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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  Fell Apart - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Jerry Proctor - June 10 - 4:53 pm

  Still a nice looking vehicle. Has the chrome 20" wheels updated headlights and door sill lights. But... @60,000 Miles, Repairs needed Differential leaks $4600.00 New Motor Mounts $2600.00 Trans axle Leak $1500.00 Seats are not real leather and have fallen apart. Uses a lot of gas and the tires are lasting about 30k.

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  Best SUV - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By MB - June 10 - 12:56 am

  Probably the best SUV on the market. Smooth, powerful, and fun to drive. A big car, but feels nimble and corners relatively well. It drives like a sedan. It is quiet and you can enjoy your music while the kids can watch DVDs in the back.

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  Black Beauty - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RJC - June 9 - 11:13 pm

  Bought new for my wifes 60th birthday, this was her 5th Mercedes and 4th E-class. By far the best E- class ever. Very comfortable on long trips, 32-34 mpg avg. hwy and 19 to 21 city. Just under 30K miles and no problems. My wife absolutely loves her 2007 E-350 as much as I do my BMW Z4.

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  Great car so far - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Squelch Oil - June 9 - 4:23 pm

  I have put about 1600 miles on the car so far and love it. There are a few minor things to quible about, but overall this car is an absolute blast to drive. Faster then a stock M3 and a lot more comfortable.

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  Classy, smooth power - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Tom - June 7 - 8:40 pm

  This my fourth pre-owned M-B (got it last month with 35K miles). The timeless design is head-turning and will look great decades from now. The V8 rumble is music to the ears at any RPM. I am still getting used the the awesome torque and horsepower even though I once had an E420 (there was a Honda Element between these two M-Bs, so I guess that explains that). Just starting it in the garage puts a smile on my face. The lack of B-pillars gives the car an almost convertible feel with windows down and the moonroof open, yet there is not a hint of wind noise when all is closed up. The build quality is and driving experience is solid, top- notch, and always enjoyable.

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  They dont make them.... - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Mr. Mercedes - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Though still cherry, it has always been ripe to my eyes, ears, and nose. They do not make cars like this any longer. Wonderful excess!

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  S430 Mercedes Benz - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By 15th Mercedes Owner - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car. Very efficient 24 mpg. Stiff front seats.

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  What a GREAT car!!!!!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fun2Drive - June 6 - 2:00 am

  OK, Im going to say it right up front - This is my first luxury car and I WANT to like it, not pick it apart! And like it I do!! From the stylish looks, to the bells and whistles, to the high-tech brakes - - this is a nice, fun car to drive, and it turns plenty of heads! For the life of me, I cant figure out the 3.4 rating the other Reviewer gave it, unless he was just trying to make a statement. This is NOT a 3.4 car - its a well-made, comfortable, quiet ride!

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  Car on "mute" - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kleyva - June 5 - 9:26 pm

  From the mystique of the Mercedes-Daimler-Benz corporation comes a middle-of-the-road midsize sedan that does not surprise the owner in any way. This is my 1st MBZ, I have never driven one before owning this one. Fairly comfortable, very good looking exterior, with adequate power. All of this in consideration of the $30K plus price tag. When you buy the symbol of quality and luxury, that is exactly what you get– just the symbol. Purchased CPO and added 2 yr warranty.

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  My benz is great - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jaason - June 4 - 5:36 pm

  The ML500 special edition is great. It is very good with gas. It goes from 0-60 in about 4 to 5 seconds and there is alot of cargo space.