever. This is my 3rd Benz and its a pleasure to drive. 30+ mpg on the freeway @ 85+mph, shifts smooth and has decent power to climb freeway hills with ease, even in 6th gear. Traded in my Jaguar S-type for this and I have no regrets. I will say the Jaguar was a better looking car, but thats it. Ill update more as I add more miles...

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  luxury - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By STEPHEN robbins - August 9 - 11:11 pm

  beware of hidden nonsense charges on the final invoice after you cut your deal (e.g. dealer prep, advertising, etc.)

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  Excellent Car! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Mom2Boys - August 9 - 12:36 am

  I have had the car for about a month and could not be happier. I have had a couple of Navigators and looked at it again before buying the GL 550 - there was no comparison. Quite simply, this is the best driving car I have ever owned or driven.