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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  Tires are Definitely a Defect - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Nick - April 3 - 12:58 am

  I have a 2015 MB C300 4matic, i love the car. The dealer just replaced both side front half axle shafts and the dealer told me I need 2 new front tires, im only at 14,200 miles! MY rear tires are in amazing condition. So I have spoken with 3 mechanics who have said #1 continental tires lately are not lasting as it should nd #2 most likely the defective front aaxle half shafts contributed to both my front tires prematurely wearing. And I only drive highway and never get more than 25mpg! Sticker states 34mpg on the highway so why am I getting 10mpg less, i only use 91 fuel..

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  Uncomparable! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By GAMH - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Had it for 3 years and virtually no problems (SRS relay replacement and 1 passenger seatbelt replacement). If there has been anything else wrong it must have been fixed during regular maintenance (love the FSS!). Drove it from TX to MD this summer, besides the excellent drive I only spend $100 in gas both ways! Involved in rear end collision by 18 wheeler and NOTHING happened to the passengers, the cabin nor frame (loved the quick SOS assistance). Repaired to perfection by MB. No complaints. If I dont keep this one I would certainly buy a new one. Look forward for the new design.

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  Like a fine wine - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ecguy03 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  This car just keeps getting better and better each year. Theyve thought of everything in this model. Its sporty yet luxurious. Its very responsive, even at high speeds and the suspension feels very solid no matter what type of road youre on. The car is simply breathtaking to look at and the front end with the classic MB headlights - wow! I feel like a million bucks getting out of it each day. Its the most Ive ever had driving!

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  Excellence?? - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By babypope - April 2 - 2:00 am

  After 1900 miles on my new $60,000 vehicle, I ve had to have the front end replaced due to failure in cross arms and bushings. I thought maybe I it was an unusual occurance. Im now at 4800 miles and 45 days later. Oh Im on my way back to the dealer with the same problem. I m wondering if anyone else has experienced the same problem???

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  Great Car - Styling is unbeatable! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jeff in NorthAtlanta - April 2 - 2:00 am

  I am as well a first time MB owner and given my experience with this car, I look forward to my next MB. This car is a great driving car, comfort, safety, responsive and great handling at high speed. Having read these reviews I agree with may points: I’m 6’ and find the interior room adequate. Styling is outstanding as compared to other cars in this range… btw I think BMW needs a new design team…yuck. As far as the cup holder and temp controls, I do agree, seems to take more effort than necessary, but my decision criteria generally involves other features.

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  Great Ride - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By pgregory4 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  From the first day that I took delivery of my E500 I have had fun. The car is beautiful and driving experience is the best. The Germans really know how to build a great automobile.

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  Turns a lot of heads! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By TJM - April 1 - 2:20 pm

  I have a black on black C300 Sport. Everywhere I go people just rave about how it looks. It is very quick and the comfort is amazing.

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  CLK 320 Coupe - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By O.S. - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for over three years = I bought it out of a lease. It looks and drives great. Not as sporty a ride as some other coupes available, especially accelerating from low speed, but its great for highway driving. It runs smoothly and quiet at high speeds. Steering is precise, though not as sharp as a Porsche. The interior has held up very well despite extensive use, and the exterior look of the car is aging well.

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  So Far - So Good - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Edward Car - March 31 - 10:00 am

  With under 500 miles on the ML320, all is performing fine. I did notice however that the ML320 has gained a lot of weight since 1998. This weight increase probably accounts for the reduction in gas mileage over my 1998. The 2002 is a vast improvement over the 98/99 model. ML’s have always handled well, and they are awesome in light off road travel. The 2002 is a credit to MB for continually improving their products. Go for it.

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  The BEST!!!!!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By busybody - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Unless you are really that unlucky to get a lemon, otherwise it is the best car- dolloar 4 dollar! I got the C1 and C5 packages plus teleaid and navigation... Find me a car that can pack all that yet still cost less than 34K. It is the "BEST"! Mercedes Benz rocks!!! Smooth ride, excellent build quality, German engineering and relatively powerful engine. Handling is better than Acura CL or BMW 3 ci.