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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  Near perfection - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob Corder - November 2 - 4:20 am

  Having this much torque & horsepower makes it almost too easy to drive. Unbelievable acceleration --- from standing start or passing at speed --- just punch it and hold on. Traded a 2003 SL500 to get AMG engine, 5 passenger seating and a really nice trunk. I preferred the SL500 suspension and quicker steering but the E55 engine & transmission make this a preferable choice. This is a stealthy car. Not too many realize what a beast it is. It lives up to the advertising. Not one problem to report at 12,000+ miles. There was one recall for brakes and one fix for suspension --- car pulled to the right. An article in Star magazine pointed out this problem which was fixed under warranty.

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  1st New Car in 40 Years - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ron Nielson - November 1 - 8:49 pm

  Be prepared for high maintenance costs, upsell for many additional services, warranties, etc. Very nice car overall, quite enjoyable to drive, excellent bluetooth phone quality, nice sound system.

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  The Perfect Used Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Elton - October 31 - 9:56 pm

  This vehicle is an off-lease 320 wagon purchased from the MB auction in Atlanta. Although it has 23,000 miles on it, there is NO wear and tear in the interior. Most people who have seen the car think it is new. Since I paid in the low 20s for this vehicle, I feel Ive gotten an awful lot of car for the money. I dont understand why MB is not offering the 320 wagon this year-Its much more fun and has a better ride than the 240. Its a great value!

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  Cant help but stare - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By commuteinstyle - October 31 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome car. Slightly smaller than the E500 but much more nimble ... Power is abundant and the handling is crisp and smooth at the same time. Front seating is great for the taller driver ... Im 6ft 4in and it fits perfectly. Rear passenger room is comfortable as well (a bit tight behind a tall driver) ... Havent seen many new CLKs on the road ... especially the CLK 500s which is why people stare ... Love the way when both windows are down, it creates a very open feeling in the car (almost like a convertible) ... Build quality is much better than the E, C, ML classes (even the material is better like in the CL and S classes).

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  Mecedes S-Class - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Jason Maymudes - October 31 - 10:00 am

  i like it alot it is fun to be driven in and the features are very nice it is also very comfortable and luxorias

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  Best 4 door rocket to buy. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By CarolinaC32AMG - October 31 - 10:00 am

  If youre looking for a comfortable cruiser with lots of power, this car is for you. Its not a pure sports car, but does what its intended very well. Excellent power, comfort and looks. The four doors make it very good for transporting families, while still giving you the option of sportiness when alone.

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  Luxury and rattles - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Alex - October 31 - 8:56 am

  Leased car; good for business, ensures an image of success. Front of the car very sexy, though a little bit too aggressive. The back needs serious rethinking/redesign. Pleasant drive, extremely quiet at low speed. The interior looks well put together and quite refined, though Audi and Lexus still better. There are some rattles at 60-65 mph from the passenger seat. Maybe this is a subtle invitation from mercedes for car pooling.

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  Mercedes Diesel is Great - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Bob - October 31 - 8:43 am

  I bought this CPO car sight unseen from a dealer about 800 miles from home. I flew there, picked up the car, and drove it home. The car was virtually flawless. I was a little worried when the CEL came on the second day, but the selling dealer said not to worry...get it checked when I got home. I did...and it turned out to be a bad glow plug. My local dealer replaced all six plugs per a TSB. I have owned several Mercedes diesels in the past but this one blows the others out of the water. It has very strong acceleration! How great is that in a diesel (remember the ones from the 80s?)! I got slightly better than 40 mpg on my drive home and in combination city/freeway get 30+. Great car

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  2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ASB47 - October 30 - 7:53 am

  This is my sixth Mercedes-Benz automobile and it is the best! I have been driving it for one year. It did not have one thing go wrong with it during this time. The lumbar support in the front seats is excellent. The voice control system is easy to use. I didnt think I would use the heated front seats, living in South Florida. This past winter was COLD! The heated seats were terrific!

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  It is the best ever - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Abdelmonem Makki - October 29 - 4:48 pm

  this is the second car to drive in my life. I do not think that i will get any better car than this. i thinks its one of the safest, strongest, and nicest car out there.