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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  My 2003 Mercedes CLK 320 Convertible - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Shane Park - October 22 - 10:20 am

  When I purchased my 2003 pre-owned smoked silver Mercedes CLK 320 convertible with 19" chrome AMG rims and low profile tires I knew I was in for some major fun. The first thing that caught my eye (other than the glimmer of the rims) was the way the top retracted neatly into its space then dissappeared as the rear cover closed. The look of this car with the top down is by far the best convertible look I have ever seen. The exterior lines are true to a well designed Mercedes and the interior look does not lack at all in design but I prefer less plastic. The 265 HP engine speeds you smoothly around anyone in your way and the electronic shifter supplies you with the added hill power when needed.

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  Time To Trade - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bsdl1 - October 16 - 12:26 pm

  After waiting a year to receive my ML I was thrilled to pick it up. The handling in bad road conditions is exceptional. The handling and ride are all I hoped for. Build quality is horrific. The original paint chipped in over 200 places on the hood, MB repainted the front end under warranty. Electrical problems persist. The trip computer has gone out, my wipers no longer work, the clock works intermittently. MB wants $145 to look at the wipers - no repair. The arrogance of the dealership is incredible as they make me wait 11 days to schedule an oil change.

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  Beauty and the Beast - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By 20/20 - October 14 - 2:06 pm

  Love the looks of the vehicle and the attention it gets but not so keen on the ride. Dont know if I would have made the purchase had I known the transmission and ride would be so "less than desirable".

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  glad I bought it! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rosy - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Never listen to critics! This car is fun to drive and reliable. My friend bought hers last year and feels the same way. Much better quality than Lexus IS300 and the Infinity and more for your money!

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  Replace Fuel Pump After 7 Years!! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ardot - October 6 - 8:52 pm

  Smelled gas inside vehicle after filling up, engine light came on, and the smell was extremely overwhelming with gas fumes. I had to roll all windows and sunroof down in 20 degrees weather. Contacted Mercedes Benz Atlanta on Piedmont (all records on file with up keep of vehicle maintenance) to advise. Took car for repaired and I am stuck with a $1400 repair bill. I was told by my service advisor that in 7 years the fuel pump goes out and has to be replaced? REALLY MERCEDES? This is a manufacture defect and the consumer should not be held accountable for something this major. So much for high end top of the line. This is certainly a defect. I want my check Mercedes! You should be a shame!

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  Love my CLK 430 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Travis - October 4 - 4:00 am

  I have loved my CLK 430 coupe since day #1. It always puts a smile on my face and is great to drive, especially on the open road. The updated styling for 2001 still looks great and I think, better than the current, slimmer model. Despite some small nuisance repairs, Id recommend it to anyone who wants a solid, sporty car to drive in the city or on the highway.

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  OOPS, Whats this all about???? - 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lawago - October 2 - 2:06 am

  I would have never rated an MB until the C300 we just bought. After having it for one week and less than 500 miles on it, it developed a big problem. My wife was driving it to her office and all of the systems started shutting down. Steering, temperature controls, radio, etc. Turns out the main belt, the "Serpentine" belt which controls everything was broken. I dont understand why this could ever happen on a brand new C300 (nor does the dealer). Anyone else ever heard of this? Was mine built during Oktoberfest or is it just a one time thing? Dealer speculates that it wasnt installed properly at the factory. Scares me for what else could go wrong!

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  A Chrysler in MB clothes - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By irlfan72 - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Dont fool yourself that MB quality is great.Car has 16,300 mi and been in for;supercharger,hatch,foglight,cupholde r,hatch repaint. It starts rough at times and Im concerned its another repair waiting to happen. Thankfully, its all under warranty. Upon recent B service at MB of Hagerstown, rims came back scratched. I wouldnt expect that of your local garage, let alone an award winning MB service department! They promised theyd be "touched up" next service. Despite its faults, a blast to drive. Overtaking is easy and onramp/offramp driving loads of fun. However, we will be getting rid of ours prior to the warranty expiring for fear it will be a burden.

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  Love it , But...... - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dakarra - September 30 - 2:36 pm

  I am very impressed by the performance and gas mileage. The 4matic is AWESOME on snowy roads. Interior is quiet, but shoulder room is a little close, and Im not a very big guy. Center dash controls are a little complicated, but the steering wheel controls work well and are very convenient and add an element of safety. This is my third M- B, and the overall quality seems consistant with previous models, but certain areas have gone down. The stereo/system display looks cheap and borrowed from a Chrylser "sister". Ive had more mechanical issues with this one than previous models as well. There is a pesky leak of some kind that the dealer has trouble finding. Overall the car is not readily distinguishable from the growing competition, and the premium sticker is getting harder to justify.

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  Diesels are Great - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JRW - September 29 - 4:03 am

  I have owned this CDI for 4 months and love it. It is a great engine... plenty of smooth, quite power. I routinely get 23 MPG around town and up to 28 on the highway. The transmission shifts a little "truck like", but does a great job of slowing the vehicle without brakes. The cruise control is excellent, hardly ever downshifting. The interior is very nice. My biggest complaint is the finicky Bluetooth adapter that does not work with many cell phones. Diesel service costs will be higher.