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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  SL550 as every day driver - 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By carnut130 - August 24 - 6:23 am

  The strength of the SL is that is sort of like a 2 passenger GT Touring luxury vehicle. Compares with Maserati, Jaguar XK, & BMW 650. This car is the peak of technology and easy to learn. Holds two tour golf bags in trunk with top up and one with top down. The negative is that the look is getting a little boring. Even though it is different from the 2012, it is only slightly different. Inside is major, outside is not. I ding the value on this car, not because it is not the best of its competition, which it is, but because they lose so much money the first year. Outside of that, the car does so much more than its competitor and does the more excellently.

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  Happy Wife - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By L1 - August 22 - 8:40 pm

  Love this car for the styling and performance. We picked it up in Feb 2005 for my wife and it gets stares everywhere we go. It is the best looking Mercedes I have seen since the Gull Wing. The rear seat headroom is marginal as to be expected with any coupe. I am 6 tall and have an inch or two to spare. My wife is very happy with this car and I am considering buying one for myself.

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  Most comfortable ride Ive ever had - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By Jmp325 - August 22 - 5:27 pm

  I drive about 20,000 miles a year for work, so I needed something that would be comfortable and also safe, and the GLE 350 is both! Not to mention stylish and sporty, its the total package.

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  My first Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By animechan - August 21 - 6:56 pm

  Having driven many Mercedes in past but never owning one until now, I am not disappointed. I bought mine barely used with only 3000 miles on it over 18 months ago and the true market value on Edmunds for Private Party sale is about the same as what I originally paid. Great value for the money. Would considering buying again when the next model comes out. Definitely worth buying compared to comparably priced cars such as Accord V6, Acura RSX, etc.

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  My Dream Car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By SLKFranklin - August 21 - 6:10 am

  I have wanted a C230 for a long time. I finally sold my 2007 Ford Fusion and bought a used 2007 C230 Sport. I love this car. Man was it an upgrade from my Fusion. I have read a couple of reviews on here that people have written. There was one person that knocked the C230 on driving in snow. HELLO! It is rear wheel drive. It doesnt matter what brand of car it is. There pretty much isnt a rear wheel drive that is going to be good in the snow. So far the only problem that I have had is my check engine light. I plan on taking it to the MB dealership. I am not worried about it because it is still under the factory warranty. I am looking forward to owning this C Class for many years

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  R320 CDI - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By diesel dad - August 21 - 12:36 am

  Most bang for your buck for a Mercedes by far. Had ours for a month and quite pleased other than the lumbar adjustment is a little lacking with its the manual lever (akin to something on a 80s Honda). The bluetooth module is also $500 bucks from the dealer and really should be included as well as the available seat adjustments on other models. Another gripe is the navigation; really not as intuitive compared to other less prestigious manufacturers. The diesel has good acceleration and is unbelievably quiet but youll pay a little extra for it up front and at the pump but hey its four wheel drive. Im one of those that love the looks and interior styling and hope they dont change it.

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  The Ultimate Luxury Sedan - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Greg Rhea - August 20 - 5:10 am

  Great styling, wonderful performance, spacious interior. A must have if you want to drive an awesome sedan with nible capabilities that has safety features that are second to none. And you will always get front row parking from the valet.

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  2002 Mercedes Benz Sport Wagon a Nearly Perfect Ve - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bob C. - August 19 - 10:39 am

  Ive owned my 2002 C320 Sport Wagon for more than 6 years, and after owning over 125 cars in my 50+ years of driving, I can honestly say this has been one of my absolute favorite cars. It combines useful room inside (though the aerodynamic rear roof slope can intrude), excellent comfort, and absolutely outstanding fuel economy, and reliability, resulting is low cost of ownership in my case. The car just "fits" my typical stature (6 feet tall of average proportions), and is fatigue-free even after many hours of driving. If I have any gripe at all, its the absence of Bluetooth for cellphone use (The car came with a factory supplied telephone that would now be unlawful to even use in motion.), and does not have aux inputs for audio devices, or a USB connection for digital media. It also lacks GPS navigation, though in honesty I prefer a stand-alone GPS because it can be updated at no cost. Fuel economy of 32mph highway and 26mpg suburban on regular fuel (Premium is recommended, but unless one lives in mountainous areas, or is a lead-foot, regular is just fine) is outstanding for the safety and comfort offered. In my 6+ years of ownership, the car cost me nothing in repairs (not a single parts failure), though I recently replaced a number of parts and did a transmission fluid change as a preventative measure figuring nearing 90,000 mi a new accessory belt, belt tensioner, water pump, and spark plugs, along with new coolant and transmission fluid were a sensible measure. The car still looks, feels, and handles like a new car, with no degradation as mileage has progressed.

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  Great Vehicle - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MLC - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I have thoroughly enjoyed driving this vehicle for last 6 years. It has been reliable, comfortable and useful. The dealerships I have dealt with have been great. I feel very safe driving this car in high traffic urban areas and cross-country. Handles excellent in all weather. Very few repairs have been needed in 6 years.

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  THE BEST CAR EVER!!!!! MERCEDES FOR SURE - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By karpathos77 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought it with 110000 miles. I still have not done anything to the car but change the oil every 5000 miles and change the spark plugs. It is smooth over bumps. This car gets great gas milage. On a full tank with normal driving you can get anywhere from 450- 540miles on a full tank. The interior looks like brand new. Like the car has never been sat in. Lots of leg room. Engine always runs smooth with no wineee noise. it can go 155 miles an hour no problem. The car is the most stable car in the world. It should have been a race car. If you are in to looks and big wheels this is your car.