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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  Absolutly Marvelous! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Johann Salveski - February 22 - 4:46 pm

  I have always loved big German cars. I used to have an A8 and a 7 series, but this is the best car I have ever had! Power seems unlimited. The cabin is tastefully executed with a superb fit an finish. The navigation system is far superior to anything BMW or Audi has. This is truly a car worthy of the three pointed star.

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  Great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By showard - February 22 - 12:06 pm

  This is a great car ,but should have better resale value.

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  great driving car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sdax - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I owned mine for 3years until i had an accident and it was totaled. The car protected me very well and i was able to walk away unharmed. It was a rear impact and it crumpled/absorbed the impact so that i could still drive the car, but the rear doors would not open. I love the way it drove, but it wasnt the greatest on gas in the city, was getting horrible mileage, but on the highway it shined and i got at least 25mpg. It was awesome in the snow.

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  Solid, reliable - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Robert Miller - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I have always wanted a MB wagon. I have not been disappointed. Solid and reliable, quality constructed both inside and out. Great handling for a wagon. Only service has been 1 year standard service. The nav system could be easier to use, but ut us on the mark.

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  Business Car that has been reliable - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By David Thompson - February 22 - 5:43 am

  I bought the car used with only 43000 miles on it. Have driven it mostly for business trips on the road and have enjoyed the acceleration, the room for clients in the back seat, the smoooooth ride and the impression the car makes. Beautiful finish on exterior. Have only had to replace a set of brakes and two tires. But I DID purchase an extended warranty to be safe. I have really enjoyed driving this car!

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  E350 Blue Tec - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By atthemurph - February 21 - 4:03 pm

  I have had this car since 5-2011 and have now put 15,000 miles on it. Its solid, fits me like a glove, handles well, if not like a sports car and has all the bells and whistles I need. I added the luxury package, steering wheel, dynamic seating (a must have) and the P2 package. Fuel mileage has been almost 32 overall and 36-39 HWY. The DEF fluid is no big deal. Buy at most gas stations or car parts stores for $12 for 2.5gals. I think I have added 5 gals total (maybe 7.5). Big deal. M-B will scalp you if they put it in but its simply filling a tank. Love the car and not one issue.

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  Best car under $40,000 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Paul Blinn - February 18 - 11:10 am

  Very nice looking and drives great

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  fun to drive - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By daves - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Many innovations and buttons to learn on this auto. Great car especialy the gps system and convertible top.

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  Early 2004 E320S4 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Phil Lefebvre - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our new 2004 E320 4Matic Wagon for 2 weeks. Its early, but so far its a gem. The new 4Matic systems seems very sophisticated. Three points of minor interest: the fuel milage seems not to be as good as the 2003, on ours, the compass isnt working right and the 3rd seat head room seems less than on the 2003 - a trade-off with aerodynamics, Im sure. Nevertheless, the car feels solid and well planted on the road.

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  Nice Car... - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benzita - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Im a very young student. I just began driving no more than three years ago and decided to invest in a Mercedes. I couldnt have made a better choice. Im very pleased with the quality and performance of my C-Class.