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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  excellent - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By dennis holliday - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car,Great to drive, Great in snow,Great gas mi.Good power,Fun to drive

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  CLK430-The Premium Coupe to Own - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By SoCalCLK - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Let me go on record by saying that I have owned a 95 BMW M3 and 01 330ci & these editors dont know what theyre talking about. After having owned 2 BMWs, I saw BMW was closer to an Acura than a Mercedes. When I left BMW behind and bought a CLK 430 I saw has the power, features, looks, handling, and quality that as a WHOLE make it cut above ANY coupe from BMW. These editors do not understand this as they have never personally owned these cars. When I test drove and priced out that Honda Civic Look alike- the 330ci, I was shocked to see that they were charging $42K for a $34K car. Audi makes a better product called the S4 at these prices.

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  5 weeks and going strong - 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By cars0153 - October 16 - 7:28 am

  Dont pay any attention to the negatives for this car. Its a typical Mercedes. Well thought out design and great to drive with great looks. I was able to order car exactly the way I wanted it. Still learning all the technology in car. What amazed me was the gas mileage going down to a business trip. 37 MPH with cruise set at 75 and actually was not all highway. Dont bypass this car.

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  Love My CLK - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By wwc6980 - October 16 - 2:26 am

  I love my CLK500 convertible. It is drop dead good looking, very comfortable, handles wonderfully and has superb power. The interior is gorgeous, with stone colored leather, and the instrument panel is easy to read. The stereo sounds great and the top retracts quickly and is completely out of view. The cabin noise is far less than any of the four convertibles I have owned and is, in fact, lower than many sedans.

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  extremeC350 - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By scion12 - October 15 - 1:16 pm

  I have been a BMW owner since 1979. traded in a 2003, 325i with160k miles for the benz. I tried very hard to buy another 3 series BMW, but they were no match to the C350. The c350 is a 302hp direct fuel injection super car with AMG suspension, never ending torque, smooth shifting 7 speed transmission is as good as stick shift. HID lighting is super, dont buy car without it, the harmon cardon logic 7 has incredible sound. I bouth the car in November 2011, have 10k on it, have had no issues. I you live in Northern Virginia go see MB of Arlington, have never dealt with a better dealer.

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  Saved by the Benz! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Scott - October 14 - 9:06 pm

  I finally found a vehicle that I felt good about. Great price, great fuel economy and very good customer service. I purchased a demo here in ATL in May and find myself liking the car more and more everytime I drive it. Im coming from an SUV that avgd at most 20 mpg. My C230 hit an avg high of 33.5 mpg a couple of weeks ago. I went a full two weeks without fueling! The AMG design is classic and the car is roomy enough to take friends to dinner. I never thought that I would own a Benz and plan on keeping this one as long as I can.

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  Better than I expected - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gnormant - October 14 - 5:45 am

  I concur with the other reviewer, this is one fun car. I started my car search wanting a V8 engine and a lot of horsepower. Im not wealthy so I couldnt justify buying a $60+ thousand dollar AMG when the $40,000 C250 had an adequate, even surprising, amount of power. And reasonable gas mileage to boot. I suggest the Lighting Package, I love the techno looking LED and bi-xenon lighting. I almost never carry more than one passenger so the coupe body style was great for me. But I tried the back seat and fit just fine, plenty of leg room, adequate head room. I just picked mine up about 6 hours ago and I didnt want to get out of it.

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  1st MB and Luvin It - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Dan - October 13 - 7:30 pm

  After fours years in an Armada our lease was up and my wife wanted to downsize. We test drove several cars including the X5, MDX, and a decked out Murano. When they pulled up the GLK for a test drive at the Houston North dealership, my wife left me little room for negotiating the price with a solid, "Well take it". It was love at first sight for her and she thanks me everyday for the purchase. Being the mother of two teenage boys, she rarely leaves the neighborhood but we still get around 18 mpg with an average speed of a mere 25 mph. I rarely get to drive it but everytime I do I am impressed with the handling, the power and above all else, the quietness. A solid 10 for the money.

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  Great Automobile - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Clint Roy - October 12 - 4:46 pm

  I traded a 07 Corvette - fully loaded, it was a great American car, but no comparison to my new SL 550. Performance, handling, quality interior and exterior are beyond my expectations. I have had many MB automobiles since my first 1988, this is by far the best.

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  S550 performance at an E550 price tag! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By westcott - October 11 - 7:16 pm

  My first MB and I now understand all the hype surrounding German engineering. The attention to details, the technology, brute performance, and respectable handling and braking for a luxury sports sedan. It will take a top of the line S600 or E65 to pass you and cost a whole lot less. I really enjoy all the conveniences and I am quickly getting a handle on the voice activated Command System. Keyless Go really is a nice feature. The AMG sport package really adds a nice touch. Operating the 7 speed auto via FI style paddle shifters really makes it feel like a performance vehicle. The safety features are not to be ignored. A fun car to drive!