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:

• 

  2007 c-230 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Felipe Zak Zak - April 16 - 2:16 am

  I found the 2007 C230 a very reliable and a great performance together with the Mercedes-Benz quality. The car is compact and very agile that makes it a very impressive car. The price is also a great thing

• 

  Former Lexus Owner - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By indybenz - April 14 - 4:33 am

  After owning 3 Lexus Sedans, ready for a change. S350 stood out with athletic performance and spacious interior. BMW and Lexus trying to get to sleek, losing functional space. Firm ride, great sound system. Command system is ok, not too hard to learn. Plenty of power in 350 model.

• 

  Hot ride - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Jtatum - April 13 - 10:00 am

  I have had alot of exotic cars in the past but the G wagon gets more attention than all of them. Its a little rough on the ride and tough on gas but Im having alot of fun driving it.

• 

  Great Auto - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ibleave - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Test drove the E320 (gasoline) and the E320 CDI. Wow, the E320 really moves and is a pleasure to drive. I was a bit nervous about the MB reputation for quality but so far my fears have been completely unfounded. Ive owned a number of Lexus autos (LS, LX, ES, GS) and the MB so far is my favorite auto. I took the car for a trip to San Antonio and averaged about 34mpg (odometer was under 1000 miles). I enjoyed the lower cost of diesel too. Keep in mind that most diesel pumps are designed for "truckers" and sometimes dont have the pay-at-pump option (especially out on the highway).

• 

  2007 Mercedes Benz 280 C 4matic Review - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Thomas - April 13 - 2:33 am

  This car is an exceptional vehicle for use to commute to and from work. It has rapid acceleration akin to a high performance sports car with excellent manuverability based upon a 55-45 weigh distribution and low center of gravity. The V6 3.0 liter engine is peppy without losing its fuel efficiency at 23-26 mpg. The car is a smaller version of its larger E MBs, and the C280 is a joy to drive.

• 

  Black Series - Unbelievable Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JDB - April 12 - 11:50 pm

  This limited production car is truly a unique experience. The acceleration is impressive, but the handling is the vehicles true standout. The individually adjustable coil-over suspension allows one to not only adjust the ride height, but also the compression and the rebound of the shocks to tailor the handling to your individual taste. The AMG Performance Studio really outdid themselves when the produced this wonderful example of their capabilities.

• 

  It is far faster and better than 530i - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By caazllc - April 12 - 3:50 am

  I currently own a 745li and an s4 and just picked up this E350 for the long drives. The car gets beautiful gas mileage for the amount of power it puts out. It has all of the perks from Mercedes, it is far better than the 525 or the 530. I had a 545 and it was a horrible car build quality and the lack of options on a stock 60k car. The Mercedes is far better in every aspect of build, quality, and power.

• 

  Diesel Quality - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By John - April 10 - 4:53 am

  I purchased this car sight un seen or test drove it, because it was an incredible deal. I had it shiped from Dallas to NJ and auto Transporters .com did as promised. the car is driving great and has plenty of power and room and I have achieved 36 mpg although I am getting 32.5 avg. When i first got it i was getting 27 to 29 because of a bad tire, and transmission was low on fluids and leaking. once i fixd the tire and had a tranny service done leak stoped and Mpg jumped up to 32.5 mpg. I had an e430 with heated and leather seats this car does not but i have dogs and the MBTEX is better for me. As of now all is in working order i have put 4000.00 miles on it.

• 

  Great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By arturo - April 10 - 4:10 am

  The CLK 320 coupe is great. I love the car and have enjoyed it from the moment I bought it. I took it up to Mendocino and it took the ride like a pro. The twists and turns on the ride were a breeze.

• 

  Great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By arturo - April 10 - 4:10 am

  the CLK 320 coupe is great. I love the car and have enjoyed it from the moment I bought it. I took it up to Mendocino and it took the ride like a pro. The twists and turns on the ride were a breeze.