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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  Overall Pleased - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Lauren - December 26 - 12:10 pm

  I owned an ML before and was very excited about the GL when we were first told about it in Jan 2006. We preordered and took deliver May 7, 2006! I loved the car right away, and already have 10,000 miles. Having driven it now for 6 months, I can say that I would make two changes! DVD location, and split 2nd row seats. I have two children (in car seats) and running carpool with this creates big problems getting into the 3rd row! Also, DVD player needs to be accessible and controlled from the front seat! Children cannot unbuckle or get out of carseat to change DVD player that is located under the 2nd row seat! Very poor design for a mother with children! Otherwise, a fabulous car!

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  Best Mercedes I have owned - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Roger M. Gray - December 25 - 5:13 pm

  Since 1976 I have owned 8 Mercedes. The first was a 1976 450 SL and the latest being a 2005 E320. I currently own a 1994 SL500 as well and really love it. It is the best car I have had to date. It current has a bit over 125,000 miles on it and the only thing I have had to do to it was rebuild the transmission and replace the soft top. The engine still has a lot of get up and go. It is not as strong as the new SLs (2004 as an example). It probably needs some tender loving care. Of the 70s 90s and newest body styles I really like this body style (129) the best. It has class and character. I would really would recommend this car to anyone.

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  CLK and Truth - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Simon X - December 25 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for all of 1 month now. I read the reviews and everyone has an opinion. For the most part good, a few not so good perhaps. I have been a BMW driver for over a decade and this is my first Mercedes Benz. While I am used to a younger, sportier appeal in cars, the CLK 320 has changed my whole view of MB and the definition of fun, safe, sporty and elegant. If you have reservations about this car at all, Im here to put your mind at ease. You will not be disappointed. You will probably drive this car for a long long time. My commute has become the fun part of my day!

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  SO FAR SO GOOD - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SWASSERMAN - December 25 - 10:00 am

  I have only had this car for a week, so this review is obviously limited. Traded up from a 1997 Lexus E300. This car is beautiful, with a smooth powerful drive. Checked out VIN w/dealership to make sure it was not part of the recalls (on Edmunds) --so far have not had any mechanical/electrical problems for which Mercedes is becoming quickly known. Disappointed that leather seats are not as cushy as Lexus and are not even an option on E500. Also, Nav system is somewhat complicated to program.

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  An incredible means of transportation - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Stevephils - December 25 - 10:00 am

  Impressive performance from 5 liter V8; steering wheel gear shifters (7 speeds) are very cool. Excellent design and finish. A real head turner. Perfect means of transportation in South Florida.

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  WOW! What a ride! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Andy&Thao - December 24 - 8:36 pm

  What an awesome machine...went to the dealer and picked one out of the showroom fully loaded. Love everything about it, just wish the fuel economy is a little bit better. Approaching 2000 miles and loving everytime making a trip.

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  WOW what a car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By spratt3 - December 24 - 2:03 am

  The C280 4matic has been a great car. Runs perfect in the snow! Treat yourself to a great ride. Service is a bit pricey. Handling is great. Gas is about 25MPG highway @72-75 MPH, 27PMG highway @60-65MPH, 20MPG, city. A few minor problems, but all in all I think youll love the car like I do. see suggested improvements for problems I had.

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  Ultimate Highway Cruiser - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By rchase - December 23 - 12:06 pm

  This car is the ultimate highway cruiser. The 6 cyl engine has plenty of power for passing and puts many V8s to shame with its smoothness and power. I have owned this car for many years and it has been super reliable and rather inexpensive to operate. If maintained correctly a Mercedes and even a complicated S class can provide years of reliable transportation at a reasonable cost. Even though this is a large car with a 6 cylinder engine its very fast. For its size it also handles really well. I had to follow a co worker in his Nissan 350z and had no problem keeping up with him even with his attempts to loose me on back roads.

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  Mercedes E430 - Excellent - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Clark Christensen - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Excellent machine - I will continue to buy Mercedes sedans the rest of my life. I like it so much, I cant imagine parting with it in the next 10 years.

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  My First SL-ice of Heaven. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By AKMD - December 23 - 2:00 am

  83 SD300 to an 89 911 to a 94STS to a 97 740iL to a 2000 S500 to a 2003 SL500...small to big,... fast to sluggish,.. Ive owned them all. The absolute,overall favorite is the SL 500. Fast, sexy, comfortable, nimble, logical, fun, uncommon, and nearly as beautiful as the perfect woman. Curves in the right places, predictable attitude, a dream to be with, enviable from every angle, fast and precise with a full throttle voice to die for. A perfect specimen, especially when topless. Soft in the right places and graciously endowed with the right equipment. Push the right buttons and get ready for the ride of your life.