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:

• 

  short lived affair - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Alero - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I first saw this car in the movie jurassic park and said to myself: I must have one. I finally got one a few months back and today, I traded it in for a jaguar because I am concerned about the future reliability of the car. the passenger driver door lock needs replacement and I hear some funny noises coming from the steering mechanism. a plastic part in the back just cracked for no reason and even with the extended warranty I just dont want the hassle. my business parner has a 320 sedan and he is eager to dump it because mercedes benz got lost somewhere and their newer cars are just overpriced not the legends of yesterday.

• 

  MB does not live up to its reputation - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rockinrn - June 15 - 6:19 am

  I have waited for almost a year to write a review on my 2014 E350 with sport package in order to live with the car for a while and not make any hasty judgements. I have always wanted an E 350 and I regret to say that I am very disappointed. First I would like to say that the car does not exhibit the solidity that MBs are known for. My car has many creaks and rattles from the extensive plastic parts used in the interior. The standard seats are firm, but extremely uncomfortable; more uncomfortable than any car I have ever owned and I have owned over 20 new cars since I have been driving. The sport suspension is overly harsh. All in all very sad for a car costing $61,000. Beware of MB! Still cant wait for the lease to be over. Ill never buy or lease another Mercedes product.

• 

  Rolling Passion - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By don1978 - June 13 - 7:38 am

  Driving this automobile has been an absolute joy. It hasnt always been smooth sailing. Have had to replace a motor mount and alternator; booth covered under warranty. Other than that its been very reliable and has allowed me many enjoyable miles to reflect on what this car is really about. It does everything well. Sure a BMW 5-series will out handle this car but as a whole this rolling rocket is pure solid power wrapped in a much more elegant package. While driving you can feel as though the engineers have spent many sleepless nights designing this car; sweating every detail. Overengineered and it shows. Passion for their craft has inspired me. I Will have this car a very long time.

• 

  Good but has hidden issues - 2011 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lrogalski - June 9 - 4:55 am

  Purchased a used 2011 ML350 Bluetec with 65,000 miles for about $30,000 with taxes. Same day troubles began. Check engine came on and I opened a bar tab at the dealership. Local shop replaced the Nox sensor ($700) and said that there is a possibility of a bad valve body. Reset was performed with hope it doesnt come back but shortly after a 45 miles drive check engine came on. Only MB dealer can fix a valve body and they did for about $2,400. Took a 1000 miles road trip with no issues until 3 weeks later. Check engine again and new code P20BE1B, reductant heater performance, possible $1,200 fix. Mechanic reset the code and said to drive it and see if code comes back. To be continued...

• 

  very happy so far - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rick - June 8 - 6:33 pm

  Solid ride that keeps getting more enjoyable. Car could use a little more power but looked at many vehicles and felt like the price and equipment were put this car above others. The amg wheel package makes the exterior of the car.

• 

  Happy with the Benz - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve in ICT - June 8 - 10:00 am

  So far, its great. Ive only had my E- 320 Sedan for 2 months, but overall I love it. I switched from a Lexus LS400 that was comfortable but not "fun" to drive and was a gas guzzler. This car is fuel efficient, fun to drive, and turns heads. The features are fine -- I miss heated seats (I bought a 1998 used with out that option) but the dual climate control makes up for it. Very good sound system, very comfortable seats, excellent safety features.

• 

  Recommendable - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By jp - June 7 - 5:26 pm

  I had leased it for 2 years. Overall good performance especially for family. Lots of space. Very quiet ride. Would have been happy with some more juice! Good value compared to the very expensive models. Sleek front look, but not so with the rear look. I guess, you can be the judge. Had some minor issues, no big deal.

• 

  Fix the breaks! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kingw - June 4 - 10:00 am

  the cars interior and exterior are very stylish and impressive. the car rides smoothly and feels heavy on the road. its definitely an eye turner with the new re-design. however, it lacks the over quality of mercedes due to many of the "electronic sensing" functions in the car. the brakes are the biggest disappointment along with the lack of acceleration when turning the car and depressing the accelerator at speeds of around 30mph

• 

  Bang for the buck plus 3-star MB badge - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dc202nw - May 30 - 9:16 am

  Before I bought my C230 Kompressor, I looked at other entry luxury vehicles. I found this car was the best entry level luxury vehicle at its price point. I would honestly rate the C230 Kompressor with high marks even if it didnt have the MB markings on the car. I didnt want to drop a mini-fortune (for me) on a CLK or E-series. So, I bought the C class and I have been very happy. I initally thought this would be the first and last Mercedes Benz I would purchase, but now Im considering a CLK or E class for my future car. Ive fallen in love with Mercedes. Its an entry level MB, but it has many more bells and whistles than others cars in its price range.

• 

  g55 big bucks for big thrills - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By alfred - May 28 - 10:00 am

  very fast and agile for a big truck. great looking and gets more stares than any suv on the market