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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  stress free driving - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Abbi - November 11 - 10:00 am

  its truly a unique experience. Handling on tight corners, and plowing through the rain leaving 4-wheel trucks behind is awesome. Sports package really makes it appealing but for the 4matic front and rear tires are not staggered - the only complaint I have is memory seats require holding the button until completion, BMW-7 one touch and I wish my car had better gas mileage

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  Fun to drive but problematic - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JOMD - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Bought the 2003 C240 in August 2002 currently 5000 miles. Its now been in service 5 times but does not qualify as a Lemon. On the first day at home it leaked oil all over our driveway due to a defective seal. That was replaced. Then the rear screen lost a screw and it had to be dismantled. The power moonroof failed and a new motor was replaced. But the wrong motor was installed and it had to be replaced again. Now the break fluid is leaking due to another defective part. I love driving it but these problems are annoying. Will a major malfunction occur on the freeway with the whole family in the vehicle?

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  Almost Perfect - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By beatlemaniacs - November 11 - 12:30 am

  Leased this car after leasing an 05 E500 4matic. Like this car almost as much as predecessor. The 350 is missing a few features of the E500. Opted not to get the E550, but why does the E350 not come with the passenger rear view mirror tilt when in reverse, and also the trunk lock button? Also, they stripped the digital hvac function down to the old dials. Finally, the iPod system is disappointing. Why in the year 2008 it doesnt route through the COMAND like the satellite radio, navigation and regular radio is beyond me. Its way too clunky right now. Hopefully, they will address this in future models just to catch up with Ford and Nissan electronics.

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  I would drive this into the afterlife if I could - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By R. Ishkanian - November 10 - 12:13 pm

  Go for the mechanical beauty of the naturally balanced Inline 6 with the iron block. At 18:1 compression it will outlast subsequent aluminum versions. Use Power Source Diesel Kleen once in a while and keep the injectors clean and lubricated. I have had my 2006 CDI for 145,000 miles and would not part with it EVER. I have driven 1,300 miles in one sitting (several times) and felt great afterwards. MPG is best with the right tires. I had Michelins and could easily get 40 mpg. Switched to other brands and it was a little harder to get that level of MPG. The car is VERY solid and well built. Get clear impact film for the driving lights to protect them from rocks. The rear seat is a little awkward to get out of. The cloth door jambs have worn a bit on the drivers side. Great stability. I upgraded the headlight bulbs to Phillips brightest and it was a great improvement. Suggestion for MBZ, let us adjust the high and low beams individually not as one set. Honestly I would put this against any other car for comfort, performance, efficiency and longevity.

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  Purrfect!!! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jim gaillard - November 7 - 10:00 am

  best all around car i have ever owned . reminds me of a vette with class, even though it is a wagon i really like this . it is perfect.

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  My new Benz! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By maconley - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I was drawn to this car based on its 2003 redesign.

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  Extravagant and Exuberant! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Corp. Executive - November 7 - 10:00 am

  What an unbelievable car! When you drive this one-of-a-kind car you will feel that you are in a different world. The cars elegance and extravagance separates it from other cars. The S- Classs 493 HP makes it a rocket with 4 wheels. The interior is well designed. The COMAND sytem sometimes exacerbates the cars uniqueness. I have driven this magnificient car in the NJ highway at speeds in excess of 135 mph. At bad weather this would be the safest means of transportation. So many people have admired this car, for its uniqueness and true world class elegance. I TRULY LOVE THIS CAR.

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  C32 ROCKS!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dfollman - November 7 - 10:00 am

  plenty of horsepower and speed. The fuel economy is much better than it has been said(I tried it with my odometer) much better than my old cadillac deville which was ALWAYS in the shop and before that my camery in which I got rear end on a residential street sending me straight to the hospital and remember this was on a residential road where the speed limit was 20mph!!

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  Beats the X3 by a mile (or three)! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By BlueJay - November 6 - 5:46 pm

  Just having gotten rid of our 2 year lease on the X3, this is a delightful vehicle! Its been 100% trouble free for over 2500 miles and 2 months now...WAY better ride and handling than the X3....(my fillings are staying in my teeth!) Contrary to others opinions, I think the build quality and finish on the interior are very nice....and the MB-Tex is great stuff....who needs leather!? Our first MB.....and WONT be our last if this a good indicator of their current line up!

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  Decent Entry Level Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CHEAPCAR - November 2 - 7:33 am

  Not as luxurious at the Infiniti G, not as sporty as the BMW 3 series and not as reliable as the IS350. Purchased it because it was priced the best out of all 3. The other 3 cars had too much power and were too expensive. This car isnt on par with the other 3, but you get what you pay for.