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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  Best car Ive ever had. - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Joe cash - January 4 - 10:33 am

  I bought this car in Nov. 1996. After 80,000 miles I had to replace the transmission. That was the blast and only unreasonable repair Ive made. I now have 200,750 miles on it. At 200,000. the evaporator in the A/C was leaking and had to be replaced. It was costly, $3400. but it is a great car and I paid the price. My family suggested`I buy a new car, but even an E class was going to cost me close to $60,000. and since I love this car it was`a no brainer. The trunk is large, and as they say, I could raise a family of five in the back seat. When I buy a new car it will probably be a diesel, not because of gas mileage, but because of less maintenance. I get 17.5 mpg city.

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  Just Being Honest - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Mike - January 3 - 10:33 am

  Bought the car in Aug of 07. I bought the car as a weekend car and pretty much only drive it on the weekends. the car is very powerful and very fun to drive. The tranny is a little jerky at low speeds. The exhuast note is lovely and the looks of the cars is stunning. I have had both women and men tell me the car is sexy. The car is definitely an eye turner and the stop light to stop light power is heart pumping! This car will get you into trouble real quick! I hope you enjoy it if you decide to buy!

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  I Love My Truck! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By rsjenkins - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I went from a 735i BMW to my current ML430. After 61000 miles I enjoy it more and more. My lease is up and I have ordered a new ML500...same color and all. My only doubt is whether I would be better off buying "old faithfull"

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  It doesnt get any better than this - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By fredric palmieri - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Everything its cracked up to be and everything that you would expect. Power, handling, smoothness, refinement. It literally does anything that you want it to do. The turning radius is incredible(lock to lock), The looks are awesome and the gadgets aplenty. A true tour de force for MB as its flagship,

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  Long Live the 320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Yarb - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Youre insane if you dont buy this SUV and even nuttier if you dont get a 320 instead of the 350. This is a great all around SUV. The gas mileage is not too bad, and you get real off-road capability if you need it (and sometimes up north you need it in the snow, regardless of what the advocates of "carlike" SUVs say). I think the 320 is a fantastic bargain right now. The dealers are motivated to sell, and I cant tell the difference in power between the two. And when push comes to shove, you just cant beat Benz customer service.

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  Great car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Elmer 3 - January 2 - 12:13 pm

  Love the automobile. Tire wear has been good. I just recently replaced them. This is the best experience I have had with any automobile in this area. My first experience with a lexury automoble. Bad experience with light bulbs- I have never owned an automobile that burned out so many, Merecedes replaced all of them under warrenty except the last two. They were marker lights and were easy to replace.Total cost for both was $2.25. Experience with the dealership has been great except that a mechanic missed a bad tire once. Cupholder in front is not the greatest.

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  Why go for an imitation when MB is best? - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Walter - December 31 - 7:33 pm

  I expected an excellent vehicle and Mercedes-Benz delivered far more than that in this 2006 ML350. Each and every segment and system is flawless. With the air-ride it handles like a sports car, nimble and sure footed, and the power plant runs you down the road like a bat outta hell. The highway mileage is about 24+ cruising at 70 MPH, around town about 17mpg. After looking and driving all the other manufacturers current offerings, many had some similar characteristics, but none had them all in such a well put together, comfortable, and driving machine. A must buy for any serious luxury SUV shopper

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  Follow-up review - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dano300D - December 25 - 11:16 pm

  My E300D now has 205,000 miles - have replaced some wear items - front ball joints, 1 wheel bearing and the combo switch - but still basicly trouble free. I plan to put another 100k on and hopefully by then the new E320CDI (which is a fabulous car) will be affordable on the used market.

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  In the MB Tradition - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By VA1 - December 23 - 10:00 am

  This is my third MB and has been the best thus far. I previously had a 97 C280 and 2001 C320, which I traded after experiencing the first year design problems for 3 years. I was reluctant to buy another MB, especially a new model year; however after test driving this car, I could not resist. I purchased the car used (40 miles) and currently have over 8000 miles on the car and havent had one complaint. This car has restored my faith in MB.

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  Head Turning Style and Mercedes Quality - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By BenzOwner - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this car from Park Place Bedford,TX. I had always wanted a Benz, saw this one and fell in love. This car is in tip top shape in every way. It looks brand new inside and out, and my purchase and service experiences have been the best. This dealership treats you like royalty in every way! (Thanks Brian) I do wish the fuel economy was better, but with power and performance like no other its better than expected. Sound system is top notch, and all the options are user friendly. This care is impressive in every way. Mercedes was way ahead of its time when they built this dream machine!