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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  Cool Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By twrex - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Fun car to drive - looks great. Did cost much more than the "everyone has one" Accord.

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  Beautiful car! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Simba - October 18 - 5:36 pm

  This is a beautifully made car, both inside and outside. People stare at it all the time and ask me about it. Plenty of power with the new 5.5 L engine. Braking is exceptional. The airmatic suspension gives you the best of both worlds – luxury as well as sporty. Steering wheel is more precise and firm than last year’s CLS 500. Overall, exceptional car with gorgeous lines.

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  Never Again - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Vince - October 18 - 4:06 pm

  The quality of these cars is not better than a Ford. For $73,000 I would have expected this car to be in the same league as a BMW or Lexus and its not.

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  Replaced an 09 X3 - 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By lawman1967 - October 18 - 3:41 pm

  Fast, fun-to-drive, small and VERY comfortable. 09 X3 was practically falling apart at 58,000 miles, but GLK is essentially a tall C-Class, which are extremely reliable. X3 also had mediocre front seats, while GLK uses C Class seats, which are outstanding for even long distance. The car is also smooth and quiet, with handling that again feels more like a C Class sedan than an SUV.

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  Great Carruck!! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By R-Class fan - October 17 - 10:03 am

  The R-Class is the perfect family vehicle! Great highway car, great features, great ride, great size, great for hauling to our lake house, great for going out with friends, six adults will fit in the car in formal attire! Enjoy the ride!!

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  QUITE A SUPRISE - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By STEVE E. - October 17 - 10:00 am

  When I first started comuting in it, I was pleased with the comfortable interior. While some would like more H.P. I find it gets up & goes when entering highway traffic. I am not towing a trailer & dont feel it is underpowered for my use. Fuel milage averages 20 MPG, but 90 - 95 % of that is highway. Of course I bought it as a sport utility & have roof racks for kayacks,(noisy when hauling.) I also own a boat & constantly bring supplies back & forth, plenty of room. I like the over the head tailgate, at 61" I dont hit my head. I have gone through several vehicles in the past few years, this one will be around for a while.

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  The best car I have owned in 50 yrs - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By zev - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Navigation system can still be more friendly, but the car drives itself especially when in trouble.

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  Super Fun Car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Miss D - October 16 - 8:46 pm

  I have really enjoyed driving this car. My only issue with M-B is the options packages. They make it too hard to get what you want. I initially had a problem with the memory seats but after 2 trips to the dealer it was fixed. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a great drive with lots of WOW factor!

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  R-Class - 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By mcelada - October 14 - 1:07 pm

  Euromotors Germantown is wonderful. I just purchased my second car from them an R350. Everyone there is always helpful and very friendly. My sales person, Danny, is helpful and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Euromotors Germantown to all my friends & family. I told them to asked for Danny (best). I am so glad to see Charles back with Euromotors. He is pleasant and helpful.

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  Drives Like a Dream - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LA Driver - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This car is a perfect blend of luxury and sports performance. Its surprisingly well-priced. It handles hair pin turns like a true high performance sports car, yet rides like a luxury sedan. The 4 cylinder Kompressor engine has a surprising amount of power. One would never guess the car has a four cylinder engine. The interior is impressive. The seats are comfortable. The car comes with many features that are found in its more expensive models. Its a little tight in the back but still makes for a comfortable ride. The sound system is impressive. This car is a must on your list of cars to test drive.