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:

• 

  Mercedes is back! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By GermanCarFan - December 25 - 11:06 am

  This car is a tank. Its as solid as any car Ive owned, and that includes every make except Chrysler, including a couple BMWs, an Audi, and two E Class sedans. Its not a BMW and shouldnt be compared to one. Its more of a traditional car than a 3 series, which sits lower and feels more compact. The styling is crisp, and the C Class is the best looking Benz in my opinion. The interior takes a lot of hits in the car magazines. I dont understand why. Its executed beautifully, with lots of soft-touch surfaces and understated German solidity. Its not a Lexus, so dont expect baby bottom-soft leather and gaudy wood tones. If you buy a Mercedes, appreciate it for what it is.

• 

  Best of the Best - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By "J" in Connecticut - December 24 - 7:10 pm

  I test drove the BMW-750 and Audi S8, no contest, the S550 wins by a knockout. I got the obsidian black- with-savanah cashmire interior and 19 inch wheels. Critics of the exterior look ought to get examined. This car is fabulous looking. The interior is a masterpiece, and "command" is now so simple and intuitive. Performance is so smooth and effortless, this is a drivers car. I also got the "dynamic rear view moniter, what a great safety devise and... "keyless go", what a plesure that is. This car takes the "luxury" sedan to a new level.

• 

  151000 miles: great vehicle - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By theta - December 24 - 10:00 am

  This was one of the first off the manufacturing line: number 2000 something. Many early annoying issues with rattles etc., but once these got ironed out it has been outstanding. It burns no oil whatsoever even at 150k. It has powerful acceleration and great handling for a suv.

• 

  The best car I have ever driven - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S-10E55 - December 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is worth every penny. It will beat any Ferrari or anything from Italy and for sure anything from Bavaria.

• 

  this sucks - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By j4you - December 24 - 10:00 am

  the car is beatiful inside and out, however being at the dealership over 10 times in the last year has soured my affection for m-bs in general. the dealership/ service department is nice enough, but thats not why i purchase my car. too many problems for a car that cost over 62,000. previous car was a bmw 330ci, in the three period i took the car in 3 times. too much money for such low quality workmanship.

• 

  Back on top - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Charles Lincoln - December 24 - 3:00 am

  This is a stellar automobile. It is just short of perfect, but then, nothing is. It has looks and power, comfort and safety. Biggest complaint: Improve the cupholders so that the driver can see and reach his readily. Keyless Go, Parkatron and GPS should be standard equipment.

• 

  Overall- great luxury sports/touring car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By EWilliams - December 23 - 10:43 pm

  Overall a great luxury sports/touring car. Due to its active suspension (ABC) it can cruise like a S-class but it stiffens up for almost no lean in the fun twistees and corners-Amazing! The transmission senses when you need punch and adjusts to your driving style by the second-a great feature since your driving reactions can be so dynamic in todays crazy traffic. You can adjust the way the car handles from comfort to sport (including ride height) with a push of a button.

• 

  I bought two! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Bonnie Lunt - December 23 - 10:10 pm

  This is my second M-class car. Living in the Northeast where we get black ice in the winter, I have had excellent performance from this series under terrible road conditions. I traded my heavy four wheel drive pick-up for the heavy M-class. I not only feel secure, but the ride is much more comfortable. Its not the most fuel efficient, but I think its worth the tradeoff.

• 

  New 2015 C400 - A step above the competition - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By chicagofan00 - December 22 - 1:05 pm

  The newly redesigned C400 is a huge step above the competition (Audi & BMW) both inside and out. The outside is like a mini S class and the inside has all the luxury and technology items one would need on a daily basis, especially if you opt to check all the option boxes. I opted to forgo a few option packages when I bought mine as there were some items I could live with out and preferred to stay under a $60k price tag. The V6 offers some great get up and go for every day traffic situations, the ride is comfortable even in sport+ mode, and the mBrace system is nice but takes some getting used to. Interior room has worked out well and we have no issues fitting our Keyfit 30 car seat.

• 

  Excellent car, minor glitches - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By - December 22 - 10:00 am

  My first MB. Problems: 1. Central air duct broken at delivery - replaced at no cost (warranty). 2. Key receptor dead at 8000 miles - replaced at no cost (warranty). Note: Service arrived on the spot in < 10 minutes! Handled the case superbly. Overall: Rides wonderfully. Seats are great (lateral support + comfort). Steering feel excellent. Brakes very good. Stereo (BUT: NO CASSETTE NEEDED, THANKS!) Very quiet, yet engaging.