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:

• 

  2005 Mercedes E320 CDI - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By G. Ward - September 13 - 8:00 am

  I have been very pleased with my E320 CDI in the year I have had it. My mileage has been between 33 and 35 mpg, and even higher on longer trips. The car has excellent pickup and is much better than the diesels I have owned in the past. The only problem I have had is that the clock in the dash gains a couple minutes a month and it is not exactly easy to reset. The dealer told me that this gain per month is within tolerances, but none of my clocks gained that much in the past. I have had one burned taillight in the year Ive had the car, and one recall to repair the computer assisted brake system. All in all, it is an excellent car.

• 

  OH MY HECK!!!!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By spin man - September 11 - 12:20 pm

  This is no SUV for the typical affluent housewife. It is an awesome military born rugged SUV turned luxury- --well, as much as possible. It takes a heavy hand and a heavy foot, but that is not a bad thing. It is more of a mans car, no doubt. I love it because it is never going to lose the visual appeal it possesses. It is strong, demanding, and has incredible presence. That is what makes the G500 stand all alone. Nothing comes close.

• 

  Worth The Money.... - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Ben_FL - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This car is like a fresh bread from the oven. Very comfortable. For the time Ive had this car I dont have anything much to complain. The only thing I would have wished for better is the fuel consumption. But owning this car means having your pockets ready for the gas.My only disappointment is when the battery went low without any indication.But all the same the positive overcome the negatives. Recommended car for you out there !!

• 

  OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By H-Bag - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Either Im the luckiest man alive or those germans really know HOW TO BUILD THEM !!.....This 4matic is coming close to 100k miles and so far no problems at all other than regular maintenance. Also this car is a BEAST in the snow w/artic alpines of course.

• 

  ML500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By CMT - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Love the ML500. Park Place gives excellent service.

• 

  Oh Lord, please let me drive a Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mercedes Bobby - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a head turner. I had it moving very fast on the highway...The higher the speed the smoother the ride~absolute beautiful vehicle. I would like to say the heated seats are wonderful~Would recommend rear heated seats~Mercedes does not offer this in the rear~not a problem though, the rear heat is excellent~

• 

  c230 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sk1 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  great car with lots of options.

• 

  Performance, Luxury, Muscle Car all in one - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jim - September 9 - 7:53 pm

  My SL55 has been the car I always wanted. It outperforms the 2 year old Porshe I turned, in all catagories. It is faster, corners better and much more comfortable. The hard top convertible gives you a quiet ride when up.I have had a few minor electronic problems that were fixed quickly I have the SL 65 sport package on mine. It is the same car as an SL65 without the extra 800 pounds in the motor and only 111 less H.P. This is the best production sports,luxury,Muscle car on the road. The downside, They charge you for all 3 cars.It beats almost everything. If you can afford a $145,000 car, This is the best car on the road.

• 

  Mine - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bruss - September 9 - 7:53 pm

  Awesome car. Very sporty and fun to drive. Gas mileage seems to be fairly good so far for someone with a lead foot like me.

• 

  Excellent Customer Service - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Luis F. Montalvo - September 7 - 10:56 pm

  Had a 2005 C230 Kompressor with a total of 7 uncheduled visits to the Service department, 4 of them related to a problem with the check engine light and loss of engine power. The vehicle had around 7000 miles when problems started and this week had to trade in with 10000 miles. I traded for another Mercedes Benz 2006 C280. Even when I had lost of problems with the C230k , I loved this car and would not hesitate to have it back. I think I just had a bad one from a bunch.