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 ever - 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Ned - January 13 - 12:06 pm

  This car is amazing. It rides smoothly, has the power when it is needed, and it still has the looks after 15 years.

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  New but Used - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kenw - January 13 - 12:00 pm

  I purchased this car about six months ago and it had 35,000 miles on it. I had no intention of buying a Mercedes but when I drove it I fell in love. So far it hasnt let me down. It has been flawless and I absolutely love driving it. If you arent certain you want to buy one, dont drive one. It will suck you in! I worry about the long term reliability when the warranty runs out. I understand if anything does go wrong it is very expensive to fix.

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  Best SUV available today - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Denali - January 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd G Wagon and I am still amazed at this amazing vehicle.There is nothing out there that even comes close.No Range Rover,no Landcruser and definetly NO HUMMER.I drive this car almost 40000 miles a year in the outback of Alaska and if there was anything as formidable as the G Wagon believe me I would buy it.Look out for the 2005 G55 Kompressor.Almost 500HP and 550ft. of torque. Where will it end.

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  Love My Ride - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TamaraHolder - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Couldnt get a cooler car! My only complaints are that I feel like my car guzzles gas more than our large Navigator and that the inside doesnt have enough bells & whistles. But I feel so awesome in my new ride. Its fast, sleek and sexy. And dont get the 320 - gotta get more power in the 500.

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  CLK55 vs 911 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By waterways - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Traded in 911 Cab with 3800 miles, car was to hard riding and to small. CLK55 meets all our needs, fast, space and comfy.

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  love it! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By js car - January 13 - 10:00 am

  love it!So much fun to drive. Car handles perfect in bad weather. I dont know what Consumer Reports is complaining about! This is the perfect car!

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  Bank Vault on Wheels - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BenzC300 - January 12 - 2:00 am

  The crash test photos tell one story, shutting the door and hearing this amazing thud makes you believe that this car is SOLID. Every control and button has a great feel and there are rich textures everywhere. The C300 has a nice throaty exhaust note when rev it, otherwise it is extremely quite and smooth. I love the scratch resistant paint, MB Tex that looks and feels real but it will not wrinkle and requires no additional care. With the 4-Matic I could drive through deep snow and ice without worry. Coming from a comparable BMW the Benz feels like a much better product. Not to mention you are NOT forced to live with Run-Flat tires that only last 12k miles and cost $300 each to replace!

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  Comfort and Fun - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MojoIojo - January 11 - 10:00 am

  The exterior is a work of art. Although the 2003 is redesigned, I still think my model looks great due to Mercs styling concept. The interior is conservative and sufficiently comfortable, which is what I expect for such an automobile, but I find every gadget useful and logically in place. However, the cupholders could be better. The ride and acceleration is smooth and quick, and the handling is good for such a heavy and relatively heavy car. Although the Lexus LS430 may be less expensive, it doesnt seem to have a unique character. The styling appears to mimic that of the E- series. In addition, it looks bland.

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  poor quality ML320 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jeff Platon - January 11 - 10:00 am

  too many serious mechanical problems, including replacement of shocks, steering mechanism, ac motor and switch

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  Outstanding ! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Zipcode - January 11 - 10:00 am

  This is an outstanding vehicle to drive. The security of a coupe with the ability to become a convertable at the push of a button. I have the Sport package, which in my opion, makes for an incredibly attractive looking car. On a 1400 mile trip I averaged 24 mpg, with a speed average of 70 mph. This included all stops. I think that is very good fuel ecomony.