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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  Bang For Your Buck!!! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ljohnson22 - May 31 - 2:30 am

  I bought my wife a 06 C230 and she loves it. I have to admit, I love it also. We looked at the Acura TL and she loved the stereo but didnt care for the bland styling. The acura out performs the C230 but it is just lacking that....something. The C230 has above average performance and beautiful styling. The interior is nicely laid out and very plush. The sound system is very nice but not among the best in its class. We bought it with the entertainment package and the stereo isnt even in the same league as Acura TL. Overall, I think this is a great vehicle and a bit under rated.

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  Rock solid - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By oakster - May 30 - 9:53 am

  Bought this car with 64K miles, now have 101K miles. Zero problems. The inline six is the only truly balanced engine made, and makes for smooth running at any speed. I prefer to buy American, but this 280 engine is great. Dont waste your time with the 220! And for a nine year old car, EVERYTHING works from power windows, seats, etc. Very impressed. My next car if not American would be the E320CDI (inline six, diesel-sweet!) Just wouldnt want to buy new, ouch.

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  Great truck - Bad service - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By SAFEWEALTH - May 30 - 3:26 am

  Great looking, safe, comfortable and fun. Goes anywhere on or off road and feels solid in any weather conditions. Lots of cargo room and I have moved lots of small furniture in back with seats folded down. PROBLEM: Dealers have little experience or knowledge of how to service this vehicle. Many small issues have had to be fixed three or more times, also bodywork is a nightmare if you get in an accident. Mercedes does not have its act together in training its staff and service techs.

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  Dream Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By lgleaves - May 30 - 12:56 am

  Under my Christmas tree was a beautiful pewter grey MB 550. Best gift and car of my life. Cant comprehend that 90mph seems fast in this car. Feels like cruising speed. Back seat could be bigger, but I dont plan on spending much time there. So far, my adult sons dont complain too much. A head turner for sure.

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  C32 AMG 1 YR - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By D. Baker - May 29 - 5:26 am

  Decent car: AMG did well on engine; suspension. My 1st automatic/"tiptronic transmission - hate it!! Too boring. Other: Tach way too small & should be in center for this car. Indicator light for speedo stays fixed - Dumb. Gear selection indicator - way too small - dumb. Self dimming rear view mirrors - cant judge cars behind - way too dangerous! & dumb. Elec windows either go all the up or down; have to take eyes off road to adjust - dumb. Car should CENTER BETTER on any road. I thought this would be a fun sedan; just too sedate (except speed) and boring in just about every category. Little character for the money. Plan to give up.

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  Expensive - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jsmiles - May 29 - 3:06 am

  We bought our 2000 Mercedes in 2006 because we got it for only $14,000, but this thing is horrible in reliability. The catalytic conveters went, and we could not drive it for three months. Also the car is very expensive to maintain, $80 for oil change, $600 brake changes, $30-$60 for gas. The car is a nice drive, and the interior has a nav whitch is an asset. It also has a third row seat whitch is useful. I would not recommend this car if you dont have a lot of money, but if you do, good luck.

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  LOVE IT! Very happy! - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By demimoore - May 27 - 10:00 am

  I havent had this car very long (just got it used), but I can tell you that so far everythings perfect and I LOVE driving it -- its beautiful, not too big and not too small, rugged yet smooth, and just feels much more solid than all of the other mini-SUVs I test drove. I think that even if it costs a bit more than average to service it eventually, itll be worth it! (My husband may have a different opinion.) :)

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  1996 C Class - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By NEW320 - May 27 - 10:00 am

  Wiring harness gone at 125,000 miles. Very disappointing for MB.

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  Great car - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By luckydog - May 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used a couple of years ago and I love the versatility and the solid build of the car. I used to drive a Volvo and after driving a Honda and a Ford previously, I thought the Volvo was a pretty solid car; until I got the Mercedes. I feel totally safe in the car. It is pretty quiet as far as engine noise in the passenger compartment. However, there is some noise when going over rough road probably due to the echoing within the cabin (rather than being confined within a trunk like a sedan). My wife and I love the cavernous interior which allows us to do all sorts of shopping when needed. It is also a great car for road trips.

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  I Love Mine - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jennifer B - May 27 - 4:30 am

  I love my SL500. The performance is great and the style is very eye catching. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it! Its fun and comfortable to drive. I dont like the fact that the tires cant be rotated. (the front are smaller than the back and they are also directional) I feel like the navigation CDs are lacking (my hometown is not even on them) So I feel like that was money wasted. However, overall I still Love My SL!