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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  A Balance Between Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By TC - August 4 - 12:23 am

  I never would have paid the MSRP for this car new, but as a 2 year old lease return with less than 15K for 50% of MSRP, it seemed reasonable. The balance of performance and luxury/comfort is very impressive. Its very comfortable as a luxo- cruiser, but only a short throttle stab away from a rear-end sliding beast. Ive had BMWs and S-version Audis before, and this time I looked at used AM Vantages (poor warranty) and M6s (sorry - just not very attractive), and considered 911s as well(yes, its more of a sports car), but as a daily luxo driver in urban traffic that is still capable of lots of hard-top down, rip-snorting fun, this is a very tough car to beat....especially for 1/2 off!

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  What a beast! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By scovit - August 4 - 12:03 am

  What a car...If you want unbelievable performance and the highest quality small sports sedan, this is it! Driving down the road is a unique experience, a "wolf in sheeps clothing"! Those who know about this rocket burner give you an unsolicited thumbs up! Those who dont know about this car just stare at it wondering if it is "something new". But it can be quite tame around town, kind of a duel personality! Ive driven them all... BMWs, Audis, other Mercedes, This one drives with an edge rarely seen in a production car. What do you expect? The engine is hand built. The others dont offer that!

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  New E - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Glenn - August 1 - 7:33 pm

  This car was great from the start. The driving experience is best on the highway, as in city driving a driver might feel a bit disconnected from the road. Controls are easy to use while driving, although using my iPod proves a bit tricky to navigate through.

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  Baby Benz or is it ? C300 Sport 4Matic - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jason - August 1 - 2:36 pm

  I love this car it has it all, Comfort Looks and Performance! Great Gas Mileage. No complaints.

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  Excellent car, but for the little things - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Logikman - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I love the powertrain and the engineering they put into it. I also love the smoothness of the ride. Now, why cant they do some really little stuff and not so much overengineer the car? Baubbles:1. If you didnt buy car with rain sensor wiper... you dont even have the regular car intermittent wiper! 2. The joke of a cup holder in the middle and not even a good one for the passenger.. only cans? 3. Sluggish 20 to 50 mi.accel.. Whats up with such good accel between 50-80 but not 20-50? 4. You pay for MB parts or service. EXPENSIVE.175 $$ key? 58 $$ oil change.go figure! 6. NO LUMBAR Support lever! Anyway, rest of the car.. I love it... :)

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  One-Month In, and No (Major) Regrets - 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By jinoc - July 31 - 2:51 am

  This is not going to try to explain that the least expensive Mercedes Benz is comparable to better cars Ive owned. I think the reasons why youd pick this car over its competition (A3, 228i) are mostly a matter of personal taste and priorities: pretty good fuel economy for a gas engine, attractive lines and styling, an overall good amount of features for the money, terrific stereo, and a reasonably fun car to drive. Their Premium package adds a lot of the must-have features in my opinion, so thats probably something to consider. Can you get a loaded VW TDI or Mustang for the less money? Yes of course. Is a 228 or an A3 more fun to drive - probably

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  CLK - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jpk - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Classy, compact, powerful, surprisingly economical around town and on the road; solid build quality, no cowl shake, voice-activated phone and stereo/CD controls a treat; a great road car, eats up the miles in perfect security with predictable handling

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  Love it - Trading for 2003! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Houston - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck! I have owned several MB in the past (6) and all of them have their own problems but I have to tell you this one has been great. I have NOT been dissappointed. THe dealership has repaired any problems, usually before I notice them. They have taken exceptional care of me and my vehicle, probably because I have been a customer since 1975.

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  Just got one - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By HITERP - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Looked at buying a used 00 or 01. GLAD we went with an 02. FAR nicer vehicle. Smoother, quieter, many nicer features (climate control, vents and controls for the rear seat passengers, etc...). The vehicle is very easy to drive. I would recommend it for someone who likes the additional room an SUV provides in the rear, but doesnt want to drive a huge vehicle.

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  E500 Excellent Value Vs. BMW 5 Series - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CJBECHARD - July 31 - 2:00 am

  This car has rear drive and a fast, smooth V-8. Together with Benz build quality and luxury interior, the E500 represents the best dollar value in this segment. Yes, its better than the upcoming 04 BMW 5 (who needs a computer mouse on their center console, anyway)! Only downside is the need for just a bit more rear legroom, but why would I care, I always drive! Thanks MBUSA.