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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  Beauty is only skin deep. Prototype woes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By JP - January 5 - 6:23 pm

  Very disappointed with quality and road reliability. Has me seriously questioning ever owning a Mercedes again. True, looks and sumptuous cabin turn heads. Very comfortable on long cruises, even in back seat. Exceptional responsiveness. A blast to drive, but many miles have been logged going back 20+ times for maintenance, electronics, accessories, suspension and wheel repair in 36 months. Ball joints should outlast 70000 miles. Brake pad sensors disconnected to keep static off the radio when braking. Dry and wet road handling is fabulous, but just a dusting of snow incapacitates it. Simple items like cup holders failed and finishes are peeling. Sadly, like the Mona Lisa with big red zit.

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  2003 E320 RWD - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jonduro - January 4 - 9:40 pm

  bought this car with 55800 miles. The interior is very comfortable and stylish. The car is somewhat heavy but the engine has good power. I consistently get 21 city and 29 highway when on cruise control. The looks are ok but the newer models are now better. As far as reliability it has served me well. It goes 10k miles between oil changes. I do take care of car and do not drive it aggressively. It is a cruiser not a racecar. The feeling behind wheel is not great because it is too comfortable and big. Overall is a good car. Keep regular maintenance take care of it. Repairs can be pricey but you do get what you pay or dont pay for.

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  Pleasantly suprised - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Yehfus - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Wanting to consolidate from an LR3 and a Lexus IS RWD into one AWD sedan (and one payment), I set my sights on Infiniti, Audi, Lexus and BMW. I was unimpressed with the ergonomics of the G37x, even though I used to own a G35 and loved it. I headed over to the BMW/Merc dealership and happened upon the C300. I was immediately taken in by the aggressive stance of the front end. I was skeptical about the sub-230 HP until I drove it. It has plenty of pickup (compared to my IS250) and handles very well. I bought it on the spot - never even got around to driving the BMW or Audi. The CC stalk was awkward at first, but is easily accessible, and can be manipulated by one finger on my driving hand.

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  So far so good except seat - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mike T - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Great looking car, love the new front grill design. The low price 27 month lease is what sold me on this. Its only going to really be a 24 month commitment I was not sure I wanted to lock into a 36 month lease since I am used to driving an SUV. Love the ride, the look and the interior. Chambers was a great dealership. In economy mode, car starts in second gear so its a little hesitant. Sport mode MUCH improves this as does tiptronic. No trouble with passing moves on highway. Rock solid to 80 mph and then I can feel a slight jitter. Maybe noisier than Lexus but quiet to me coming from SUV. Nice compromise on sport/comfort. Front seat is killing me. I am 60", 195 lbs.

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  A "Champ" - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jeff - December 28 - 4:06 pm

  My 04 ML350 is my 4th ML; I was hit a 55 head on in my 99 and was uninjured. These are incredible vehicles, best safety available, great on/off road. Lacks come luxury features and mpg is horrible even w/v-6. Tight turning ratio, good seats; very heavy and capable. If you want a SUV that is very safe, handles well, comfortable, holds and tows lots of cargo, this is a great buy. The newer models are even better driving, but lack the turning ration and low range gear for extreme conditions. Drivers need to be aware of how heavy it is when braking and anticipating turns. The amount of steel and safety features are simply unavailable elsewhere. Eats tires and brakes, but stops very well.

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  2007 Mercedes C230 Great Buy - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By beetlybug - December 27 - 8:40 am

  Great over all vehicle. Impressive spunk for such a small motor. Excellent fit and finish. Cant beat European automakers.

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  Disappointed - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By HB1187 - December 27 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this car for my wife to drive, hoping for fun luxury with MB quality. The car looks great and is fun to drive, but we have been very disappointed in quality. It is been in the shop several times and we have already replaced the instrument panel, alternator, and two tires. I bought a Ford Explorer one week before and I have had no problems. Overall, I have had more problems with this MB than any car I have ever owned.

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  Not like they used to be - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By benz gal - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased a C240, 4 door sedan, after much research on edmunds and other consumer websites, comparing the BMW 325I and Audi A4 quatro. I consider my self very loyal to Mercedes- - this is my 3rd one. However, the day after I took delivery on my new C240, the instrument panel indicated that my engine was overheating. Only 4 days of ownership, Mercedes had to replace the cooling system fan unit! Well see whether this solves the problem. However, now Im noticing that my fog lights are not working properly. Needing to bring a new car into the service department is really a bummer, not to mention a waste of time! Mercedes quality seems to have deteriorated over the years.

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  Not what I expected! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By L Wian - December 26 - 12:23 am

  Picked up my ML 350 Nov 2005. After driving 25 miles the "Check coolant level" message came up. I took it to the dealer who checked the hoses. 75 miles later the same message reappeared. The dealer said to bring it in. They found a leak in the head gasket, and the car had only 650 miles on the odometer. But the most frustrating thing is I took it in on Jan 19th. It is now March 2 and the car is still in the shop!According to the dealer all parts have to come from Germany. I am at my wits end. For a $50,000 car this is totally unacceptable! This is Mercedes reliabilty for you!

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  ok car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Benz128 - December 25 - 2:00 am

  Nice car, low power for V12 some electrical problems very nice stylying, maybe I should heve bought 2002 BMW 7