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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  Its not a BMW - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jeffmatt - May 18 - 11:43 am

  I leased my E350 because of a deal that I could not pass up. My previous car was a 2000 BMW 528 w/ sport package. My E350 includes the Nav system, Sirius radio, and rear shade screen, but no sport suspension. Overall, I like the car. I never thought I would own a Mercedes. The car rides very nice on the road, but you get a floating feeling if you try to push the handling through turns. Power is more than ample and it gets relatively good gas mileage. I have got a supension squeak that occurs every time I get in the car when the car is cold. The dealer cannot seem to find, but I will give them another try. When this lease is up I will go back to a 530 BMW for better handling.

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  Buyer should know better... - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By jbrtoo - May 17 - 11:54 am

  When you bought an older S-class, you should have expected it to cost you $$$ in repairs. My 2000 S500 has cost me $12,000 in repairs since I bought it 4 years ago. Now that sounds like a lot, but when you spread it over the 4 years, it has cost me $250 per month to drive the sweetest production car on the road. When you throw in depreciation, it has cost me about $400 per month to drive it. Show me a comparable vehicle that you can drive for that cost--its not out there. So although the S500 gives you heartache and wallet-ache at times, do the math and youll realize it has been well worth it!

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  3rd mercedes i owned - 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By texasbuyer777 - May 17 - 1:08 am

  first of all, ive owned 2 lexus, not impressed, poor fuel economy, rough ride, cheap interior. at 385 hp my benz screams in passing gear on the highway, usually average 22-25 mpg hwy. 100 mph at 2300 rpm, that is a class all its own, and still plenty of pull. seats are the best ever, massage seats on both front seats, panoramic roof, great looking car, people actually get out of my way on the highway, except, of course those idiots driving saturns! bought it pre owned with 17000 miles...love it

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  better late than never - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By r.r - May 15 - 10:00 am

  just bought my first amg and it wont be my last.owned(own)2001 clk 430 cvt and thought it was the best car ever.Test drove 2002 clk 55 amg cvt and immediatly started looking for just the right one.Just drove"THE ONE"800 miles home and am in love.04 was not in my comfort zone price wise and did not even test drive.i dont care how dated this car looks.I have read the only way to tell the differance between the 430 and the 55 was on the track,well dont believe everthing you read.r.r

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  E 320 sedan - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By cormac - May 15 - 10:00 am

  A wonderful auto in most ways, well built and great on the road. Better gas mileage than expected.

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  SL55 roaring thunder - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By neil56 - May 15 - 10:00 am

  The best car I have ever driven. It has everything for a fun exciting driving experience and all the luxury plus.

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  Yeah baby!!!! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sy - May 15 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome. Beautify to look at and drive. New interior vastly improved..

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  Big step up for C-class - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lfbmdpc - May 12 - 5:16 pm

  Really lovely car. Very BMW like (taught suspension, excellent powerplant, good road view and road feel). Got the MB tex interior which feels a little cheap, but all told car is quite luxurious in a Germanic kind of way. While competition for this car is supposed to be the BMW 335i, I really think the better comparison is with the recent BMW E90 330i sedan with sport pkg. . Both cars are not speed demons, but are very entertaining as a daily driver and when the spirit moves you to carve up some road. As a middle aged man, I appreciate the ease of getting in/out of this vehicle and its civilized demeanor around town. This car is now a viable alternative to the BMW 3 series.

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  Nice Convertible - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Joe S - May 12 - 8:30 am

  My very first convertible and what a beauty! We actually had the opportunity to drive with top down in January during an unusual 70 degree day in New Jersey and it turned heads!

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  True SUV with all the creature comforts - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ben Hur - May 12 - 2:00 am

  The ML320 is one of the safest SUVs in the market. It feels like you are in a M1 tank. Although, the gas mileage is average in its class it has excellent acceleration. It also has excellent off road abilities, thanks due to the "low range". I looked at purchasing BMW X5 but found this Mercedes M calss offered more vaule for the money.