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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  Can you believe - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Joey Martin - October 11 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this ML 500 for 6 yrs and it has a total of 174,000 mi. It has been bullet proof! Yes its hard on brakes, every 22k mi. Tires depending on brand 30-35K. Mechanically, the only major issue? I just had the dealer install a new power steering pump at 171,000 mi. Wow! Great SUV, the best MB I have ever owned. Why get a new one?

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  Not worth the $$$$ - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DLB19 - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Generally, it is an "OK" vehicle. Having said that, "OK" is not good enough for a MB vehicle. Based on the brand and the price, I am very disappointed in both my MBs. Our E-Class had to have a part in the heater replaced, which was several hundred dollars. That repair was shortly followed by the front suspension wearing out, which cost a couple thousand dollars. All these repairs were needed prior to 80,000 miles. I wouldnt expect these type of issues from "any" high end luxury vehicle, much less a Mercedes. The seats are extremely firm, liken to sitting on a cinder block. We also own a ML, which has spent most of its life in the garage, costing us thousands of dollars.

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  Great car but not cheap to own - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By RDV - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Bought her new in Oct 02. Still drives great, interior holding up well. Handling is a little mushy for my taste. Trans occasionally hunts for right gear but otherwise smooth. BEWARE-repairs are pricey. Just fixing a rattling heat shield was $250. I use an independent, Benz-only shop and its still expensive to maintain. Had to replace heater valve last winter - $500. All in all, love the E class (evidenced by my decision to buy a new 2011 E350) but she definitely aint cheap to own and operate. Id be very careful if buying a used one.

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  Exactly what I expected. - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bryan - October 10 - 12:50 pm

  Car runs very well. I have absolutely no regrets at this time.

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  Fun to drive sports sedan - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By lion_king - October 9 - 7:10 am

  Before I chose my 2009 CLS-550 with AMG package, I test drove a 2009 Jaguar XF. XF is a nice looking car but the 1st minute I got into CLS-550, I knew that this is the one. CLS-550 has superior interior design, very comfort ride (both locally and on highway), its eyes-catching exterior makes CLS-550 no comparison in its class. Fun to drive.

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  ML320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By harry andrews - October 7 - 1:23 pm

  This has been a wonderful car. Built like a truck. A little rough in town, but get it on the highway and it drives like a dream, solid and heavy. Good gas mileage, usually around 25-26 mpg.

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  My 2nd Benz - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gerald Netkin - October 7 - 4:00 am

  I have owned a number of European luxuary sedans including Audi S8 and Jaguar XJR. I drove the BMW 550 before purchasing. My 2007 E550 is the most pleasurable yet. I am extreemly satisfied with driving fun, comfort, and performance. This car will wax all but a few and I like to play! I would recommend this car to anyone wanting a true luxury sedan with wrapped in a very high performance machine.

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  2004 Mercedes CLK 320 Cabriolet - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jerry K - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car a week and if initial impresssions are lasting then I made the right decision in purchasing the most expensive car I have ever purchased. However, I figure with its higher than average residual value that I should recoup something more at the end. The car is a delight to drive - it gets stares wherever I go (with many oohs and ahs) - people tell me how beautiful it is and the color combination is perfect: pewter with ash interior w/Black top. I dont like to write long reviews - I will simply state it was worth the money (paid exactly MSRP) and the wait (six months).

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  MB at its best - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MB Driver - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Long time dream of driving a MB finally came true. Very sophisticated drive, smooth, but not overly soft suspension. 430 engine is excellent. Feels tank- sturdy despite being relatively light- weight. Bought and plan to drive it for 10 or so years, will serve me just fine and will look just as respectable as today - they hold value and prestige very well.

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  best sedan ever made - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By nimrod - October 7 - 2:00 am

  best sedan ever made