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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  Decent Vehicle - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Justin - October 13 - 6:06 am

  I purchased this vehicle when my 2000 E320 got totaled out by a drunk driver. I purchased the vehicle with 44k miles on it and have not had to do much but the required maintenance. There are a few things that have broken in the interior (door pulls broke, glove box broke). Minor things, but things I am not used to. All in all, i enjoy the car. Its fun to drive and I still driving an MB. The key is regular maintenance. I look forward to having this car for a few more years.

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  Got Transmission? - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Maggie - October 9 - 5:00 am

  I am compelled to write a review on this car after a year and a half of ownership because it has been a series of non-stop transmission problems which Mercedez cannot seem to fix. I do not know if they have fixed the 2007 model but you really need to thoroughly test-drive this car and ask around. Also, the back tires needed replacement after just 20,000 miles which seemed a little too soon. This car also has a totally unusable cup holder, something you think is just a small thing but turns out to be huge for us commuters. I am thoroughly disappointed in my $70,000 purchase and wish I had stayed with a Lexus, a car I thoroughly enjoyed for ten years.

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  One of the best cars I have ever owned! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Elian - October 9 - 3:13 am

  I have had this Benz for 150,000 miles so far and I am extremely impressed by its reliability and quality. We shipped this car to Lebanon where the roads are horrible! Ever since then we have had only routine maintenance and an air conditioner replacement. Otherwise this car is the most reliable car in our garage it has never died on us, never overheated, it never does anything its not supposed to do! The traction in the wet is not the best, but the handling in dry conditions is wonderful and responsive. Its that solid German enginering that is outstanding. The feeling of driving a solid well made car makes me hate driving most domestic cars. This car is a great investment!

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  s430 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By mojojojojo - October 8 - 10:00 am

  i just got my S430 a couple days ago and i love it. the interior is amazing. it feels as if you were in first class in an air plain. the engin is very quiet and the handeling is great. the acceleration on this car is also great. for a over 3000 lb car the acceleration is very quick(6.9 sec). the nav. screen is also very big and legable. i also love the dashboard. it is big bright and clear. the tire preasure monitor is also a good thing to own. but my overall favorite thing is the driver and passenger seats. i would use them in my livingroom if i had a chance. they are like floting on a clowd.

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  Tech-rich machine - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Autohaus - October 6 - 2:00 am

  The C280 has little to envy other luxury vehicles. The new Flex Service System (FSS) does away with traditional 3,000-mile oil changes and service is only required every 10 to 20 thousand miles. Spark plugs at 100,000 miles. Oozing with elegance, the C280 is a solid, tech-rich machine governed by outstanding safety features. When you add the leather seats, Bose audio system, moon roof, and its spunky V6 engine, the C280 is hard to beat.

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  Sports Sedan - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By G. Miller - October 6 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle was purchased new, has been meticulously maintained and has been 100% reliable. The Transmission hesitates slightly if youve been driving casually and then nail it, but if you continue driving aggressivly it will adapt and work quite well. This is a great all-around vehicle for the real world.

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  No Regrets - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mark - October 5 - 2:06 am

  Just purchased and drove home about 50 miles. Surprisingly quiet and we got a little over 29 mpg on the way home. Read many reviews before buying and am not disappointed, car is rock solid and drives like a dream. Cant find any other car that drives like a Mercedes Benz. Would say car is good mix of size, sporty, economy and safe.

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  This car deserves a serious look - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By DrDanno - October 4 - 8:20 pm

  Having a bad experience with high-line Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the past 6 years, I was reluctant to even LOOK at this car; however its exterior styling is so compelling that it lured me in. Once in the cockpit, I was warmed by the comfort and ambiance of the interior layout, and thrilled at the throaty exhaust note. The car handles well, accelerates with exhiliration, and overall satisfies an enthusiasts lust for power and speed. It falls short on standard features for its lofty price, forsaking such things as the COMAND and navigation system, relegating them to the option list. Additionally, the paint is not up to M- B standards; too much orange-peel in the surface. Still, a good choice.

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  Bye Bye Porsche - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Rob - October 4 - 8:16 pm

  Traded in my 2002 911 for something a little more "family friendly", but with some pizzazz. Couldnt be happier. I love the comfort, the styling, and the performance. It looks like its going 80mph while still in park. It just is everything I wanted in a car.

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  Slow Car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Jeanne - October 4 - 7:46 am

  Not a sports car at all. Dont be fooled by Mercedes in order for them to sell the car. Automatic trans and low horsepower add up to a boring car. BMW 3 series would have been a smarter purchase! This is definitely an old lady car.