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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  Good, but... - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Phil Sabah - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I got my 2002 C240 3 months ago, brand new from the dealer. I like the looks of it. when i went to pick it up, i noticed a malfunction msg on the board (Rear lamp), was a loose wire. Few weeks later, i had a tape stuck in the cassette, and took it back to the dealer. Now, three months later, i have 2200 miles on it, and drives good. Yestrday I noticed the left window button lost its one-touch charm, so i need to take it back..i also had 3 occurances where i hear a loud whistle when i start the car in the morning...the dealer couldnt pin-point the problem.

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  Shes a Keeper - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By DVSI - May 13 - 10:00 am

  This car car has it all!!! Great looks, comfort, performance, safety and quality. I compared the SL500 to the Lexus SC430, Porsche Carrera 4 and the Jaguar XKR. This beats them all. It looks sporty, classy, sexy and tough. It fits any mood the driver has.

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  2007 Some good- some bad - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Repeat Buyer - May 13 - 7:40 am

  I previously owned a 2005 SL500. The car is indeed more powerful reflecting the increase in horsepower. I actually do not like some of the minor interior changes. For instance, I do not like the change in the hard-top controller handle-switch. The previous switch had a red light incorporated in it to indicate when the up or down function was complete. The current switch no longer has this light indicator, and now you must turn your head around to look. I cannot figure out if the current model has voice control or not, while the 05 model voice control was standard. I do like the bluetooth module allowing use of your personal phone.

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  A beautifully balanced machine - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By claude Stallworth - May 12 - 7:36 pm

  Im just the opposite of the mid-life crisis guy. Traded my 2008 red Corvette for what has to be the best lux/sports auto available. This car is so so smooth & sleek with a superb build quality both inside and out. Strangers are complementing my new ride at every stop or so it seems. This is our third Benz (wife on her second one, my first) and by far the best vehicle. I tested Jags XF, BMWs 535 (powerful), and the Lexus offerings. I fell in love with the E350. Sienna Black with Black/Beige leather and designo Burl Walnut trim.

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  Impressed - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By coadster - May 12 - 11:26 am

  We just purchased recently but so far are really impressed with the car. The style is a head turner and the interior is awesome..the high tech. advancements are very high end. It drives like a little sports/race car while has much more room inside than expected, especially with the fold down rear seats. Huge advancements over prior models and it really feels and looks like a MB should!

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  Chodes car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By chode - May 12 - 9:40 am

  Great car to drive. Ride is smooth without feeling floaty. Our car has the airmatic suspension. Sport mode is pretty harsh but the other two modes provide a very nice ride. Interior quality is superb. Forward visibility is excellent. Rearward visisbility is not the best, a backup camera should be standard, but it is not even available. Overall I really like it. It looks different from most other cars on the road. It is a very versitile design. In 2007 mercedes benz offered the 550 motor in some of their line ups. This car with that 550 motor would be awesome. I know the AMG version is out there, but at almost 90 grand it too much bread.

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  e 55 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jwan3 - May 12 - 6:36 am

  This is a wonderful car. A mix between luxury and sport preformance. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Very safe & Solid SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By pkvoss - May 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a very safe and solid SUV, while it may lack some bells and whistles; it has all that it needs to be a solid SUV. I’ve owned 4 of these, 1998 ML 320 2000 ML 320, 2001 ML 430, and 2002 ML 500. It was my wife’s vehicle, I bought this for her to keep her safe, and when a new safety feature was released I traded in the previous one for a new one (stability control, curtain airbags…) I lost her to cancer at 31 years old. So now I keep her ML500 in the garage all waxed and clean. Some people complain about that the tires and or brakes wear out around 20k miles, I’ve experienced this too, but keep in mind that this SUV is almost 5,000 pounds, twice as heavy as an average sedan.

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  Poor Reliability - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Anonymous - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Initial impressions were good. But then came the problems. Heres a breakdown: 1. Cylinder head replaced due to valve going bad at, get this, 23,000 miles. 2. Left my wife stranded as the fuse box blew a circuit preventing the car from being started. This at just over 26,000 miles. Had to get the car towed to dealership. 3. Left me stranded when the cam positioning sensor went bad at 40,000 miles. Had to get the car towed to dealership. 4. Left me stranded AGAIN when the fuel pump went out a month later. Had to get the car towed to dealership. 5. Found out during this repair I would need to replace both front rotors as they were worn down. At 41,000 miles?

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  Excellent Through 1,000 Miles - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By lrspatrick - May 12 - 1:06 am

  Prior vehicle was a 2014 E250. It had 40K miles with no issues. Reason for the S class was I wanted it and didnt want to wait for the diesel. The S is the finest vehicle I have driven. The ride stands out, it is smooth and does not float, handling is outstanding for a large vehicle. The seats are second to none, multiple adjustments and massage minimize driver fatigue. Interior design works very well ergonomically while looking great. With voice command and nearly every function within easy reach on the COMAND system driver can focus on driving while managing other features. The S550 provides more than enough power; havent detected the turbo lag I experienced in the E Class