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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  Good SUV but needs work - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Keith - December 2 - 10:11 am

  First good things. We had some long trips and Im surprised of its gas mileage. I get 23-25 on freeways going 80 mph. Good pick up, good interior and nice when you order all options. We have owned this SUV from new and still owning it (17 years). Key is maintenance. Now the problems. All I remember is I spent many weekends at dealers. They did the things they need to do but some problems werent addressed. For example my sunroof has been rattling ever since. Okay after warranty, I took over the maintenance. Oil change/ATF fluid/Coolant/Gear oil/brake fluid. Spark plugs. Dont believe what they tell you ATF fluid for life. Most of the problems are sensors which caused lights to come on. Engine valve covers leaked so I had to change the gaskets. I had to change a faulty crank position sensor which caused the SUV to shut down at stop, a YAW sensor which will brakes on its own, and a lateral sensor that leaves the infamous ESP/ABS light on. Battery drains fast through radio. Door switch have to be changed twice, and all door openers. Instrument cluster lights need changing as well. Things I have to bring to shops: AC and preventive water pump replacement. I can understand if you cannot do these things youll have to spend big bucks so only buy when you can deal with it.

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  falling apart S430 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Tim - November 6 - 3:23 am

  I purchased this car used and have put 70,000 miles on it in 3 years. I have replaced every moving part in the interior, the Airmatic suspension was great until it had to be replaced at 92,000 miles, the stereo went out at 101,000 miles, the front end suspension has been replaced once and due again. Beautiful at the curb, powerful drivetrain, poor reliability. Last time I buy a MB. Going back to Lexus. Drove an 1989, put zero into major repairs on it.

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  Cachet name, but ........... - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By in the fast lane - October 31 - 11:23 pm

  I drove the new E class as I was contemplating a new lease deal. Unfortunately, this new E class with the 4 cylinder turbo engine was not as good as its ancestor. The old sport 4 door E350 with the larger six cylinder engine was larger, quicker, quieter, had a better ride. IMHO the new E300 was a disappointment. For a car which lists over $50,000 leather seats were not even standard (they had vinyl seats called leatherette). Not what you would expect in a car of this class. I did read Consumer Reports prior to test driving the E300 and I would agree with their objective 50 test assessment.The E300 was not a top 10 luxury car selection. On their suggestion I am presently deciding between a Infiniti Q70 and a Lexus GS350. Both are very RELIABLE and are fun to drive. IMHO, every car has its quirks but you just dont too many of them. Read CONSUMER REPORTS then do some driving before you lease/buy.

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  Needs an update - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By nateNJ - October 18 - 2:00 am

  The car is showing its age - limited features and dated functionality.

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  spend elsewhere - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By errand boy - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for about 15 months and been to the repair shop 5 times with problems. Including a one week siesta for my benz with no loaner.The car is slightly underpowered. Since my wife and I wanted manual, the 320 was not an option.She drives it most of the time. The most serious problem was when the car stalled suddenly.They claimed it was the ac compressor disengaging the clutch. We got it back the first time and it drove fine, but the ac still didnt work. Nowadays I pretty much only drive the car when it has to go in the shop, which is about every 2 1/2 months. I drive a 2001 passat v6 and have no problems. One would expect some quality control from mb.

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  Not the best choice for a used SUV - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ml500owner - October 16 - 3:18 am

  I have owned this car since new. It now has 110,000 miles and is still like new since almost every part has been replaced or repaired at least once. I have found the car is easy to work on and most parts are available on line or at local auto parts stores. There are also great web forums to help diagnose problems and instructions for repairs. There have been so many problems I could not begin to list them all, but one positive thing I can say it has never left me stranded. I would only recommend buying this car if you have the ability to do most of the repairs and maintenance yourself, otherwise this car is just a money pit that is best avoided

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  The Nicest Terrible Car I Ever Owned - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By INVNTDTHWHL - October 10 - 11:13 am

  I bought this Benz used in 2006 and it was in really good condition and low miles. Ever since then it has slowly fallen apart. Mechanically it is decent other than the expensive maintenance but the fit and finish of the car is sub par. Everything form the trim to the cup holders to the seats have broken at one time or another. This is the bottom of the MB line-up and it shows. They really just cranked these out and spit them at the consumers without quality control. Makes me never want to buy a MB or any German car for that matter again. What a shame.

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  Bad Car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Davis - September 25 - 4:00 am

  I bought this car, my first Mercedes, and while driving down the road, with the family, the front drivers side coil spring came flying out. This also caused the ball joint and the tie rod to give up the ghost. Asked Mercedes for help with the bill, 1700.00 and got a resounding NO!. Seems like this should be a recall, and or Mercedes would live up to the mechanical default without me having to hire a lawyer. Wont own another, I will but something that doesnt self destruct while Im driving down the road.

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  Nice looking but mechanical issues - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Don Bowzer - September 17 - 11:26 am

  This car looks great and is fun to drive, but spends way too much time in the shop. Had several major mechanical problems including complete transmission replacement and complete cooling system replacement, plus many ongoing and nagging electronic problems. Love car but cant afford repairs.

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  Gas Hog - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Madman - September 5 - 2:00 am

  The gas mileage on this vehicle has been awful. The sticker states it gets 15 city 18 hwy. I have yet to get 13 on the highway and I am lucky to get 11 around town. It is a noisy vehicle and really needs steering wheel audio controls. My GMC Yukon is overall a much better vehicle. The third row is even smaller than expected. It is pretty much useless.