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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  I love it! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Anna Fortner - February 15 - 4:23 pm

  I love my E 350 Benz! Its not just a car, its an experience...every day! I look forward to the time I spend in it as it lends an escape to comfort. And when youre talking about performance...as far as Im concerned the "E" stands for excellence!

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  Beautiful Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Thurmond - February 10 - 9:36 am

  I wanted a classic black MB that I could keep for a long time. This truly is one. I love the iconic look (double round headlights)of the car like a classic MB. The car is incredibly smooth and fun to drive. I took it in for service and was given a new 08 C300 to drive. It feels/looks like a Chrysler 300 on the inside...cheap cheap cheap. What was MB thinking. I couldnt be happier in my 3 year old MB which feels like a real MB compared to the new ones.

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  Change that suspension - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By japhet - February 7 - 12:30 pm

  My GL has been into the dealers not less that four times in under 30,000km, mainly for suspension problems. In this distance I already have had both front and rear shocks changed and whatever else could be changed down there to reduce vibrations, road noise & wheel-bouncing. Rear windscreen wiper blade fell off just a few weeks into cars first rainy season & I ended up with a scratched rear screen. Vibrations have not stopped & make the car unpleasant to drive. Windows shake (ever so slightly, but you hear the click-click all the time you go over a bump). I have since learned that MB has used the same suspension components which are fitted on the ML! (GL is wider though). Anyone out there?

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  Wow... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By fightruc01 - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Along with the wonderful styling, the E500 is very powerful; the ride is so solid and satisfying. The breaks take getting used to, but after that you will like them. The only issue weve had is the trunk wont open sometimes, but other than that this car is a dream.

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  AMG road trip - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By John Benz - February 3 - 11:30 am

  I recently purchased a pre-owned low mileage 2005 SL55 AMG, and to get it home I had to make an 1800 mile run across the country. What a wonderful trip! I found the car quiet and comfortable with exceptional road manners. Never a tired leg or back muscle after a long day on the road. If you like, the 55 is an amazing performance car, or if you want to take it easy and enjoy the luxury features, itll do that too. Both worlds are extreme in this super car, and it never fails to get lots of attention wherever you go. Styling and performance are second to none. Maybe more bells and whistles than I really need, but Im still learning to appreciate them. Easily the greatest car Ive ever driven.

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  Awesome!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Magic - February 3 - 10:00 am

  What a sweet ride!! I love this car. It is fast and good looking. It handles like a dream. It is hard not to go on a highway and see what the top speed is. As fast as I go, the car always seems to want to go faster. The only complaint is a slight rattle noise that seems to be coming from the drivers side door at low speeds. It doesnt do it all the time which makes it a diagnostic nightmare. Other than that, I love the car.

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  Incredible Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By blando - February 3 - 10:00 am

  So much can be said about this model. Mercedes/AMG has struck the perfect balance and created a classy performance machine that can be driven everyday as your daily driver while also capable at any moment, and without hesitation, of mixing it up with almost anything out there.

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  7 Years and no troubles - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Spoiled Rich Boy - February 2 - 6:30 pm

  I adore my Mercedes. Bought it late 2001 till now, 2008, 7 years and the biggest thing done to it are new tires, besides that, completely reliable! It was a S430V (apparently according to the salesman its better in some ways) with some lovely upgrades (bi-xenon headlights & washers, Nappa leather, wood & leather steering wheel and shift gate). The transmission is still silky smooth, and the air suspension has not failed once. The engine is not the most powerful but still quite nippy. In general; reliable, comfortable, and I absolutely adore it. Mercs dealer network is very friendly and helpful (at least at my dealer), but they charge you for every single little thing!

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  Niko - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Natureboy - February 1 - 8:00 pm

  This is by far the best car I have ever owned. Realiable, solid, powerful, luxurious, and safe. Great on long trips. Feels like an SUV. Acceleration is amazing for the kind of weight it carries. We love it so much we even named it "Niko." Instead of buying an entirely new car, I have opted to get new tires and rims. It already has a brand new steering wheel with wood trim, wood shifter, and chocolate brown leather mats.

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  leave em in the dust - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By steve maugeri - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I have been in the car biz for twenty years, i have driven all of them,but this one takes the cake.it just wants to run. I love it!!