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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  All in one for me - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By SLPosse - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car for a little over three months, so this is clearly not a long term review. My review in terms of rating 1-10 are conservative, because a new car is always going to be rated a ten in things like reliability, but how do you know after three months. Aside from that, I think this is a great car. The group this car is classified in is a 5 speed manual, but mine is a auto/tipronic awd c320 sport. I didnt want a japense car, because they are too light when S hits the fan. Its a bit expensive, but I think they should raise the price more. This is a mercedes, reflect that in its pricing even more with the sport versions.

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  classy wagon - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By drkandylandmo - February 18 - 2:00 am

  this is a great wagon, which rides like a sedan. it is beautiful both inside and out. i dreaded ever having to get another suv,so this is my second mercedes e320 wagon. i loved the first one and so far this has surpassed my expectations. it is functional, gorgeous, and practical. the only negative might be that the brakes are little too sensitive to touch(or perhaps its my lead foot).

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  MB BEAST - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mb-beast - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Perfection with exception of missing cassette tape player. Much more than I expected and more than I deserve. Wonderful.

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  Rover and Beemer killer - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Wolfepack - February 18 - 1:20 am

  Have owned the Discovery and LR3 and was ready for a change. Drove the Ranger Rover Sport, X5 and ML350. Simply no comparison. The Benz is by far the best combination of luxury, performance, safety and styling for the money. We are completely blown away by the driving characteristics and features of this vehicle. It is light years ahead of its predecesor, the ML320, which was a stubby, truck-based abomination. This thing is an E-class with some ride height and storage space. If youre considering an SUV in this price range, you must drive this car. My only complaints are the position of the cruise control stalk and the learning curve on all the features. Gas mileage is as bad as the Rover.

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  The Best SUV ever - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By LouSand - February 16 - 12:20 pm

  I have been driving all kinds of SUVs, but this one it has to be one of the best out there. I am very impressed with how it handles. It corners nicely, and I feel very save when Im out with my family on the weekends.

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  Poor Gaskets - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Pip - February 15 - 6:50 pm

  Great car that feels sturdy and smooth. Purchased the car with 69k and Head Gaket, front engine seal and front timing chain cover was all leaking. After fixing those items it started to have electrical problems. The engine wire harness was brittle and arcing under the top engine cover. Then the center vents in the dash stopped flowing air. To fix, $300 up to $1200 depending on the 6 vacuum pods (10 hours labor).

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  ML is magic on dry or wet roads - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By greglynn - February 15 - 2:00 am

  The ML is designed from the ground up to be a superior performing light truck in all weather conditions. My experience to date with the vehicle has been superb. Performance is strong, handling is tight, and traction is amazing on dry or wet surfaces. All Wheel Drive is a *must* in my book. It is part of what makes this vehicle a superior performer. So is the Independant suspension. It seems to get better when you go off road or load the vehicle with passengers or cargo. I drive this car 120 miles day to and from work. I average 80mph on the freeway. This vehicle rocks! It has some design flaws on the interior mostly but these things have been corrected in the 2000-2002 models.

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  I love my clk 430 cabriolet - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Hugo - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I wanted a convertible with a backseat. I almost bought a BMW 645 / 650 cabrio used, but found this low miles beauty for almost half the price at the same dealership. No regrets!

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  Help - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sick/and tired - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I am utterly disappointed with Mercedes Benz. I spend $46K CDN on this car and on average I make a warranty claim every 6000KM. I have had alignment problems that have ruined my tires and now the dealership wants me to pay for new tires due to uneven wear, when they claimed I never had an alignment problem. My key stopped working once, and I change a headlight every month due to alternator problems. My dealership will do nothing for me. I am really going to trade this car in for another brand.

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  Ultimate Roadster of 2002 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By KAZ - February 15 - 2:00 am

  all around spectacular look and performance feel. A real head turner and will continue to be for more years to come