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:

• 

  Proved excellence ! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rmalkov - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I just got my first MB and impressed by how the car feels - very solid and compact at the same time. Now I now myself there is MERCEDES and other cars in the word.

• 

  I like this car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Fray Castulo - March 11 - 11:53 pm

  Love the mileage, 24 in the city, up to 35 on I-95 with performance. Mine is a 6 speed manual. Love to accelerate in 2nd gear. Stability is super and so is breaking. Would change it only for another C class.

• 

  Unbelievable car! MB E350 Coupe P2 ++ - 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By oceandigger33 - March 11 - 10:02 pm

  I have done a little over 1,000 miles and Ive had the car for a little over a month! This car has exceeded all expectations! They have thought of everything and the quality is outstanding! And this, from a current owner of a VW Phaeton and A BMW 740iL, which I love both) and past owner of Audis including a TT. The E350 Coupe is simply outstanding!

• 

  Love my Mercedes M Class Turbo Diesel - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jim - March 11 - 12:03 pm

  Sold my 03 BMW X5 and purchased my ML 320CDI in Jan 08. I was torn between the Mercedes and the new BMW X5 but chose the ML based on good looks, power and fun to drive. I find I just want to get in the car and drive. The SUV is smooth, quiet, luxurious and most of all great fun to drive. Terrific sound system. Average 22 mpg combined city/highway. No problems since I purchased it. Would highly recommend.

• 

  Good buy - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mbcars - March 11 - 7:16 am

  This seems to be a reliable car with good gas mileage. The interior seems to have a lot of cheap material and the chrome is flaking off of the gear shift. The front cup holder(s) is cheesy. I like the separate lighting for the rear. I like that I can do most of the maintenance like oil changes, filters, brakes, without having to go to the dealership.

• 

  Outstanding ML500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Patrick - March 9 - 6:06 pm

  By far the very best SUV I have ever owned. After over 70,000 miles it still runs like a dream. No mechanical or electrical problems. A definite keeper!

• 

  MBZ C240 4 matic: Great Snow Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Roger B - March 9 - 10:30 am

  The car with 126K rides like new. Quiet, good sound system, capable performer. 5-speed helps with the modest HP of 170. 27-30 mpg on the highway on mid-grade. Has been a very good car. Only extra maintenance has been replacing a water pump.

• 

  2010 E350 4Matic Sports Sedan - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MbRaaj - March 9 - 5:53 am

  Nice Exterior Styling, Expensive Options, needs improvement on performance and handling, good interior, sound system could be better, seats need improvement.

• 

  happy 10 months & 10,800 miles after - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By merc2009 - March 8 - 9:53 am

  This is my second review after 10 months and 10,800 miles. Please, see the very first review in the series. I am overall very happy with the car. The ride is solid, well controlled, and the steering is light, which I personally like. Surprised to read others horror stories about gas consumption as I get 17-18 mpg in the city and 28-30 on the highway at 65 mpg. The manual shifter is not the slickest on the market (Acura TSX is better, I tried), but pretty short throw and works without failure. The car isnt super fast from the start, but enough power for me (after all its 228 hp, not 300 like some others). Like how quiet the car is. The electronics are great (got P2 package).

• 

  NEW AND EXCITED OWNER - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ELENI - March 8 - 2:00 am

  From the first time I ever laid my eyes on the CLK I knew I had to have it. I had to wait a couple of years to fit it into my price range but alas that time has come. So far the car is magnificent. From the look and feel to the pick-up and speed. I havent had too much time with it but can tell that this car will never lose my interest.