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:

• 

  SUV from Utopia - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By KARL_MD - January 28 - 4:40 am

  What a vehicle. The complete package, from styling and performance to comfort and luxury. I have only had the black-on-black beauty for several days now, but I can state with certitude that there is no other full-size SUV that comes close to competing. I considered and test drove the 2007 Tahoe, the Armada and the Durango. I am glad that I did not settle for anything short of the GL 450.

• 

  A Solid Triple - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By aaflank - January 26 - 1:43 am

  Very smooth, solid, comfortable and quiet (almost eerie-quiet with audio system on). Previous car was a BMW 545i and its better in almost all respects. Particularly surprised at how quick it is and how well it handles in sport mode; would really give my 545 a run for its money. Also like the feel of the power steering better; much more variable; does not feel as "heavy" as BMW steering at low speeds. My car has just about every option except driver assist. Only major disappointment is the Night Vision system. The infrared camera is really just a grainy B&W camera; theres nothing infrared about it. My eyeball detects deer and animals much better than it does; almost distracting.

• 

  Awesome Car-Mercedes C320 4-Matic 05 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By WhiteSox - January 25 - 10:20 am

  I had driven this car for over 10,000 miles now and this car is fun to drive, responsive and best of all, I get about 24 miles per gallon. On rainy days, I felt that I am much more in control with the 4-Matic and would get another Mercedes for my next car.

• 

  Solid Build, Great Ride - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By solavino21 - January 24 - 8:23 pm

  I have P1, iPod, 4Matic, and Multimedia, in addition to a regular (not panoramic) sunroof. I was shocked to realize that the rear seat did not fold. I also wish that MB would be more standard in premium packaging. For example, the M-Classs premium 1 package includes parkview camera and navigation.

• 

  CLS 550s - 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By aradeff - January 23 - 9:20 pm

  I have owned Jags,Cadillacs and MBs. The last three 2005 Clk 550 2008 Cls 50020011Cls 550 and now 2012 Cls 550 after hitting a deer. This is the best car I have ever driven.Power is incredible and it draws people wherever we go. I may never change. Averaged 22.7 on a trip to NYC.

• 

  Great SUV - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By John L - January 23 - 2:33 pm

  Replaced my Acura MDX with this Mercedes. Drives nearly like a sedan. Very composed and solid ride. Does not feel large at all. Interior finish is well done. The AWD feels secure on snowy and wet roads. system is more intuitive in my old Acura. Overall, happy with the vehicle so far.

• 

  Simply Awesome! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By tommy2skis - January 22 - 6:57 am

  This is my 5th Mercedes S Class and my 12th Mercedes. I have owned my share of Bimmers, Porsches, Lincolns, Caddys, Land Rovers and other luxury rides and I keep coming back to a Benz. A several year old, low mile, S Class, is the best car buy on the planet. Who in their right mind would spend upwards of $75,000 for a Lexus, Infiniti, BMW, or any other NEW luxury ride, when you can purchase a well sorted and well maintained pre-owned S Class for under $35,000 with a comprehensive warranty? I have put over 175,000 miles on two S Class Benzs, without any significant expenses other than normal service. I just spent over $7,000 on my 4 year old Grand Cherokee with under 100K on the odometer.

• 

  2005 Mercedes-Benz S500 4MATIC - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Alex II - January 22 - 4:23 am

  This vehicle has always been a truly remarkably beutiful and classy sedan, aboive all of its competitors. The only vehicle close to it is its older models. Competitors, like Lexus and Acura and such other Japanese companies cannot touch it. Its luxury is unsurpassed. Mercedes-Benz has been the very best in upscale luxury sedans, and always will be - with the S-Class sedan.

• 

  Awesome! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Dani - January 21 - 12:53 pm

  Wow, what a vehicle! This is truly the ultimate driving machine.

• 

  Classic open road cruiser! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By stefano - January 20 - 10:23 am

  This SL500 wasnt my first choice. I went to a dealer to look at a 2002 Porsche Carrera convertible but it had just been sold. The sales guy asked me if Id like to look at a low mileage SL500. Im glad I did. The triple black AMG SL500 had only 8K on the clock and looked new. Then I drove it. Its a classic cruiser, not a sports car but who cares! Its fast, beautiful and a blast to drive with the top down.