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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  Luxury, Performance, and Fuel Economy - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S500Driver - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Luxury, Performance, and Fuel Economy; what else can one ask? Maybe a lower price, but trust me the S class is worth every penny!

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  Fantastic! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MATT - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I never would have thought that a car would drive better than my previous (e 430) but this car met and exceeded expectations. The 4 Matic give the car a whole new feel in bad conditions. The redesign gives the E Class a more sporty feel without sacrificing luxury.

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  So Far So good - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jeff C. - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Just got the car. Had 2002 Acura TL-S Type and had tons of problems. Car rides ten times better. Solid ride. Neat interior features. Probably needs a few more horsepower but has plenty. Be sure to get Premium Package!

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  What a Car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dagger101 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I usually trade cars every year but I may actually keep this one! It drives and handles great. Alot of fun to drive.

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  I love the confort - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ogarner - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Mercedes nd I love. You feel the security when youre driving this car.

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  Best Regtop ever - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By kurant - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Great Car overall. This is the best ragtop of the price anywhere. I laugh as I drive this car past all the 3 series BMWs out there.

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  German Cars Are Superior - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Samad Beg - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I have had my c230 for a few months and this car rules. I make 90 degree turns at 50mph and the car doesent even squeak. The acceleration is great, and this car handles like a more expensive car than it is. It totally outperforms BMW by quality and sticker price. The panarama sunroof is awesome and the three spoke steering is really comfortable.

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  Adds zest to my commute - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Don - November 27 - 7:16 am

  The SL55 puts track performance and handing capabilities into a comfortable street legal vehicle. That would be difficult to improve upon. I have owned other more exotic sports cars, some at twice the price, and the SL55 is the best to date. Anyone considering the SL65 should go to the SL55 instead. The added 800 pounds up front in the SL65 has a huge negative impact on handing, which is why the SL55 consistently beats on US and European tracks.

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  Standard Setter - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kski1 - November 26 - 12:46 am

  The car is beautifully crafted with subtle elegance. The AWD worked superbly in snow and ice. The vehicle is quiet, responsive, and thoughtfully designed, inside and out. The voice command system is a marvel and requires little more than a quick read through the manual. Like other buyers, I would have expected leather at this price. That is the one area where MB falls short.

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  Wow, I love my car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By mycar08 - November 25 - 3:33 am

  We just picked up my CLS550 at the factory in Stuttgart. What a moving experience. I cried as they drove this incredible vehicle into the delivery area. No other MB looked as classy. After reading reviews on Edmunds.com, we did the European Delivery Plan. This saved us 7% percent and we had a chance to drive it on the Autobahn for 2 weeks.(Must keep speed under 100mph for first 1,000 miles.) This car is amazing and beautiful. Everywhere we drove, people complimented us on it. The European version, CLS350 sells for about the same price in Europe, as the CLS550 in the U.S. Its well worth waiting 8-10 weeks for delivery in Dallas. Ill probably cry all over again.