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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  One of the best in the world. - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Adame - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Classy, fast , and reliable. Timeless styling, and its a Mercedes!

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  Fun toy - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tinku - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Had it for six months. Smooth accleration. Sped upto to 90 several times without realiing it.However, in the beginning it felt like I needed excess force on the accelerator (compared to my Camry). That problem seems to have gone.Love the voice activated telephone and CD changer.The telephone system is overpriced. Dealership people installing the phone system were not knowledgeable enough.

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  Almost two months in..... - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Golfdog1 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I have had my 2004 E-320 almost two months and it is running fine. I didnt get the $2000 phone. The folks at RBM said that I should be ok using my cell phone because others have used theirs and had no problem. Just got back from Savannah and the ride was great! A couple of glitches (1 the feature to open all windows and moon roof at once dosent allways work and 2) the passenger side mirror doesnt allways turn down to show the curb in reverse. No mechanical problems (knock on wood).

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  C230 Sedan is Awesome! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JLO1578 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I love my 2003 C230 Sedan, it has all the style and luxury appeal of Mercedes- Benz but a price tag that I could swallow. Great Performance, styling and comfort, my only regret is thaT I didnt get the Cold Weather package (heated Seats)....

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  An exceptional SUV - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By New_Merc_Fan - July 31 - 6:40 am

  The new ML 350 is a pleasure to drive compared the previous model. Very aerodynamic with good acceleration. Interior styling is awesome. Road handling is fantastic and it handles turns exceptionally well for an SUV. Navigation system is great. Its been a great experience so far.

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  smart and sporty car - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mani Bala - July 31 - 2:33 am

  Everything is fine except for blind spots. even with blind spot assist, it is hard to see on the sides vehicles approaching, as the doors are set higher than usual and mirrors are a bit smaller. The driver seat is set too low, does not raise or tilt backwards far enough to see the road better. Interior room is about the same as new C-class but center console on C-class is set too high limiting the space for the arms. just a few bugs.

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  Used 1998 ML320 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By tja623 - July 30 - 6:01 pm

  I just bought a used 1998 ML 320. What a gem!!!! Plenty of power/torque, good acceleration, and an AWD system that handles itself great in the snow. Everything works, leather is in perfect condition, Bose stereo is fantastic, everything is what you would expect from a Mercedes Benz. Previous owner was a Mercedes Technician, so the vehicle was very well maintained. His wife hit a deer, and he didnt feel like making necessary repairs. So I got lucky, being a co-worker of his, he basically gave me the car for 2K and i had to repair the vehicle myself. A fender, hood, & bumper later, and Im four wheelin in the snow!!! You would never know this thing is 15 years old with 200k miles on it!!!!!!

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  Great Car, Fun to Drive - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By SWK - July 30 - 12:36 pm

  I just leased a 2010 C300 AWD. I have previously had 2 Volvo S60s. I love this car. It rides so smooth and it is extremely quiet. I love the front grille design and all the comfort features it has. I drove BMW 3 series and found the lease process way too expensive and complicated. The mercedes is so fun to drive and it is surprisingly roomy inside. My husband is 64" and he has plenty of headroom and legroom. The only negative is the interior is not real leather and Mercedes should be able to do leather for $41,000.

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  Solid, great features, smooth ride - 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By vmerch - July 30 - 12:39 am

  I had a Volvo XC60. Within 2 years, it was a rattletrap. I have gone back to MB with the GLK350 4Matic and love it. Solid - go over bumps and no rattles, just a solid thump. Command launch package gives you everything in Multi-media except for rear-view camera for 2K less. Ride is great. The car fits like a glove and is comfortable for hours

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  Outstanding car for the money - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - July 28 - 10:13 am

  This is my second Mercedes. The car feels much bigger than it is. Gas mileage is around 24 in town and close to 30 on long trips. Love the looks and the styling with the low profile tires and wheels. Fit and finish of the car is outstanding.