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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  I love My Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Lisa Margolis - April 21 - 3:06 pm

  I love my Mercedes. I have always been a truck woman, but this car has turned me around 100%. Handling, sound system, ability to handle the snow (with snow tires) is fabulous!

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  Elegance, power and prestige - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MOISES MALOWANY - April 20 - 10:30 pm

  A great car to drive if you enjoy driving! Power all around. At start, when passing in tight driving areas, and superb handling. All at a very reasonable miles per gallon. Average city and highway about 21 mls/gl. One of the best Mercedes I ever drove.

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  CLS 500 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Doug - April 19 - 6:40 am

  This car is unbeleivably fast and extremely fun to drive. Ive owned a Lexus LS 430 and this car is superior to the 430. Its aerodynamic design is absolutely gorgeous. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone.

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  old to new - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jamiebutlr - April 17 - 2:00 am

  having owned a 1978 280 CE for some years, decided to try daimler-chrysler product with minimal research and many test drives. This is still a Mercedes, no doubt with loader, yet responsive supercharged 4-cyl. Great fun and similar timeless design and quality to my dearly departed 1978

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  Excellent - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By mike7705 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I have wanted to buy a SL500 for a few years and when I saw the redesigned version I did so. Absolutely the best car I have ever owned.

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  Wonderful Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By BCP - April 15 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car! Fun to drive, lots of power and very smooth and quiet. Seems to be most happy at about 80 mph on the highway. Gets 29mpg at that speed. I am 64" tall and have no problem getting comfortable. Quality is very high although I have had some problems with interior rattles. The dealer took care of them at the first service. My only complaint is the door sills seem to get dirty very easily with scuff marks from my and my passengers shoes. I think it is related to the type of plastic that is used. Otherwise, I have no complaints and enthusiastically recommend this car.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ShadowNeko - April 15 - 10:00 am

  I got a white ext. with Oyster Leather with C2, C5, C7 and NAV for $32K. Get the leather seat and the Sunroof. The rain sensor is nice so you dont have to keep turning up and down on the wipers. Get the Sport package if you wants all the teenagers to look at your car. And get used to the questions and the stares by the by-standers and Toll-men, Gas-men. and not to mentioned (again) to all the teenagers! The Kompressor was great! No lag at all. Solid car for the money.

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  My new baby Benz - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DARLENA ELLIS - April 15 - 6:16 am

  Beautiful and easy to handle. Its not too big, but has 4 doors. I love it! I feel classy, I feel pretty. Drive one and see!

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  Love this vehicle! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By summergirl - April 15 - 5:23 am

  Having owned 2 different Lexus SUVs and liking them, I can honestly say that this MB GL 470 is by far the best vehicle Ive owned. Just the right size for me. Not big, but roomy; not small, but manageable. Its a gorgeous vehicle, great sound system, incredible grade of leather, lacks nothing. Better on mileage than the Lexus GX I previously owned. Its solid and handsome. I travel to my sons home once a month, which is a 450 mile each way trip and I could not be more comfortable. I absolutely love this car. Cannot recommend it enough!

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  Love My Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S55AMG - April 15 - 5:00 am

  I have had the car for just over a month and I am absolutely in love. It has all the room and comfort of a large sedan, and drives like a rocket. It is perfect for me as I wanted a fast sports car, but have a 2 year old and a newborn. It makes the perfect family car with a dual identity as a tremendously powerful sports car. The best car I have ever owned. Every drive leaves me with the biggest smile. Hammer the throttle and the acceleration pins you to the seats and it is impossible not to smile.