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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  2005 CLK Cabriolet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MRCLW - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Great driving car. Need a 2005 manual instead of the 2004....Comfort not a main feature, but beautiful handling.

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  Bang for the buck - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Phil40 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  My c240 is a 2002.Great car for the price.An affordable luxury car with a lot of amenities. The c240 runs and rides like cars of a bigger size. The mileage is excellent, as I have attained 23/24 mpg city and a surprising 32 mpg highway. The 240 takes turns and curves with ease and is very smooth. The engine is highly responsive when the demand is put upon it.After owning this car for 2.5 years, it is like getting into a new car every time. Would not hesitate purchasing this product again.

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  Love this Car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By bmarlin475 - January 2 - 3:50 am

  Have owned several BMWs, Jaguars and E class Mercedes and not one comes close to matching quality and the ride of this S500. Quick acceleration. Super quiet at highway speeds and comfortable on long trips. COMAND system is a bit of a pain...

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  Very Poor Value - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jake MeHoff - January 1 - 2:58 am

  First, I will say this car looks pretty nice, and handles well, but thats about it. The seats are hard as rocks, and extremely uncomfortable on a long trips, regardless of the adjustments. The floorboard appears to go down at an angle, so I couldnt even get my feet in a comfortable driving position. Access is very poor, with the seating very low, and with trying to wedge between the steering wheel and the B-Pillar. The controls are horrible. Instead of knobs, there are very small levers for everything, and they are all the same size. Why would a "sync" button be the same size as the blower control?! I set my favorite radio stations, but havent figured out how to get back to my list of favorites for the last 6 months. When I try to change stations, it seems to jump back and forth between satellite radio and FM. The "advanced electronics" try to tell me to rest when I am not tired, and beep at me when there is nothing in the road. At 6,000 miles, I was left stranded when my serpentine belt jumped off, and the car overheated. I found out that run-flat tires cant be repaired, so a nail cost me $420 for a new tire at the dealership. I had a 2014.5 Toyota Camry prior to this, for 38,000 miles before my wife totalled it, and would gladly take another. It was inexpensive, comfortable, easy to operate, and it NEVER needed repairs. Not to mention it was much roomier. I will be very happy to end my lease of this C-Class.

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  If You Can Love A Car-----I DO ! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ralph - January 1 - 12:03 am

  ...This car has no flaws. It is without a doubt the finest car Ive ever driven. I have driven Cadillacs for many years; now that Ive experienced my 2010 E550 I will never own any other car! All the 10s I gave the car ratings are for real. I can not think of anything I would change about the entire car. Driving has become a true pleasure,rather than a means of transportation from point A to point B. If you even think of owning a Mercedes,you owe yourself the courtesy of a test drive! Mine is black W/black leather--what an elegant combination! The aesthetics of this vehicle are endless. Try one and I bet there will be one more Mercedes on the road! Fuel mileage=18/24.

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  Much better than the 2011 Model - 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By johnsmoke - December 31 - 6:38 pm

  Ive driven the 2013 C300 Luxury for 5000 miles. It is far better than the older 2011 with the increase in horsepower from 228 to 248 - it really moves now with the 7-speed. My gas mileage is 21mpg around town and has reached 30 mpg on highway trips (~65 mph). The exterior is neater and interior comfortable - it is well made and solid. It has the mBrace system, with Sirius radio, Bluetooth capability, and navigation (which works unexpectedly well). I accepted a rear camera, that works well but not something I would have normally purchased. Not too happy with the stop-start ECO feature, but it has worked flawlessly so far (it can be turned off, but must be turned off each trip).

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  Love my 2013 Mercedes E350 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ray Edge - December 31 - 7:50 am

  This is an excellent car. The build and fit are meticulous. The ride, steering and response are top notch. The navigation system is the only criticism I have. It is not touch screen, it will not search for locations by category and the rear view camera does not have guide lines. However, Mercedess MBrace concierge service, for an annual fee, is a great service. In addition, Mercedes does not have the capability of upgrading the camera software to add the guide lines or to improve the nav system.

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  XLNT - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By MB4LIFE - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Best car on the road

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  The W208 CLK will prove to be a classic - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By mmgrad - December 30 - 2:00 am

  My 02 CLK just had its 1yr anniversary, and I must say I LOVE THE CAR. This is my first MB and probably wont be my last. Lots of power & comfort, very aggressive yet forgiving. Gas mileage is about the same as my V6 Accord. Safety & luxury features are in abundance. Everything is very ergonomically designed, and the infrared keys are the best. The pop-up trunk makes loading easy, and remote open/close windows and sunroof are nice. Engine noise is practically unheard of from the inside cabin (opposite of BMW). Acceleration & braking is very smooth (opposite of BMW).

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  like my clk55 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By djwilliams - December 30 - 2:00 am

  I brought the car for the engine and overall fun to drive qualities. You dont see many on the road and with some nice wheels look different from others. Without having to spend a $100,000, I can out run most cars. It is really a sleeper a the red light.