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 Yet - 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Brad - December 3 - 6:10 pm

  Bought this for my wife who spends her weeks between NY, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. It feels so solid and safe. Love taking long drives, looking forward to New England this summer.

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  First Class - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gary Plessl - December 1 - 6:03 pm

  This Mercedes E350AWD is true "class". We previously owned a BMW 5 series--- truly a great car, but, the Mercedes gives you the feel of more luxury.Yhe 6 cyl engine provides all the power youll ever need.The interior space is very generous, and the ride is great.

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  clk 320 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By shustshoan - November 30 - 10:00 am

  what a beauty.......the ONLY thing i can compalain about is the poor radio reception....other wise....its a fabulous car

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  ML350 New Owner - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Fordpi - November 30 - 2:23 am

  We have only put about 600 miles on it. I am a strong Toyota fan and my husband loves his Yukon, but the comfort of the ML350 is inspiring. We continually fight over who gets the Mercedes. The seats wrap around you and the ride is quiet. It is roomy, but not too big.

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  ML 320 Review - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By New MB Fan - November 28 - 9:43 pm

  I was skeptical with the reviews and dont listen to them. This is a luxurious SUV and fun to drive. I previously owned a Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. This is a much better SUV. Diesel is smooth, quiet, clean and gets 20/25 mpg. Ride is exceptional and corners like a sedan. AWD is noticable only when used, not when turning. It hauls a boat effortlessly and has great low speed get up and go. NAV/radio and Bluetooth work great. I have experienced 0 problems and it goes 550 miles between fillups. I highly recommend the ML 320 to all. A nice looking SUV and a lot of car for the money.

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  Mercedes E350 2016 - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tsilia - November 28 - 9:20 am

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  ML320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By vmystikilv - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I got my ml new and i have loved it ever since...it feels and rides like a good or better yet great car and for the price it was the best SUV on the market at the time and maybe now...The only gripe that i have is that my model did not have automatic climate control, but they have finally added it to the 2002 model

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  Who Needs An SUV? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gambrinus - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I hate mini-vans! Give me a car or a truck. A MV is neither. Anyway, it was time to replace the wifes van and she wanted a new one. "How about an SUV?" I said. "NO WAY" came the reply. The not so obvious but perfect answer was an E320 4-Matic Wagon. Room for the "Soccer Mom" chores, AWD for the snow, and handling that makes you forget its a wagon! 23+ MPG at speed, try that in an SUV. Just go buy one!

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  The Chrysler effect - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By A concerned MB fan - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I ve been driving MB for more than 25 years, I cannot imagine myself driving another car. I became really concerned since the merger between MB and Chrysler. The interior design of the MB had been great throughout the years, but ever since the merger the interior design of the S class/2000, the C class 2002 and now the 2003 E class is disappointing, it looks like the design of the American car that I drive when I rent a car. I am not happy that the new trend of the MB/Chrysler corporation is towards building a cheaper MB, more plastic parts I think that such a trend will tarnish the name of the MB.

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  Outstanding - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lawman1967 - November 24 - 3:56 am

  I just sold my 2009 C300 Sport after two years and 80,000 miles of driving. I bought it new, religiously followed the maintenance schedule and replaced the Continental tires with the same every 30,000 miles. This car was flawless in every way. Nothing ever broke, and it never needed anything beyond regular maintenance, which for 80,000 miles is very impressive indeed. The car was fast enough, fun to drive, and extremely comfortable, even on the two occasions when I drove 1,100 miles in a single day. Best thing to say about it is that I traded it in for a new 2012 C250 Sport sedan, and expect the same great service from the new one. I was sad to see it go.