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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  New used car - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Yassmeen Abdel-Aty - February 24 - 4:14 am

  I love this car! So lucky to have found a used car with such low mileage in perfect condition. I feel like the first owner!

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  Good Vehicle. - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob Whalen - February 23 - 11:23 pm

  This car is simply amazing. It handles like a charm but the rides not too firm. A definite buy.

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  Living Room On Wheels - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Benz560 - February 22 - 11:23 pm

  So far so good! I have had very limited problems with it, It needed a new radiator,vacuum assist pump, and a transmission flush. Great car!

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  It has grown on me. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By R House - February 22 - 12:00 am

  This is my 3rd Benz and I must admit that I was totally spoiled by my previous model, a 2001 CL 600. I still get goose bumps of its awesome power and drive ability; however, it became a mechanical and reliability nightmare. When I first saw a CLS, I was struck by beauty and for me, its understated elegance. When I decided to buy, at the beginning of 2009, looked at quite a few and drove a few, but I just could not, or was not ready, to go there. Everything in its owm time and I spotted this beauty and I knew it was the one-black with cream interior and flawless kept, approximately 30,000, and showroom condition. After 6 months and approximately 4,000 miles there has not been one glitch.

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  Awesome - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jose - February 21 - 3:56 am

  This is the best car in the planet! It rides so smoothly. Got power too. Awesome body stlye. Great leather interior. I cant ask for anything more.

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  Wonderful - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ray M - February 19 - 6:26 pm

  It is an excellent and quite ride and the entertainment package makes the sound system sound phenomenal. Also the power for a V6 is excellent and blows away the Cayenne that I sold last year.

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  Better than BMW - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MB Denver - February 17 - 11:43 am

  You have to drive to appreciate it. Performance, comfort, luxury, style and you name it all in one package. You do not sacrify anything for the sake of sports car. As it is categoriezed luxury sports car. BMW is sports car but not luxury anymore. Needless to say MB performs excellent as a sports car with plenty of luxury and comfort.

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  Very reliable! 24.5MPG @ 245K Miles - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Chriss - February 17 - 8:13 am

  Ive had no mayor problems with the car, the biggest job was a transmission service @ 177,000 miles. The car has around 245,000 miles and it runs like new. It smogs fine and it does about 24 MPG. I dive it every day and about once a month i drive to LA from northern californa (about 300 miles) and it feels great. It has some minor issues like a stereo volume knob that is worn due to normal use and like any W210 the original head gasket leaks around the front of the engine (cyl 1) which didnt cause any problems other than the leak itself which if you had warranty its fine if not its around 150usd for the gasket set.

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  Beauty - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Dash - February 16 - 5:10 pm

  This is a beautiful car. I get so many comments from all kinds of people:) Of course my family somehow thinks Im rich! I will always drive a Benz. The car is so smooth. Before you know it, you are exceeding the speed limit. I stay on high because you get so much love. It feels so good to drive a Mercedes!

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  Loving it!!!! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By cdtufts - February 16 - 11:30 am

  My husband and I have owned 8 mercedes. Mostly E-Class and one 240 Diesel.I researched, drove and compared this C-230 Kompressor with the Acura TL, BMW 3, BMW 5, Lexus 330 and 300 LS and GS. The C-230 has it all. Safety, handling, quality construction MB known for and that style that one is still pleased to drive and still attracts attention 10 years later. Exhilarating driving experience. The BMW3 handles the same, the Lexus and Acura dont come close. BMW3 poor left door safety rating on side impact studies. Comparing paint finishes--just check out two or more year olds from Acura, BMW, Lexus.... no comparison to MB.