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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  E55 AMG the ROCKET - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jay982004 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Best car ever built!

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  Benz Rules! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By J Meisner - May 20 - 10:00 am

  What a Car! First Benz and am regretting didnt step up years ago. Genuine pleasure to drive, quiet in and out. Average fuel economy since start 30.3 mpg at average city/hiway speed of 53 mph. 0-60 in less than 7 sec., plenty of torque, incredible for a diesel. Would recommend this car to all.

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  E class - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By unknown50v - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I love the E class but sometimes its hard to fit in it becuse Im 610 in height. I love the luxsury of the car but I wish it went faster I would love to bring my E 500 down to the track but I cant.

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  A Winner - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Dewey - May 20 - 7:23 am

  As a previous owner of BMWs, I must say that Benz has made a major step forward in terms of design and performance. The CLS500 is a fun machine to drive and the body design is outstanding. Whether sitting still or rolling along, it draws a lot of admiring looks. Overall, I am extremely pleased with this automobile.

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  Great value - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By M Mazur-Kary - May 17 - 2:33 pm

  The 2005 E-320 4Matic has exceeded our expectations as a safe, stylish, comfortable automobile. Our harsh Maine winter showed us the value of the advanced lighting (bi-xenon), traction controls, excellent visibility and clean clothing as a result of the automatic trunk closure. The heated steering wheel was a safety feature during sub-zero temperatures, eliminating the need for bulky gloves for driving. As prior owners of the last 3 E Class styles, we feel the 2005 model is a cohesive step forward in style, safety and amenities over its predecessor.

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  Fun car, great buy! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By citron - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Picked up my Citron Green C230 up 2 ½ weeks ago. Love it! Car is great, smooth, fun to drive, & looks sporty. Bi-xenon lights add a whole new look to the car. Panorama roof really makes the cabin open. The leather has a great feel, seats are firm yet comfy & the power seats add a touch of luxury. Aluminum trim contrasts well with the charcoal interior. C7 package is the best deal going w/ 17" wheels, larger exhaust tip, & short throw shifter. Base price is a gr8 buy, but options really add up fast. Before I knew it I paid $35k out the door. Tho it was a special order (an additional $1150) it was definitely worth the $$$ and wait!

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  Great car for the price - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By morgan - May 17 - 1:26 am

  I traded in a 04 Jag xtype on this C230 sport. The car is built so much better, its quiet and soild. The only thing it lacks is a little power. Im sure the 320 makes up for that. It drives like a much bigger car.The mpg is always 28-29 hwy and 21 city I get avg 26mpg. All the controls are right where they need to be and the storage inside as well as in the trunk is great. Theres a tray in trunk over spare that has little trays in it just right for little things. The hillholder 7 speed trans is great as well as the doors that stay open on a grade instead of crushing your legs. It handles very well and corners great. Ive owned 120+ cars this is in my top 2 (#1 my crossfire also made by MB)

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  Mercedes C230 Coupe - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ageesey - May 14 - 7:20 pm

  This is a great car, even though that it is the cheapest Mercedes sold. Its a fun car to drive and still has all of the safety features expected from a Mercedes. The leather makes a huge difference over the cloth and gives the car that luxury feel. Panorama sunroof makes the ride enjoyable for rear seat passengers and there is enough room in the back for full sized adults. Overall, an excellent car.

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  Great Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ray Whitney - May 12 - 10:13 pm

  Purchased the car for a Sunday driver, however, I like it so much I drive it daily. The only problem so far is the dash display required replacement. The ecomony is much better than expected, 30 MPG on the road at 70MPH.

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  Mercedes-Benz great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c21sasa - May 12 - 5:43 pm

  I just bought my C230 about a month ago and it is really a nice car. Great interior and exterior. Comes standard with very nice 17 inch Mercedes rims and has that classy but sporty look to it. It has a 6 cylinder engine that gives 201 horses. While going 100 mph on the highway it feels like youre going 50. if youre going to buy a car in the $30-40,000 dollar range I highly suggest you look at the C230