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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  OK, needs improvement in next generation - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By drewjk - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Lots of electrical problems. Engine is loud, doesnt sound good either, slow acceleration. Throbbing wind noise with rear windows rolled down. Fuel tank too small (230mi range) Fuel filler not compatible with certain pumps Needs cutting edge safety features Small cargo area. Wind noise from rearviews low road noise however Good ride and handling, however stability is questionable Comfortable, very easy to drive, great turning radius. great brakes for SUV dealer service is great bad cupholders

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  Not for a everyday car...WEEKEND car ONLY! - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By T - February 3 - 5:20 pm

  Its a beautiful car, however if you are in your 40s and this is the only car you will drive everyday think twice before purchasing. I leased the car for three years and I cannot wait to get out of it...I might have to buy it out right and try and sell it myself because I do not think I can mustard 2 MORE years in it. P.S. please do not plan on picking anybody up at the air port, because even a small suite case will not fit in the truck! I have an allowance of 10 K miles a year.. if i did keep it I will be lucky to have half the miles due to not wanting to drive it..

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  nice if you like to drive a sewing machine - 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mongo6407 - February 2 - 1:17 am

  Having traded in a G37 for this car, I am totally disappointed. The engine is noisy and is now making a clattering sound that the dealership is trying to figure out. I never had any sound issues with the G37. Also, the performance is terrible. I got the same mileage with the 328HP Infiniti as I do with this Mercedes and I didnt have to deal with a turbo and the lag. By the way, the turbo lag is terrible. If you stomp on the accelerator in E mode, you can fry an egg in the time you will wait for the transmission to get in gear to move the car. All in all, this car is a terrible disappointment and I cannot understand why it gets such great reviews.

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  beautiful car - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By barneyhan - January 8 - 10:00 am

  beautiful car, very expensive to repair, rattles alot,dr iver side door window has scratches from rollers in door, has miss in motor,for a car that was driven only 7500 miles a year its not in very good condition

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  ml320 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By santiagooooo - January 4 - 2:00 am

  rack and pinion problems vehicle not reliable

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  2011 S63 AMG - 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By mmc6 - December 14 - 4:26 pm

  Traded in my 2008 S63 AMG for a 2011 S63 AMG, and couldnt be more disappointed, the 2011 is a dog in comparison. The pedal is squishy and sloppy with absolutely no feel under foot. The marriage between the engine and transmission is horrible, it is rough, clunky and far from smooth. Because i had a previous S63 which completely out preformed this 2011, i have a hard time driving this new one, specifically because it brings so much disappointment. This will be a money loosing short lived car for me, dont waste your money, find a clean 2008 youll be much happier.

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  Bad mistake- - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ali - December 7 - 6:03 pm

  Bought this car as a present for my wife just because she wanted it. This car is pathetic in comparison to my BMW. Even the Corolla I owned previously was better. Engine computer module keeps on failing. Even the loaner they gave me felt flimsy, as if it was about to fall apart.

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  What could have been..... - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gimmeabreak - November 17 - 2:00 am

  My first Mercedes-a HUGE disappointment. Greatlooking car that drives beautifully but..I feel thatI paid for a Mercedes and got a Dodge or Yugo.The problem-build Quality!The car has only 18,000 miles on it and the list of problems is way too long:Squeaky seats, moonroof malfunctions, software problems, hood swicthes fell off,brakes(rotors and pads had to be replaced at 7000 miles),defective electronics, transmission problems,replaced SOS system,continuous electronic door lock problems.This a comfortable, great driving car that but it is NOT what I expected from Mercedes and it is NOT worth the money.It will be a long time before I look at another Mercedes.

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  Decent Entry Level Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CHEAPCAR - November 2 - 7:33 am

  Not as luxurious at the Infiniti G, not as sporty as the BMW 3 series and not as reliable as the IS350. Purchased it because it was priced the best out of all 3. The other 3 cars had too much power and were too expensive. This car isnt on par with the other 3, but you get what you pay for.

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  Piece of junk - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ctpan - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought new and within the first week noticed a crack in the steering wheel. Dealer replaced. Then the brake light went out. Replaced. Then the license light went out. Remote refuses to work at times. About 3 months in, tried to back the car out on a winter day and as soon as I engaged reverse, the engine died. Should have been a sign along with the weird engine noises. Then at 18000 miles, a few weeks over a year old, the engine stalls on the highway. A plastic piece on the under side of the rear passenger door is also loose. The c240 is a complete waste of time and money. Stay away!