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:

• 

  5 out of 18 months in the shop - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Michael H - April 7 - 10:52 pm

  My car was rear ended. Parts had to come from Germany. 2 months and one more to repair the car. Ordered every option. 19 of them. The ventilated leather seats are horrible. The leather is worse than an Honda Accord. The distronic plus works only on occasion. Radio stop working and 5 months later finally getting another one. Mileage at 55 MPH an amazing 44 Miles per gallon. Ive had 3 recalls , 3 pressure gauges replaced. Run flat tires are horrible. In talks with MBUSA on lemon law. I traded a 2009 C with every option and 95,000 miles for this one. Worse mistake ever.. Update. I have had to hire a law firm. The car has been in service now 48 days. Its going in again for electronics problems. Im fighting MB on the Lemon Law. They offered 2500 off of any new car I wanted of theirs and thats it. The lemon law is 30 days and they have to return the full amount. I will never own another MB product as long as I live. I hate their product. I changed from using Helms Bros in Bayside, NY to Ralleye Motors in Roslyn. Both places are awful. I took my car into Ralleye because my rear sensors were not working right. They said the car was in an accident and needed $1800 worth of parts to repair the problem. I called the collision place who said bring the car in. I did and 2 days later it was perfect and has been. Centain cell phones have a software problem with the Bermeister radio now in the MB. The cell phone will make the radio and GPS inoperative. You have to turn off the phone to recycle it. When I went to Ralleye with the problem they chased me out. I then went to the service manger Doug and he said because I did not allow them to repair the car the last time I was not welcome there. I asked him would you spend 1800 + on the repair if it was still under warrenty and he said no. I then asked why I cant come in and he said I dont want you here. Ralleye is so large that they feel they are like GOD. I would never recomend them to anyone again ever. They are awful. Oh, one more thing. They charge $168.00 per hour to work on your car if its out of warranty.

• 

  Best car so far! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Al - April 6 - 11:30 pm

  Recently traded in my 2 year old Infiniti G35 (which I loved) -- just not a convenient car to shuttle our 5 & 6 year old around. First Benz for our family. So far I absolutely love it. I thought Id miss the power performance of the G (which I do a little), but this truck is surprisingly nimble -- much more than the Acura MDX my wife drives. The build quality & solid feel is absolutely exceptional -- better than any car Ive driven. On the road, it drives remarkably similar to a sedan (albeit with the comfortable feeling of sitting up higher).

• 

  Wonderful Auto - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By William Wood - April 6 - 11:40 am

  From the drive away from the dealer, we have enjoyed every moment. We were Toyota Camry fans but now there is no way we would give up our MB.

• 

  Long rule the Sport-Lux Wagon - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MW - April 6 - 10:00 am

  This is the ultimate family vehicle and we dont look for a second at suvs or hybrid vans or whatever. Practical, sporty, smooth, clean lines, great ergo, wow wow wow. Bought all the roof bling, rack, bike rack, cargo box from Mercedes-Benz

• 

  Very Nice Car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Totoro - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Before we bought the E 350, we were considered 2011 BMW 528, used 750iL & used Lexus 460L. We test drove everything and the E350 is better than anything else. We have the rear seat entertainment system that kids can watch different movie and can control separately. Kids loves it and as soon as they are in the car, they are very quiet no fighting for what they want to watch. So far so good no problem.

• 

  Used to love the car, but so unreliable... - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By meg711 - April 5 - 2:58 am

  I used to love my car, but not anymore. It is the perfect small size for me, and easy to navigate. However, I clearly got a defected car with a bad ignition system. In this April, all the sudden I was not able to turn on the engine on the street parking, and MB Roadside Assistance told me that the key didn’t recognize my car. I had to wait for 3 hours to get my car towed, and it took 2 weeks for MB to replace the ignition. The first day I drove after the repair, again the key didn’t recognize my car, and I spent another 3 hours to get it towed. The car is at MB for repair now, but I am so afraid of driving it anymore. I am very surprised that MB manufactures such an unreliable car.

• 

  Sounds cliche, but best car ever - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By J Ghione - April 5 - 1:40 am

  I think everything I ever wanted in a car I found in my 2004 E320. Great handling, smooth suspension, powerful 3.2 engine, decent mileage, great turn radius, very sporty and modern exterior and a super classy yet modern enterior. In terms of looks this is a major update from the 2002 E320 which in my opinion is a bit too boxy and plain looking. Comparing to the 2002, I would say the suspension and handling are slightly more towards the sport side although it is still primarily a luxury ride. The engine is very quiet, yet they designed it just so you get a sporty engine growl when you accelerate. The extra money paid for this Mercedes is well worth it.

• 

  Thrill Ride - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Don R - April 3 - 4:46 pm

  I bought this car with only 13K miles off a lease return. The 382 HP makes this car a rocket sedan. It rides like a luxury car but peforms like a sports car. The most pleasant surprise has been the gas mileage. On my first major highway trip I got an astounding 32 MPG while averaging 75 MPH! It takes a lot of restraint to hold back the reins on this thoroughbred. On my commute I normally get 26 MPG. The only problem has been the low profile tires. Ive ruined two tires and bent two rims on pot holes. This is without a doubt the most fun Ive had driving a car in the past 35 years.

• 

  2002 MB C230 Sport Coupe - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By u0043928 - April 3 - 3:06 pm

  Great bargain for an entry level Mercedes. Shared the same technology and safety features as C240 & C320 for much less. Solid, stable and agile. The 3-pointed star on the grill set it apart as the sport/performance category than the C-sedans.

• 

  CLK review - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By KT - April 3 - 9:06 am

  I love this car!! I have never had more fun with a car that is both frivolous and practical. Excellent combination