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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  Fun driving experience! Great car! - 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By antonio246 - October 1 - 2:05 am

  Traded my 2012 C300 sedan for the 2014 coupe. Very happy with that decision. This car is a lot more fun to drive, better on gas, and downright beautiful. The seats are very comfortable for long trips. For a coupe the ride is pretty decent. Only slightly bumpier than the C Sedan. In Sport mode it handles amazing! I got all the same options the sedan had with the exception of the Media Package (w/navigation). that was a BAD decision. The Becker Map Pilot is a piece of crap. My advice...spend the money on the Media Package. Looking forward to owning this car for a long time.

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  Bad Rap - 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Bruce Rush - September 30 - 6:18 am

  If you think that another suv with the stated purpose of luxury hauling of a couple of people on vacation or not really vigorous living, is better - then you are dreaming. Who really cares about the people riding in the back seat - I have a sedan for that. The cargo space is fine - an imperceptable difference to the competition. Simply a great car that does what it is supposed to do - especially if you get the distrionic plus, active lane assist and the rest of the works. How can anyone complain about this vehicle.

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  Best luxury SUV. - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By BMWfan - September 30 - 6:08 am

  You can read the reviews and buy a Volvo XC90 or Audi Q7.....or you can buy a car that exudes luxury and looks much more than it costs. The GLE is safe, luxurious, technologically advanced (it drives itself with adaptive cruise control and lane assist), and comfy. I test drove all of the major luxury SUVs -- Audi, BMW, Range Rover, Volvo, Jaguar, Porsche. I also test drove the SUVs that are considered best sellers in their class -- Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, etc. This car blows all of them out of the water in terms of value. The new Volvo and Audi may sound like they are technologically superior based on their Car & Driver reviews since they are new...however, the same technology is available in a more luxurious GLE for thousands less than the Audi, and the reliability is in a class above the Volvo. The Audi also looks like a boring Dodge minivan in contrast to the beautiful lines on the GLE. This is not a sporty SUV like the BMW X5....but I am not the kind of person who buys an SUV to replace my sedan....this is the large functional family car. It is also much more luxurious than the spartan BMW interior design (BMW X5 is plastic-like on its interior; the GLE is significantly more luxurious). I want comfy, luxurious, practical, and value in my SUV. The GLE fulfills all of those criteria. Additionally, it is significantly safer. Best purchase ever. Glad I didnt read the reviews and buy the Audi.

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  Love It! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MS - September 29 - 11:16 pm

  The car is incredible, everything an SUV should be. Comfort. Power. Storage space. Passenger room. Harman K Sound system. Safety. Auto dimming mirrors. Heated seats. Memory seats. Auto lift rear hatch. ALL GREAT!

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  Mercedes Ride and noise - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lynn coney - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Purchased the car new off the showroom floor. The car has been very reliable. The biggest problem is the noisy ride with wind etc. Not a good long trip car. Very uncomfortable seats. Very good mileage with the four cyl. engine. Plenty of get up and go. Not satisfied with the dealer whose head of sales at the time was rude to us at the end of purchase.

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  REVIEW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By cristiannicolau - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive. Looks nice (european standards) and makes a great middle age crisis car for the ones not affording a Rolls or Bentley.

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  First 4 months - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mudbone - September 28 - 10:00 am

  The first 4 months I owned this vehicle was nothing but problems. Came home one night and the trunk had magically opened. The interior lights were flashing on and off, controls would not work. Dealer had it off and on for two weeks. Door lock is set to open only drivers side door. Sometimes it unlocks the one door - other times it unlocks all four. Tilt wheel sometimes works - sometimes doesnt. I have had it 7 months now. Appears the problems have been fixed. Waiting for something else to happen...

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  The Perfect Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Juggluv - September 28 - 10:00 am

  This car is indeed perfect, or at least nearly so, however I have yet to find a flaw. The car is the best all around car, and has the power to beat just about every car on the road, with the exception to a corvette or somehting of an equivelent class. The E-55 AMG is incredibly fast, all the while having a 1st class interior, althouth I would prefer burl walnut trim over the black birds eye maple trim but other than that it is perfect.

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  good - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Lindsay - September 28 - 10:00 am

  good quality in all. Runs nicely and will suggest this car to others.

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  My CLK - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Frnak - September 28 - 4:50 am

  This is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever owned. I have owned a TransAm, RX-7, Mustangs, BMWs, and Corvettes and I must say this car is way up on top on the fun factor. Enough power, outstanding handling, absolutely unmatching looks, and a real head turner. I love the car.