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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  SL55 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Don Sowers - November 18 - 1:53 pm

  Great car. Navigation should be DVD not CD based. Performance is exceptional for a luxury car. Would definitely recommend this car. Tire monitor warning system saved me twice before tire went completely flat. Important since no spare tire was supplied.Hard top convertible great improvement over my SL600 removable hard top. Keyless entry and start another of this cars great options. This car will not go at all in ice or snow. Cant wait to try the new SL65 or SLR.

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  Like A Dream - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By SoCal - November 17 - 5:36 pm

  One word: WOW! This car is amazing. This was my first Mercedes and I was somewhat skeptical of its performance capabilities before I test drove it. After that first drive, I was an instant fan. This car gives my 2004 400 hp Ferrari 360 Modena a run for its money in the acceleration category! It really threw me back in my seat...something I was not expecting for a car manufacturer more known for their luxury than performance. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone looking for a performance jolt while offering more luxury and options than more exotic sports cars.

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  What could have been..... - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gimmeabreak - November 17 - 2:00 am

  My first Mercedes-a HUGE disappointment. Greatlooking car that drives beautifully but..I feel thatI paid for a Mercedes and got a Dodge or Yugo.The problem-build Quality!The car has only 18,000 miles on it and the list of problems is way too long:Squeaky seats, moonroof malfunctions, software problems, hood swicthes fell off,brakes(rotors and pads had to be replaced at 7000 miles),defective electronics, transmission problems,replaced SOS system,continuous electronic door lock problems.This a comfortable, great driving car that but it is NOT what I expected from Mercedes and it is NOT worth the money.It will be a long time before I look at another Mercedes.

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  Great Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ginonyc - November 16 - 4:33 am

  I got this car several days ago and so far my experience has been great. Its fun to drive, looks sporty and definitely attracts a lot of attention. I think it will be a big hit with young drivers

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  My first real toy - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By robertfj - November 15 - 2:30 pm

  Awesome driving experience. Great road manners and super performance. 11,000 miles and not one complaint or problem.

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  My second C230 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jtm1085 - November 15 - 12:23 pm

  Ive been a Mercedes Benz driver since my 19th birthday. My first was a white/black 2003 c230 Kompressor 1.8L. I loved this car so I was hesitant to buy another car, and refused to buy anything other than another Mercedes. My black/black sedan is quite comparable. When I first got it I often had to remind myself that I was driving a new car (as the interiors of the kompressor coupe and sedan are essentially identical). I sprung for the leather this time, but chose xenons instead of seat heaters. The xenons are ridiculously bright. love them.

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  Awesome car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By dkitter - November 14 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this about two months ago, runs like new, looks like new. No funny noises, handles beautifully

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  Pretty Good - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Corey Foreside - November 13 - 7:53 am

  My dad got this car as a loan while his CLK was in the shop and I felt the need to write a review for it. First, this car is very fun to drive and has great handling and performance. The rear seats are another story. The way the back doors are shaped makes you trip almost every time you get out of the back. They contour around the wheel inserts. Making for a very uncomfortable entry/exit. Just look at a side view of the car and youll see how the back doors are shaped. It has a very well made interior and exterior. The navigation system is pretty confusing, though. Its a pretty good car overall.

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  my first benz - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Paul - November 12 - 4:16 pm

  I bought this car with some mileage but still under warranty. So far I have enjoyed it quite a lot. I previously drove Mazda RX8, which was like a gokart, but grew out of it and bought a used MB. I get around 23MPG mixed with 60-70% highway, which is an improvement over my RX8. The car is great, although handling is not as sharp as I am used to, much more on a luxury side, but still chassis is tuned nicely and wants to deliver. I wish ESP could be completely turned off, but I did manage to spin it. Acceleration is more than enough and transmission works very smoothly. Sound system is phenomenal. Love the car and cant get enough driving it. It should have a bluetooth. BT cradle is available.

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  I Traded 06 Porsche 911S for CLS 63 AMG - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By MooseinJaxFL - November 11 - 11:40 pm

  I traded my almost new 2006 Porsche 911S for my new CLS 63 AMG for THREE reasons; 1. My kids were getting too big for the back seats in the Porsche! 2. The CLS 63 AMG is MUCH quicker than the Porsche! 3. My CLS is a much nicer daily driver than my Porsche -- and its still a head-turner, especially in black!