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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  Awesome Car! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Gill - January 3 - 9:33 am

  After test driving alot of cars in this class BMW, Infinity, Cadillac, and Audi. When you add everything up exterior looks, performance, ride and comfort. The Mercedes was the clear winner. I ordered it fully loaded with the 18 inch AMG wheels,multimedia and panorama sun roof. This car has quick acceleration, a smooth and quiet ride, and a solid feel. Its a fun car to drive and gets a lot of looks. I love this car.

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  Everyone needs this car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By james - January 2 - 11:46 am

  This car is beautiful to look at and even more awesome to drive. It seats four adults technically, although the backseat can be a tad small. Navigation system is easy to use - not complicated at all as others have rated. It is a gas guzzler, however it is worth the extra premium gas price because the ride is awesome. I love it.I love the horsepower.I love the smell of the car, once again .This car is beautiful to look at and even more awesome to drive. Mercedes-Benz, thanks for all the hard work

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  First German car... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Dave2 - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Awesome! Mercedes for the rest of my life. After many Chevys, Fords, Toyotas, Hondas; I will never go back. The customer service is unbelievable. Dont buy one unless you plan on owning MB the rest of your life.

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  So far so good. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Johnny5 - December 31 - 12:26 am

  I just got my 2006 E350 4Matic and so far, things are going great. I love the power shade, the quality of the standard stereo system, and the integrated 6 disk changer. The 4matic seems to have a little trouble choosing gears but that may by own perception. I love the distinguished look of the car and the maturity level it portrays since Im only 28 and use the car mostly for business.

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  An excellent SUV combines the goodness - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By WWW - December 30 - 5:33 am

  I own a Toyota minivan. I have tried Lexus Rx and GX 470, BMW X5, Toyota 4-RUnnner and Highlander hybrids before I settle down to this ML 320 CDI. All the Toyotas and Lexuss have the similar driving trait and characteristic, includ quiet, comfort but boring. BMW is impressive for its road handling and driving capability but it is louder and coarse. Its electronics is too complicated with a lots of trouble. The Mercedes combined all those goodness plus the advantage for fuel economy. So far I got 22-24 MPG combine local and highway in the break in period. The truck is more comfort and quieter than Lexuss and Toyotas. The road handling and drivability is definitely better than Lexus and Toyota

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  Got it right in 2006 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mlarocco - December 28 - 11:06 pm

  Bought my 2006 ML350 in November 05 and so far Im very pleased. Love the look and feel; performance is excellent. Gas mileage not bad for its class. MB finally got it right with ML series in 06.

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  Exciting - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jim - December 28 - 9:03 am

  The CLK350 is sporty and elegant. What a joy to drive. No need to worry about speed or safety, the car has both. Plenty of truck space and seats four comfortably. On top of all the wonderful features you get professional service support. Thanks for the awesome experience and ride.

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  On my second one - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jennifer - December 28 - 7:30 am

  Im on my second new generation E- class, the first one having been a 2003 model, the first year of its new profile. The 2006 now has a 6-speed automatic relative to the previous 4- speeed, and navigation, which was too new and not yet introduced to my previous car. They dont drive like BMWs, but when you drive 60+ miles a day, this is both fun and extremely comfortable, for your passengers too. Gear shifter seems more responsive than before, and thats not just because of the shorter gear ratios.

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  08 C300 Best Car Ive Had - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Timmy B - December 27 - 11:53 am

  I waited many years to buy a Benz. It was well worth the wait. The car is smooth, has great features, power and comfort. On a country rooad, it drives itself. best value for the money.

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  Great vehicle - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kasasbeh - December 26 - 11:20 pm

  This is a great vehicle. Disclaimer: wife drives it during the week, I drive it on weekends when we go out together. Awesome vehicle, all around. Love driving it, handling is awesome. The exterior color is culprit brown: its beautiful - but its a color my wife picked. Interior is a beautiful shade of reddish brown.