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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  Best in Class - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Glider 8 - March 17 - 2:00 am

  A Great Everyday Vehicle which has not been fully appreciated by the auto critics.

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  Very pleased - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By New Yorker - March 16 - 9:43 am

  Ive had the car for 5 months now and couldnt be more pleased. The car handles exactly like you would expect and has outstanding performance. I have the 500 convertible and it doesnt accelerate, it leaps forward. I can imagine how the 07 550 accelerates. I compared it to the Audi S4 and the BMW 6 convertibles. The only thing the Audi had on it was all wheel drive - but it came with a higher monthly lease cost. The BMW wasnt as attractive and the back seat was not worth having. The back seat on the Benz while not expansive can and has held 2 full size adults confortably. The convertible top works great although it could be a little faster and less sensitive to items in the trunk.

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  Good bye Lexus! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By John - March 14 - 10:33 pm

  I bought an Artic White C350 with Light Grey and Black interior mid- August (premium II pkg and Pano-roof) Waited over a month but it was worth it! I got rid of my Lexus 2003 IS300 and am very pleased. It accelerates smoothly and quickly, I love the 7 speed transmission. The seats are extremely comfortable. It is so much quieter than my previous IS and even quieter than the new generation IS250/350. The ride is extremely smooth and I can not tell you how people have stopped me on the road and walking by to tell me how great this car looks! I have never owned a car that recieves so much attention!

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  Mercedes Sedan Disguised as an SUV - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Jeff - March 14 - 3:00 am

  This is our second MB. We also own an 05 ML350 and have been very happy with it. My wife traded her 04 Acura MDX for the new GL. We looked at the new 07 Acura MDX and although the Acura appears to be a good value we were not impressed by the overall build quality of our 04 MDX vs 05 ML350. We also looked hard at the new BMW X5 V8 but determined it was no larger than the Acura MDX and takes you into the price range of the much larger, faster, smoother and more practical GL. We just hit 3,000 miles and we are still fighting over who gets to drive.

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  Fun Car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By jay - March 12 - 10:40 am

  Really nice car for the price. It needs more technology to be used, and they should be standard features, not an options.

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  ultimate motoring - 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By esq - March 12 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle was purchased Starmarked from dealer -- in excellent shape with 27k miles. Has been an excellent driving experience, especially on the highway. Very easy to exceed speed limits because car is totally quiet, smooth and has unprecedented power reserve for accelerating, even at high speeds. Car has suffered very high depcreciation since purchase.

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  The Right Decison Afterall - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Eric Dise - March 12 - 7:00 am

  I tinkered around with moving to a car from a SUV for several years. I began looking at Infinitis, Lexuss, BMWs, and even Porsches. The main draw of the E350 was the 4Matic feature. I am a work-aholic and dont like to miss work due to weather. After I found one at a local dealer, I took it out for a spin. Oh my, was it impressive. I loved the looks. I loved the power. I loved the comfort and fit. It was smooth and powerful. The seats are very supportive. The tranny is smooth and agile and the ride is perfection! After only months of ownership I am convinced I made a great choice. I havent had it serviced yet which makes me a bit nervous. However, I expect a great experience!

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  Incredible for the money on the used market - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By syberfilm - March 12 - 12:43 am

  I have about 150,000 miles on my CL65. I always wanted a 65 but was told not to get one because of the expense to work on. Let me tell you this is ultra reliable and way cheaper then my Ferrari. I have only had to issues in over 100K of driving. I bought it used with about 50K on it. First issue was a coil unit went out and I had to replace it. Cost about $2,500. The other issue, the ABC was drooping. The shop wanted over $3,000 to fix. I found a video on youtube and did it myself. for about $400 US. I am not very mechanical at all. It took me all day to do. But saved some bucks. Other then those two issues. The car has been a dream. I just do the scheduled maintenance and drive.

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  A Sports Car/SUV - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By ET - March 11 - 3:36 am

  I purchased my GLK in May, with all the bells and whistles. Love the light grey/black and wood interior. Last car was a King Ranch Expedition @ 14 mpg. Glad to see the overall avg of 20 Im getting with the GLK. The Nav system, bluetooth recognition for my I-Phone, safety are all pluses. Obviously, less room but after all it is a smaller SUV. I find the lift gate and space more than adequate. Lots of power for passing on highways! Comfortable, quiet, and fun to drive. My GLK is well appointed, quality workmanship, and appearance. I have the 20 inch wheels and premium black finish. No defects in the paint or elsewhere. No negatives - easy to drive, great handling, just a terrific car!

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  This is a great automobile! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By DElovesMB - March 10 - 11:36 am

  My ML 320 has never let me down. No major repairs, only routine maintenance. I have yet to see the "service engine soon" light come on. Performance, safety, and winter handling are unbeatable. This vehicle is glued to the road in any conditions! I still average 24 mpg on the highway at 70 mph (22 mpg at 80 mph)! My only complaints are with the interior. My rearview mirror adjustment knob popped off and I have not been able to find it. Well, what can you expect when the Germans hired someone else to engineer the interior? I am not disappointed, the interior it is still good, it just doesnt live up to the quality of the rest of the vehicle.