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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  Sweet Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MrWabam - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Had this car for a few weeks now, the Bose sound system definitly impressed me. I have the c5 and c7 package, and the increase in fun on the c7 package is definitly worth it, cant go wrong with the 17" wheels.

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  Best mid-size sedan - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Cowhorn forcep - May 22 - 10:23 am

  E-Class beats its competitors handily. BMW 5-series lacks adjustable seat belts and had average crash test ratings. Lexus GS not special enough and way too bland design. Acura has polarizing design. Love the MB for new interior and exterior elements. Very solid, majestic, classy ride with many amenities. Love the stares it gets as we drive around town.

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  DONT BUY AN ML430 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By SADIG D - May 21 - 10:00 am

  I bought my ml 430 new back in 1999 I had a lot of problems with it like cup holders break all the time, the power steering pump goes bad all the time and the interior wood trim is so cheep it squeaks all the time if you are planning to buy this suv I mean the ml 430 you need to know that it’s the worst m class in the history of Mercedes. My ml430 was sold with 37k miles and I bought a 2001 Ml55 it’s a totally different car even with the same body style. The best Mercedes suv is the ml320 all of my friends who has one have never complained about it. “Some time wanting the options does not give you the best car you want”

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  Great car when it is NOT IN THE SHOP - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By richard j - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Window auto close. Several bulbs blow Air bag sensor Voice recognition Seat / steering wheel / mirror memory Wood trim coming off Heater vent Gas gauge Cargo area cover unlatching. Cargo area seal leaking Driver door seal leaking Hatchback not latching Steering wheel grinding Fog lamp “fogging”. Floor mats latch Sway bushings Lower control arm Mass flow sensor Mirror reverse Key malfunction Seatbelt jamming. Window trim leaking. Hatchback trim leaking. Doors rattling Dash rattling Cup holder breaks. Back seats not latching Ceiling panel loose in cargo area SOS malfunctions Replaced rear window washer fluid pump. head rest stuck Seat squeeks

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  Things to change - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Darlyne Forister - May 19 - 4:40 pm

  I like driving the car. However every time my husband gets in to drive he will hit the little buttons on the bottom of stering wheel and puts it into another gear. No one told us about this button. So we dint know what was going on. Also the small light in the front of car (on bottom) keeps coming out. Have tried to put it back myself but it won"t stay in place. I also have trouble with the phone system. I have to reprogram it every time. This should not be.

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  Diesel Turbo 300 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Roger Bhatti - May 19 - 10:00 am

  I wish USA was still importing Dielel. It is the best.

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  Terrible build quality - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Superdave - May 19 - 10:00 am

  This car has been in the shop 21 times in two years, mostly for annoying little problems, sometimes seriuos problems. This is a Mercedes, it should be top quality. There are also some very goofy interior design flaws - why is the volume control on the passenger side? No sterring wheel audio controls and no door open light. It is fun to drive, and perfoms/ handles well. but way too much time in the shop. Simply not worth it. Also, MB USA simply doesnt care.

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  No More Quality - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MIad - May 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a beautiful car that handles well and has a plush ride. However, Mercedes quality is nowhere to be found. This car has been in the shop about 2 dozen times in less than three years. Both rear windows have failed. Brake, oxygen, and fuel level sensors have been replaced. The dash cover cracked and the sun visor (cheap vanity mirror) has been replaced 4 times! Cheap center console has never worked properly. The console doors are misaligned, they rub, and sometimes will not close at all. Light bulb failures in dash (twice), headlights (twice, once fuse), and brake lights (twice). The latest problem is with an intermittent A/C fan.

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  a s.o.b - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By zeezo - May 19 - 10:00 am

  this s.u.v is great it takes me any where i want

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  BMW M KILLER - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By gregtorres - May 18 - 7:53 pm

  My CLK 55 reminds me of the muscle cars of the 70s but with the finesse and practicality of the 21st century. This car may be driven as a family car but when needed, the 380 LB/FT of torque will launch you into a neck snapping experience. I have managed to trash BMW M3S as well as a few Porsches. The car was built so well balanced that the AMG massaged engine fits well with the chassis and suspension of the whole package. I believe I have found the perfect supercar for todays needs