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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  New to the fold - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Happy in Alpharetta - November 30 - 3:26 pm

  Great car. My first Mercedes and my first convertible. Great torque and handling. A real eye catcher. Have only had it for 2 weeks and have had multiple comments on its good looks.

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  Wolf underneath sheep skin - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sand07 - November 29 - 10:23 pm

  I had an Audi RS6 which was fast, but it doesn’t compare to the power, handling and overall performance of my new E55 AMG. I love it, I love every moment I’m in the car driving it. My Audi RS6 didn’t deliver the same for me. I can easily tell how much faster my E55 is over the Audi. I have my car at a race track doing 12.2 quarter mile.

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  Great Car - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By george166 - November 29 - 7:08 pm

  I have owned three Mercedes E Class cars since 2000. Subtle cut backs on quality, trying to keep the cost down, did not distract from the overall performance. The ride, handling and performance are still first class, making the car a good value for the money.

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  A Fun Little Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rayro - November 29 - 8:44 am

  We have had this car for 3 years now. I have found it to be a reliable, fun car to drive. Fit and finish is outstanding. The car moves out smartly and the ride is smooth. Service at the dealer has been very good in spite of the service prices. Its about time to replace a second car, and I think Ill take a look at the E-class.

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  S550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By bill - November 27 - 5:13 am

  Outstanding car, great handling. I love the new GPS. The interior is great and it is by far better than any other luxury sedan out there.

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  Mercedes-Benz diehard - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Richard L Smith - November 25 - 11:19 pm

  They can get ALL they need to know by asking owners/leasers of this vehicle. Best $28K vehicle I ever purchased. Just a few goodies short of the 2010 E550 in Quartz Blue (why on earth did M-B drop that awesome color?) with beige interior and LOADED! Unfortunately, I totaled it on a mountain road in Northern California, rolling it over on the roof with 2 untethered dogs and we all walked away with NO injuries whatsoever! Thats Mercedes-Benz for you. My insurance company gave me $40,000, I paid only $36K. I then used that sum to purchase a 2009 Mercedes SL550 Roadster for $50K. Lotta fun, that one! But now, reality has set in, I am over 75 and am pleased as punch with the 2014 E350 4MATIC. "Nuff said!

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  An engaging little sport sedan - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Lawson Bernstein - November 25 - 5:13 pm

  Ive owned a lot of German cars, from $100K Porsches to $10K used BMW E36s. While generally I stick to BMW & Audi, this is a very engaging little car. The torque is adequate at low rpms, but can be enhanced by utilizing the active automatic as a defacto stick shift. The car is tight and the road feel is excellent. I love the cabin which is sleeek and simple, altho so well insulated that you can be doing 80 and not realize it. As my daily driver I find the car delightful, fun to drive and comfortable. I suspect the appeal of this car has something to do with my turning 50, in that comfort is now as important to me as performance. All in all a very engaging little sport sedan.

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  The worst car ever - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By E430 SPORT - November 25 - 2:36 pm

  Ive owned this car for almost a year and it is horrible. My 92 Lexus SC400 with 149k is better made and more reliable than my Mercedes. Mass air sensor went without any warning, air conditioning is terrible and makes noise, display on radio is distorted. Parts are way too expensive, and car is very unreliable. Anyone considering a Benz, I would strongly recommend a Lexus. Toyota puts out a much better product at a better price, with better quality.

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  95 E-class Diesel - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By pointA2pointB - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I cant say enough about this vehicle. We are the original owners. It is a fuel efficient, luxury work horse that still looks and runs like the day we drove it off the lot. Drawbacks are that its a little noisy (but thats a trade off for the 550+ radius you can drive w/out refueling). You may find the air conditioning is not as efficient as gas models, and perhaps a little sluggish (pulling out into traffic)compared to a gas vehicle. If you can find one in nice shape, you will find that its attributes far outweigh these drawbacks.

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  420S Mercedes/not driven much - 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dee Stavola - November 25 - 10:00 am

  Garage kept.Black on black. Two other cars not driven.