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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  C300 2015 - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By darmonx - June 12 - 9:07 am

  Nice job on the 2015, Mercedes. Wow. Nice interior, nice drive.. dont under estimate that 4 cylinder. I have always owned 6 cylinder cars but with this in Sports+... I dont miss my V6 at all... well except for the V6 sound. Other than that.. this is a fun and luxurious daily drive that would make rush hour traffic feel less exhausting.

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  10th anniversary edition - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bergtold - June 12 - 5:06 am

  This is my 4th ML by Mercedes. This is a real Mercedes-Benz compared to the 3 other MLs I owned. I think it is better in every way. The interior is the biggest upgrade. I like the 10th anniversay features, special leather, badges, exterior headlites, and tail lites.

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  My God Man! It couldnt get better! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By adoc4urfoot - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I just got my G55 AMG the other day and i knew this one was for me. My old Laforza that i was imported just didnt cut it. I think this has to be the best SUV ever!. The sound of the engine dunring acceleration is a classy roar and the transmission shifts great. Being the 6 foot 3 inch foot docter i am, i have great all around visiblity. It would be nice to be a little farther away from the steering wheel but i live. If ur sigle or even if you have a family, this is a great car!

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  Best Car for When Kids Move Out - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bigsmoke - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I absolutey adore this car. Drives like a dream, and the gas mileage is unbelievalbe. Get lots of looks and of course love that too!

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  Superior Driving Experience - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By eznowb - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This is a Superior vehicle. It has the acceleration of a Porsche or Corvette, while still meeting the luxurious comfort that has long been associated with Mercedes Benz.

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  A Whole Lotta Fun - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Golfnut - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This car is really FUN to drive. The performance is excellent (slight Mercedes oversteer), ride and handling are exceptional.

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  Silver Bullet - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Roseville John - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I just took delivery of an almost new C- 230 Sport Sedan (thanks dad!) and drove it from Wisconsin to California. Averaged 32 MPG driving 75+! Performance was excellent on the twisties in the mountains near home! The interior is a little tight for cross country touring, but the seats are outstanding. Acceleration from a stop is mediocre, but the 80-100 mph is quite good. Excellet brakes and steering, good ride. Mine is Brilliant Silver with Ash interior and the look with the blue tint windows is well, stunning.

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  2003c-320 review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By paulgr - June 11 - 10:00 am

  first mbz owner, was a little concernes about room, iam 6-3..no issues with tis car, plenty of room, excellent performance so far..a true gem.

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  ok - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By leighton - June 11 - 10:00 am

  i love it. it has the best driving abiliy in the world. this is my favorite of all of my cars

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  Beware of Certified Pre-Owned - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By KGinthedesert - June 11 - 5:36 am

  I lost a BMW 528 in an accident and needed a car. Found this sharp platinum blue / parchment E320 with chrome wheels. After one week, the brake problems started. Ive had the car a year and the break problems went away for one week when something else broke. I took it in to have the other problem fixed and the brakes were bad again. The certified warranty is up and so is my luck. Ill not only never buy from this dealer, but wont buy a Benz again.