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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  acceptable-? - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By deedles - September 2 - 10:00 am

  i have had the car for 9 months and now have 7000 miles. i really like the solid feeling that this mercedes provides but i have had it in the shop 4-5 times already for a vibration in the steering wheel at 36mph.the dealer exchanged the oem continentals for michelins and have rebalanced the wheels 3 times...still have the vibration. i also had a spring in the emergency replaced for being too loose and now 2 of my window sometimes loose their one touch feature.i still like driving this car but i am not sure if i will buy another... great design but i am not sure about the execution.

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  Good Car But Sleazy Dealer at Barrier of Bellevue - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By a_edmunds_user - August 31 - 2:21 pm

  Handling is firm and precise. Acceleration is good. It feels as nimble as a mid-size sedan. In fact it can make much tighter U-turns than my old Lexus ES300. It is also very smooth and quiet. One downside is the fuel efficiency is not nearly as good as its labeled. I could get only 12 mpg in city and 17 mpg in city-highway combined. For potential buyers in the Seattle area, be aware of the dealer at Barrier of Bellevue. During my price negotiation the dealer quoted the Mercedes Conquest rebate amount for October as $1,000 while the actual amount was $2,000. He also hid the fact that people from my company would automatically qualify for a fleet discount of $3,000 from MSRP.

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  Wouldnt Buy Another MB - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fra - August 20 - 2:16 am

  I have had the C230K since 10/2004 and there have been problems non stop. Brakes squealing all the time, replaced twice. There is very ittle gas pedal room. Handles not even close to an Audi or BMW. Horrible traction in a little snow or rain. Loud engine noise. the only things great about this car are the gas mileage and style. Customer service is very poor and watch out for the salesmen on telling you that this car is fully covered. That standard option end in 2004. Now you have to pay for this bumper to bumper option. Things changed for the worse after the merger with Chrysler. Bottom line, last MB I will ever recommend or buy.

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  Nice but could use some refinements - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jack - August 19 - 10:00 am

  We picked up this little jewel in June and, to date, have already clocked on 10K. The wife complains about getting in and out of the vehicle but I think it is just right. The car corners and brakes excellent but somewhat sluggish in Comfort Drive or whatever you call it. Should of opted to the V8 version. The interior is well designed and easy to maintain. The body style and appeal is a killer, a real head turner on the road. We are surprised with the lack of road noise especially being a convertible. Great sound system.

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  Excellent Bargain for a great dependable and good looking car ! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mannyb84 - August 10 - 2:43 pm

  07 auto c230 , Obtained Ownership 59k in Oct. 2009 The carfax was clean, trans. replaced at 49k by MB. I took the car and was impressed for a 2.5L that it had some performance. I am aware of the balance shaft problem. I had a build date of SEPT 07, so I was in the clear. The transmission shifted smooth and responsive. I always changed the oil with Mobil Synthetic 0W-40. Solid suspension, smooth car, felt safe. Very comfortable car even on long and short drives. I would get about 17city, 33hwy and always filled it with 93 Octane. Lost it during Hurricane Sandy with 84k. Let me just clarify if you maintain the car with a good quality of gas and oil you shouldnt have issues.

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  Decent Buy - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mercara - August 10 - 12:16 am

  I bought this 1999 model in late 1998. I know the 1998 models and numberous problems. I have done 69K miles and have had the following warranty repairs. Transmission Control Module (Warranty) Driver Side Power Window Switch (Warranty) Alarm System (Warranty) Power Steering Hose (Recall) Auxulliary Cooling Fan Harness ( Out of Warranty: $400). Besides this I have done the regular maintenance, brakes, belts, etc. Overall it has been very reliable. I have never been stranded. I hear a lot of horror stories and sometimes think about trading it in. But since I have had no major problems, I dont want to start making new car payments and will probably keep it untill the first major problem.

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  Just the Beginning... I Hope - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mfrankln - August 9 - 3:49 am

  We were shopping for a used SUV of far newer age but found this 2000 M-B ML430 really cheap at a small local used car lot. (The owner of the business has been in the same spot since 1987 and the entire community knows and respects him.) The ML430 had been sitting idle for about two years. It has some minor dings, a few rust spots from sitting under an old tree on his lot but was otherwise quite intact. Upon first test drive, we were immediately impressed. The only problem on day one was that it had 87 octane gas so we had to fill er up with some good stuff. It needed an oil change and the plugs (all 16 of them!) will be done be days end today. Contd

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  Buy the car, forget the GPS - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By SAL - August 8 - 2:03 am

  Great car. Comfortable smooth, sports car handling, excellent craftsmanship incredible power. Not as quiet as the gas engine but very quiet for a diesel. You have to listen to hear it. I average 25mpg, as much as 38 mpg on the road. However the GPS stinks. Its the worst. Difficult to use and I dont need to find "border crossings" in the USA. Just buy a Garmin, a 100 times better. Problems: transmission tends to clunk into lower gear as you slow down. Had a 2005 Benz with the same problem. Price of diesel a negative. Hate the center console, holds nothing. Service very expense. I would however, buy this car again.

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  German Muscle - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Peugeot4Jacques - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Amazing car. Gifted with a elegant yet aggressive V8 engine, this highway warrior floats down the road with ease. With proper car and maintence this car runs forever and is built like a tank. The styling is some what conservative but the interior and trunk are large, as with every merecedes. Ive driven this car primary for highway travel were this flashy V8 amazingly exhibits better gas mileage than my V6 300E! Its a breeze through traffic and BLAST on the open road. Looking for some muscle but need to be comfortable driving with bussiness attire... this is your car.

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  CLK 430 Cab Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Silver Cloud - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Cant see out of car with top up. Too many blind spots. Would never buy another one. Seats uncomfortable.