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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  Fun to drive to ski and hiking - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By cmiao_98 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  very comfort to drive, especially in the snow area, and mountain side. excellent control in downhill condition. Just fun to drive in all weather conditions.

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  s500 Rocks!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By rsboca - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I had to get the S500 asap. The reason? I previously owned a S500 on a 2 year lease. When the lease was up my wife urged me to get a Lexus & I did (for 2 years) Yes, A lexus is great. BUT a S500 is like no other car. NOW I am soooooo happy! Quality=The Best & Fun to drive & Safety. If You have the cash, GET THIS CAR.

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  Absoloutely the best car Ive ever had! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By WTan - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is absolutely the best! I have traded up from an 04 SL500 and I dont regret it one bit. The performance and handling of this car is awesome! The shift by MB to DVD navigation is the right step! If youre looking for a roadster/convertible, this is IT!

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  THE E320 CDI LETS ROLL - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Clark D. Williams - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Undoubtedly the best car I have ever owned. The performance and handling even compared to the basic model is without comparision. So far Ive had 4600 miles of trouble-free driving. Its very quick with its 369 lbs of torque and will even squeal if youre too heavy footed all while still delivering outstanding fuel economy.

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  Back to the Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CraigIe Poo - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Mercedes and after being trapped in a Cadillac for the last 4 years I cant be happier. Great quality and performace.

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  Amazing Feeling - 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Javed - June 17 - 5:50 pm

  I switched from an Audi A8L to this magnificent ride-what a difference. Driving this car makes you feel so calm and relaxed. Very minimal road noise. This car is so great-I dont know what I will upgrade to, when time to change it will come

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  Smooth and solid - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By oliverp - June 16 - 2:13 pm

  After 1700 miles I can say this is a solid, safe, smooth package. The V6 turbo diesel, 7 speed transmission and AWD are a remarkable combination. The engine stays between 1,200 and 2,200 rpm most of the time, and with barely noticeable shifts or sound. The transmission provides engine braking automatically. Air suspension is adaptable and smooth. I drove up and down snowy, unplowed hilly roads all day yesterday without slips or slides, mostly in the Airmatic raised position. Surprisingly tight turning radius. Mileage 22-25 mixed Seating is very comfortable and interior appointments (brushed aluminum/ ultrasuede) are striking. Nice cargo management system. No defects at 1750 miles.

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  European Delivery on 230 Kompressor - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By L.A. - June 16 - 10:30 am

  I took delivery at the plant in Sttutgart , receiving the royal treatment there, including a full tank of gas. Took off for Berlin inmediately in the Autobahn. Got it in the States for Christmas. Performance is beyond my expectations, handling , braking and high speed acceleration are superb and so is confort. Front seats can be stretched to form a bed for a quick nap in rest areas. Very thrifty on gas specially in the 60 miles range.

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  g55 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By C.J - June 14 - 10:00 am

  This is the ultimate SUV, it knocks the socks off the Range Rover and the X-5. Performance-wise theres nothing like it on the road, and definitely nothing like it off road.

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  Wow power - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Cdr. - June 14 - 10:00 am

  The same advice they give jet pilots. When you pass another car be sure to be thinking where you will be, not where you are. It is so fast and powerful that unless you want to race a top fueler at the local drag strip you dont need more power or speed. This car handles so well you have to remember not to nod off thinking it is driving itself. Spending this kind of money seems overkill until you drive and drive and keep looking forward to driving it again. What a rush. No regrets and letss face it, the looks on the drivers of the "Zs" is precious as they do a double and triple take while eyeing the sparkling AMG on the stern. Ever fishtail doing 70 and stomping on it? This does it!