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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  Going back to GM - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By GoingbacktoGM - June 4 - 1:03 am

  When I first purchased my C230 Kompressor I was really excited but that quickly passed after experiencing the cost of repair The wiper was the first thing to malfunction Cost of repair 500 dollars. Brake job 600 dollars Mass airflow sensor 400 dollars All around 90,000 miles. Transmission shifting very poor since I purchased. Will not buy Benz again GM much more dependable and less costly to repair.

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  Disapponited - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Amara - June 3 - 4:25 am

  I bought this car in July and in less than one week the dashboard started rattling. Few weeks later, the check engine light came on with less than 80 miles. The car was with the dealer for more than three weeks and several trial-and-error attempts were made to repair the check engine light. Finally, they diagnosed the problem and it was repaired by replacing some computer parts and some other parts in the transmission. This should have happened in any brand new car, especially in a luxury car. I have driven two loaner cars of the same model and they all had the dashboard rattling which is a manufacturing defect. This is my first Mercedes Benz and I am very disappointed with its quality and reliability. I had a 2014 BMW 528i and several Japanese cars and never had check engine light coming on.

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  Awesome new ride - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Texas Lawyer - June 1 - 10:00 pm

  I buy a new car about every two years and just traded in a Jeep Commander Limited with a Hemi in for this new oil burning Benz. All I can say is: WOW. This truck is the bomb, I have only driven it about 1,000 miles so far but am averaging 30mpg on the highway and about 22mpg in town. I got nearly every option, including prem packages 1 and 2 (keyless entry) and leather, etc. The ML320 is like an S class in overshoes, the ride is first rate and the gas mileage is simply amazing for such a large vehicle. The only complaint I have is that from 0-10 mph it is a little herky jerky until the turbo kicks in then it flies. The fit and finish is typical MB and is my #1 choice in a luxury SUV.

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  Very Good Vehicle - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Motor Man - June 1 - 8:23 pm

  Have only had it for 4 weeks, but have driven 3000 miles. So far, not a single problem. The ride and handling are excellent with the air suspension. Power is very good with the v-6 and the 7 speed transmission seems to always be in the right gear.

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  alerts - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Donnyboy - June 1 - 2:00 am

  The car is beautiful and a real eye catcher. Fit and finish are top quality. However, since three months into ownership I have been plagued with false/positive alerts for brakes, coolant, and the auto climate control is hit or miss. In addition, my radio lcd display blanks out and above all if I dont shift into N or P after R, the transmission winds out and bangs into lower gear. This causes me to have to pull over and either re-shift into N or P or restart the car. Once the car is restarted, all systems return to normal. The dealer hasnt been able to correct and I am demanding an open-ended warranty or new car.

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  One of the Few - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mmh - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Cant understand why there are not many of the c320 4matic wagons on the road. Drives better than the sedan. looks better than the sedan. and still holds skis and snowboard inside or on top.

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  E500, Wow! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ColinF - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my E 500 this past month. The ride is wonderful, insulating me from the dreaded potholes of Chicago. Acceleration is strong and build quality is excellent. Better than my BMW. Fit and finish is very precise and everything works as it should. This is a keeper!

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  Not quite my 911, but... - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By stlfamilyman - June 1 - 1:53 am

  Maybe I have been driving SUVs for too long, but I was stunned by the outstanding performance of the E550 four matic. While this car is not as fast as my 911 4S, it is close. The large seats are extremely comfortable and the driver dynamic multi contour seat is a must. My three kids have no problem sitting in the deep, roomy back seats. After owning nearly ever other make of vehicle, I am impressed.

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  New Owner - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Skipper - May 31 - 3:16 pm

  Bought 1999 C230 Kompressor 3 weeks ago. It is in excellent condition inside and out, one owner, 74,000 miles, well cared for with a ride that is extremely smooth, quiet and comfortable. My 1st Mercedes. I am very pleased with it and enjoy hearing comments about how clean, sharp and classy it is. It is fun to drive and, so far, while still early, it is a great buy.

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  Diesel Power and Sublime Beauty - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mbzx - May 31 - 8:03 am

  I purchased a 2008 ML320 CDI with Premium II package in Sept. 2007 although I had been nervous about MBs less than stellar reputation in quality. My car has so far exceeded all my expectation in terms of performance and quality. The tremendous diesel power propels the car into any traffic when needed. But mostly I like driving very gently and the car rewards me with 30 miles on highways (when I am really gentle) and 23 miles in local/highway (40/60) mix on average. Its creature comfort is well designed and well executed. The car feels like a marble rolling on glass pane in highways. I am thoroughly enjoying the car and most probably will purchase GL320 CDI in the near future.