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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  Nothing like it - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Don - May 27 - 9:56 am

  This big SUV has more power than you would realize. Catches others on the road by surprise with its spunk. The other eyeopener for me, having owned three Range Rovers, is the stares it receives. You cannot miss it on the road.

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  Very impressed so far - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By terryp - May 27 - 5:46 am

  My last two cars have been BMWs, but I was turned off by the I-drive and wanted something new. I was captivated by the styling of this car, which is a depature from the norm for Mercedes. The fit and finish on the car are quite good and it handles like a dream. I was sold the minute I drove the car. Edmunds found the control interface to be "complicated," but it is far better than the I-drive from BMW. My only complaint is the lack of headroom. I am just six feet tall, but I have very little headroom in the front seats of the car. I am somewhat concerned about Mercedes recent reputation for poor reliability, but only time will tell on that point.

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  What A Machine - 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Tom M - May 26 - 12:16 pm

  This MB SL55 AMG is one of the most powerful, exciting vehicles Ive ever owned. The performance is unbelievably good. Ive timed my own full-bore start and got to 60 in 4.5 seconds. Handling is easily better than both a BMW M6 and a Porsche 911 Turbo S.(Ive road tested both) Obviously, the retractable hardtop is the biggest party piece of the SL and it works beautifully in about 22 seconds. The interior is very well done and the Mercedes trademark massaging seats works wonderfully. But after a long distance trip, you will feel it for the ride is very firm. Fuel economy is not as bad as expected for a 500 horsepower V8. Expect like 15 city and 19 highway. Bravo Mercedes-AMG.

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  E 320 2000 with past problems - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mstg09 - May 26 - 2:00 am

  My E320 is a pleasure to drive while being very comfortable; it accelerates like a sporty car but has surprising fuel economy. The suspension is a bit on the hard side but that doesnt matter on good roads. I had some reliability issues in the first 2 years of possession, specialy with the A/C systme but since then, no big problem.

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  MY NEW MERCEDES - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By suznred - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I am very happy with my new E-320 4matic sedan. I love the premium features that I added to the car, but it would have been nice if more of these features were included in the base price. Adding the many extra options definitely increases the purchase price. However, considering the safety of this vehicle and the overall quality and my initial driving experience, I would highly rate this vehicle.

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  Pretty Car, Bad Tranny - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LeaveTheHouse - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I like the car, I think the alloy rims and sound system are unbelievable. My 6-speed tranny went out at 258 miles and I am still very bitter about it. I average 31.5 MPG and get looks from people who think I spent a million bucks (its black). I think the car is fun, its the nicest car I have ever owned, but its been in the shop 3 times in the last 3 months.

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  I loved my Mercedes E350, but my E300 is unsafe - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gerald Waldbaum - May 25 - 2:20 am

  The navigation on my E300 is so full of bugs that its risky to use it. For example, when I take a route that the car did not intend, it has trouble adjusting. After I changed my route yesterday, it told me to make a right turn (and then discovering that a right turn was not possible, told me a few seconds later to make a left turn. I strongly recommend that Mercedes fix the navigation in all 2017 E300s before someone gets killed using their navigation. Mercedes should also encourage E300 customers who have iPhones to use Apple Car Play for navigation.

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  High Flying Rocket Ship - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By myE63rocket - May 24 - 12:13 pm

  I was in the market for a sporty sedan and I had mixed emotions about the M5 vs. E63 and I am positive I made the right decision on picking the E63. The overall performance of the newly redesigned AMG motor really presses you up against your seat. When have 507hp under the hood with 465ft-lbs of torque trusting you past the guy next to you its fun to see their face when they catch up at the next red light.

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  Solid Alabama Engineering - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By komaiko - May 24 - 10:00 am

  We just love it!

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  Best of the Best - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By T-Bone - May 24 - 10:00 am

  The New Mercedes C230 Sport Coupe is so fine I cant believe they are able to sell this car for under $30,000. Of course one can add enough options for a price well into the 30s but it is worth every penny for the Quality & Satisfaction packed into this Car. The sunroof is the best in the market and nothing is safer than a Mercedes - nothing. My Black 230 turns heads and gets lots of smiles and waves around town! (Ive smoked quite a few sportsters around town too) Highly Recommended! Peace...