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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  Big Mistake! Least Reliable Car Ive ever owned! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By nolemonsplease - June 15 - 6:14 pm

  Just bought this car in March 13. The car is a 2006 with 68K miles. During the test drive everything was running smooth and we fell in love with the car, (more the interior than the exterior) The car almost looks like a Minivan but it grows on you. After 3 months of driving this used car the Transmission pooped out on us. It cost $1,500 to fix and we did not take it to the dealer (this was the cheaper mechanic option) Now the car randomly drops the left side suspension. Apparently the air shocks deflate overnight or while parked for a long time and it tilts to one side. Cant wait to find out how much new air shocks will cost but Im assuming it will not be cheap. Gas guzzler too!

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  The Best Convertible On the Road - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Douglas Waters - June 14 - 7:36 am

  This is undoubtedly the best convertible in the world! Its sporty, its fun, and its so comfortable! It has a lot of power, and we just love our sleek, new black Mercedes Benz CLK 55 AMG!

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  Biggest Mistake of my life - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Taken for a ride - June 13 - 10:00 am

  After 10 days of ownership an electrical short burned a hole in the headliner- in three years the engine has been replaced, 3rd set of brakes, fuel pump, srs system, abs failure, power steering problems, windowswitches, fuses, rattles, broken seat and heater, blown a/c--poor acceleration/decel- tranny issues undiagnosed. NEVER again- No one will give me a decent trade-in due to the vehicle history.

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  ARE YOU GUYS NUTS? - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By liou - June 13 - 10:00 am

  The review of the car must have been done by some idiot. THey obviously dont know what to look for in a luxury car. I have no problems with the car for 3 yrs and love driving across canada. Normally, edmunds helps, but this reviewer should be FIRED.

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  Only MB not built in Germany! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By AlexSeng - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my ML320 for 6 months and its been at the shop for 4 times. The problems were 1. Gear shift Stuck, 2. Back seat could not unfolded. 3. Low range malfunction. 4. strange siren sound from under the foot well (MB dealer could not find the cause). I just got a letter from MB that there is a recall so I need to take my car in for the fifth time. The service advisor at the dealer told me shes seen a lot of ML320s with poor quality and said it might be because they are built in Alabama instead of Germany to cut cost. One of my friend bought a Acura MDX at around the same time and used to envy my MB, but now I regret that I bought my ML320.

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  Awesome - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By M Benz - June 13 - 10:00 am

  The 230k w/auto rocks. I get so many complements. I had both a bmw(which i sold within 2 months of having it b/c the reliability was awful) and an Infiniti G35 coupe (it looks nice on the outside, but the ride was awful, the interior was cheap, and it didnt even have a armrest). Finally, I decided to move to the MB family and it was the best decision.

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  MASTERPIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE ART - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kleenshotgto - June 12 - 8:20 am

  This car is a Teutonic Masterpiece! I have owned them all...BMW, Porsche,Ferrari...and absolutely nothing...nothing... compares to this BLACK 09 E350 4MATIC w/AMG SPORT PACKAGE. Pure panache. Outstanding comfort, ride and performance. Bullet proof buid quaklity. If you have the means...go out today and buy an 09. The 56K price tag new has now depreciated to 35K. Pick a ,low mileage version and your at auto nirvana. Then, go buy a black mock turtleneck, add jeans and your favorite shoes and start cruising. Youll feel and look like a 1percenter...make no apologiZes to anyone. You earned it.

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  GL320-LEMON - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By gl320_lemon - June 11 - 12:52 pm

  Owned GL320 for 2 years. Nothing but problems. Very cheaply built, cheap and nasty components and plastic, e.g. some sort of plastic covering film started piling off the steering wheel controls. Fake wood trimmings, face leather, etc. Later on I discovered that it has common base and components with Jeep. Mercedes Customer Service is famously the worst (watch the Top Gear) and in deed it is!

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  Perfect for Moms! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Sheri S. - June 11 - 8:53 am

  I love this vehicle! I am a Mom with two children under the ages of three and wanted a luxury, sporty vehicle that was very safe and drives likes "a dream"! I found it in this R class. It is so kid friendly yet I dont feel like it even compares to a wagon/mini- van. After owning a BMW 5 series, Mercedes CLK and a Lexus RX...I am ecstatic to own this vehicle! Also, a big thank you to the team at Loeber Motors in Lincolnwood, IL for their terrific customer service!

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  Love My Benz - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By drriqq - June 10 - 3:28 am

  This is my fourth Benz, bought 1st new one in 95 (C200), next CLK Convertible 320, 1994 new, next new one, the 2010 E350 2door Coupe (loved it) for myself and for my wife, the 2010 C 300. My beloved wife of 42 years passed New Years Day 2014, didnt need two vehicles and wanted to keep my E350, but sold it and kept my wifes. Ive always had all my vehicles serviced every 10,000 miles at the dealership, my C300 has 74,000 miles and rides like a charm, never getting rid of that car. Dealer told me in 95, after buying my first Benz, a Mercedes would be the only car Id ever buy, he was right!!!!