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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  2003 240 "C" Class - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By GSF - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I have driven the C240 for 9 months without any problems. It is fun to drive, quiet, smooth, responsive, and the controls are very ergonomic and intuitive. We really enjoy the car....what is there not to like?

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  Great Used Car Value - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tom Steele - January 31 - 7:16 am

  We picked up an 02 in April of 05 with less than 25K miles on it. We had looked at a newer C240 wagon, but found the power a little lacking compared to the 320. I think the C-class looks better in the wagon configuration than the sedan. MB discontinued the 320 wagon for 05, but continued with the 240 wagon.

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  OK Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dr. Yamini - January 30 - 3:50 am

  Great engine and smooth ride by the overall chassis dynamics are very poor. The chassis and transmission can not keep pace with the engine.

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  $45K car for 55K (MSRP) - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By None - January 29 - 1:26 pm

  Not up to M-Bs reputation. Nice enough car; ride is not good at low speeds over any road imperfections. Nice at highway speeds. Per M-B and dealer, this is normal. Have to accelerate more going up hill, etc. due to inadequate engine which causes more fuel use. Lumbar is hard to adjust. Hood release hard to find. Underside of parcel shelf in trunk is not covered. Have to jerk spare tire cover out and force it back in. Wiper control hidden by steering sheel spoke making it easy to leave in auto mode. Results in wiper damage in car washes. Carpet and mats are thin compared to even medium priced competitors. Storage box on front of front seats hits back of legs. Interior is well done.

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  Eye Catcher - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By NJC - January 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car just a month ago and WOW! I bought it as a Starmark and purchased an additional 48 month warranty because luxury cars are known for expensive repairs. It is a used car and something is sure to break down, most cars do. Everyone just loves it and I am the envy of all my friends and family! Its an eye catcher with the top down. Just drive around the cornor and the men almost jump right in it. Performance is great! Its sporty and luxury in one car. When the top is down the back window has poor visability but you should be driving with your mirrors anyway. Only problem so far is that everyone wants to dirve it!

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  Finally the real M arrives - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By emster320 - January 26 - 10:00 am

  For me, people who buy the M-Class are well-informed, practical and have an appreciation of the delicate balance between luxury and utility.I was truly impressed with the X5 but it didnt have the Ms cargo room/utility.Drove the MDX-wide track, excellent engine- but it lost points in the luxury department (plus 3rd row seating is actually smaller compared to the M). Sequoia? Quite impractical for my needs. Consider a vehicle that will inflict the least damage to the other vehicle-lower bumper and crumple zones. Dont be persuaded by emotional reviews. Do your own research and come to a conclusion. Have a safe trip and tread lightly!

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  Proceed with caution - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By good info. - January 23 - 10:00 am

  This is a wonderful machine in terms of handling. It is eye pleasing and driving fatigue on long trips is zero. But, it is an electrical NIGHTMARE. Dont waste your money underwriting mercedez R&D. I know the company knows of the drastic electrical problems yet they keep offering the cars for sell without warning. This is not like the Mercedez of old. Hey...who owns this company these days...certainly not a company that cares about the consumer. In 16 months my car has been in the shop more than 10 times for major electrical problems. I think more consumers arent complaining because they are embarassed to tell that a car with this reputation is soo poor.

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  430 great - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By AL - January 22 - 12:26 pm

  This is a great car especially in snow ice and rain. I would highly recomend it to everyone. It is great at high speeds, low speeds tuirning, and parking.

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  Objective Review - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Rocket Man - January 22 - 5:10 am

  Its an excellent car with great performance during extreme weather conditions. This car cuts through snow very nicely.

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  CLS Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By don - January 20 - 3:53 pm

  This is the best looking Mercedes in a long, long time. The exterior has beautiful sleek lines and is a "hottie". The interior up front is very nice. The instrument panel is basically an "E" class cluster with some added extras. The back seat is for two people only and if you are tall, you will be bumping your head on top. For a fun and great looking car, its great.