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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  Sharp,comfortable luxury car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By carmbu - January 10 - 4:53 pm

  After about 50,000 miles, i still enjoy to drive the C240 everyday to work. It has never stranded me, and is a comfortable highway cruiser with decent gas mileage getting about 28mpg highway, though with just 168hp, I thought it would be better. I maintain it well and the interior and exterior look like the day I bought it. The car has been to the dealership though about 8 unscheduled times for various issues such as both catalytic converters failing, speaker failure, headlight assembly failure and battery dying without any warning. Still, all covered under warranty.

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  Great car and fun to drive - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Bob - January 8 - 10:13 am

  I traded up from the SLK 280 for the CLK 350. Does not have the same handling as its baby brother, but the advantages far outweigh this fact. Very comfortable interior and leather seats are very comfortable. The model I have does not have park assist, but I would recommend this option. Looking out the back window it is tough to determine where the car ends. I have the older navigation system which is not easy to use, but the newer models I believe now come with the upgraded voice system. Quiet and very smooth ride. Plenty of acceleration when you need it. I am averaging about 19 mpg combined city and highway, about what Mercedes advertises. HK sound system is great. Nice instrument panel.

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  Fun to own...driving is Fabulous ! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tania Tanjal - January 7 - 4:10 pm

  I am not good with big cars, I found this C Class to be a perfect fit. Parking inside the garage as well as in parking lots is very convenient. Driving this Compressor is just a lot of fun ! It corners with zest. It does take off and comes up onto the highway very eagerly. Visiblity is very good for me. Even fuel efficiency is great since gas prices are dreary. Enjoy, get one.

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  Love this vehicle! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Mara - January 7 - 4:56 am

  We were looking for passenger room, and better fuel economy than our Suburban, and were very interested in a diesel. This vehicle looks sharp, seats 6-7 very comfortably, and I couldnt be happier driving it! We average 28 mpg with highway driving, and about 23 in town. With the back seat down, there is good storage space, and when using the back seat for passengers, no one complains about the comfort back there, as they did in the Suburban. We are thrilled with this vehicle!

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  Spari - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Luke Spari - January 7 - 12:01 am

  Make sure you get heated seats!

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  Hard to trade in this elegant workhorse - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Warren Woessner - January 6 - 6:33 am

  I live in Minnesota, so bought the car new with the 4matic feature. I love the way it looks inside and out and it has been mechanically very very reliable. I only have 50000 miles on it now in 2008 and it is starting to show its age a bit. The most serious things that have broken are both rear window power lifts, but the repair costs were not outrageous. Adequately powered by todays standards (barely), still I cant bear to part with it. And it looks better than the new ones.

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  2004 CLK55 AMG Cabriolet - VERY HOT CAR - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Doctore1 - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This is a sexy firebreathing head- turner. The best car that I have ever owned. Purrs like a pussycat until you put the pedal-to-the-metal, then it takes off like a bat-out-of- h#**....handles like a snake, no rattles or shimmies or shakes, just glued to the road. Mine is Black/Black/Black. Able to easily blow- away any Z corvette, BMW or muscle car from the line or rolling. Cannot wait until I can add aftermarket chip and Kompressor....will then have 525hp...

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  CL 55 AMG - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By edpopovich - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Quietest, most comfortable supercar on the road. The seating and positioning is just right. The lines of the vehicle are so nice that it is nice to just look at it sitting in the garage.

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  Living Room On Wheels - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By ClayMan - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This is the ultimate ride. You wont need antianxiety medication if you drive one of these. Its a totally relaxing experience - like riding in a very comfortable living room. Ive put the 4MATIC to the test, and it survived unbelievably well. The keyless entry is something that all cars should have - very convenient.

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  Most Fun to Drive - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By tutegusto - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Having owned many versions of Porsche 911, a BMW M3, a 740i and a 850 and both a Ferrari Testarossa and a 550 Maranello I have to admit this is the top of my list in overall satisfaction.It has more raw power than even the 550, and yet it is controlled by the latest technology that gives you the opportunity to snarl or purr as you navigate all that torque and horse power. Great design and all year convertible to hard top options. See yah flying down the highway or eating up those curves on roads like Highway 1 in California. Thank you Mercedes!