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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  Cheap Luxury - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Javier - January 15 - 12:30 pm

  You will not get anything similar for this price. Fun to ride.

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  Great - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By rvaughn - January 15 - 10:26 am

  It is a great suv!

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  The BEST - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Vic Standish - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Best personal car I have ever driven

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  Consumer - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Merc - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Not up to par on features vis-a-vis competitors in same price range. Significantly improved quality since intro in 98 Already see condensation in left headlight assembly. Will have to get replaced. Not something I would expect in a $50,000 vehicle. Had I not gotten a terrific deal. I would have gone to competition but they are all selling at MSRP or above. (Volvo, Toureg, Cadillac, Lexus) Ridiculous.

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  frist time with a mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ortho - January 13 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive, better looks than bmw and solid built.....

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  E-Class Excellence - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sema - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle a real 1st class treat

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  E320 review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By halliburton bill - January 13 - 10:00 am

  it is a spectacular vehicle--great handling, comfortable interior, and a good maintenance policy--a "10".

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  review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By matt Morley - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Vey nice, I love this vehicle I bought it used but it wasnt that old only like 350 miles on it so it was like brand new. My family loves it also.

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  Bob Douds Review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Robert Doud - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car new in March, 2003. It is fun to drive and gets excellent fuel economy. I have never got less than 20 MPG. The car "turns eyes" wherever we go. In late June - early July we took cross country road trip. The ride was extremely comfortable for both me and my two passengers. Mileage averaged about 25 MPG for the trip (over 8,500 miles total). Extremely quiet and comfortable even at high speeds. Only one problem - that was with the audio system going out. They just got a "fix" - so should not be a problem in the future. I have been very satisfied with every aspect of owning and driving the vehicle.

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  Once in a Benz, always in a Benz - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By HappyBenzowner - January 11 - 11:23 am

  My first luxo-liner. Executive jet indeed it is. This is billiard table smooth on the highway. Nothing like it around town. Must haves are the panorama roof, and navigation and PDC (Parktronic). I can live without 4matic and heated seats. Less complexity and weight. People say "what is it?" And it gets the same mileage as my 06 Honda CRV did. Get one today!! Youll never go back to the "others."