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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  Great car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By alfreds - July 9 - 2:26 pm

  Why go with some lower middle class vehicle liek the Lexus or the H2? The G500 defines luxury and is used all over the world for military, industrial and civilian use. This is a tested SUV, not something marketed to soccer moms.

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  NICE...BUT CMON.... - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ross - July 8 - 5:20 pm

  The car is truly beautiful from the outside and wonderful to drive. You have to get the V8. There is probably only 1 mpg difference but a huge difference in power. The only thing is that the inside is soooooo simple. The interior is ok but cmon, Mercedes really hasnt changed anything on the inside in 100 years. Old buttons, mediocre nav. It makes you wonder about the price when far-inferior cars look amazing on the inside in comparison. Little leg room in the back. Mercedes is a driving machine, yes. But for $60,000- plus (with AMG), I want my cars interior looking a little better than a Honda... dont you think?

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  AWESOME CAR - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ROBERT - July 7 - 1:40 pm

  GREAT ENGINE LOTS OF POWER AND TORQUE AT ALL SPEEDS AND I LIKE THE 5 SPEED AMG SPEEDSHIFT ADAPTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT YOU SHIFT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL OR SHIFTER. MY YOUNG SON CALLS IT THE FAST AND FURIOUS CAR FROM THE MOVIE, BUT WITH THE LUXURY YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM MERCEDES. I GOT IT WITH NAVIGATION AND ITS A VERY SMOOTH SYSTEM COMPARED WITH MY WORK TRUCK VERY DETAILED AND ACCURATE. THE SOUND SYSTEM IS VERY NICE WITH 12 SPEAKERS FROM KARMON/KARDON. AND THIS CAR HAS THE BEST BRAKING SYSTEM OF ANY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. LOTS OF SAFETY FEATURES. ONLY NEGATIVE IS THE PRICE BUT ONCE YOU TRULY DRIVE IT, ITS MONEY WELL SPENT.

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  The 2015 C-Class is luxury on steroids... - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By luxurylover1 - July 4 - 5:31 am

  Amazing design, finishes, and everything a large car would have in a smaller one without compromises. You cant get that anywhere else it seems. They all try and upsell you to a larger car. My advice for a potential buyer is to option is well. The airmatic suspension----a must. The leather----a must. It seems most luxurious in its luxury version over sport version.

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  Love the Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Charles - July 3 - 6:40 am

  Turned in my Lexus GS300 March 06. I started shopping in feb for new car to lease. Lexus gave me high priced lease prices and this would have been my 3rd GS. So went to Mercedes and leased 2006 CLK350. Obsidian black-light tan inside. Have Sirius, lighting package, prem package, heated seats and navigation. Love the car. No problems except had to wait 1 month for Sirius. And the car cost me less than the Lexus. The car turns heads. Love driving the car, Much better than the 2003 GS300. The best time of day is driving to and from work.

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  LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Shirley - June 30 - 11:40 pm

  I love everything about this car, as I am semi retired I wanted a car that is going to be comfortable for long trips to visit friends, even after 12 hours it is, no numb butt. It is the best cruise control I have ever had but did get it confused with the indicator to start with. I wanted it in the new metallic quartz blue with grey interior, I could not find it in the model I wanted without a lot of extras I did not want so "I built my own" this has just added to the delight of owning a Mercedes, that it was custom made for me, it does not cost any extra to do this, but does add to the prestige.

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  Great value for the money... - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Doctor Karl - June 30 - 9:13 am

  Just traded in a Cadillac CTS-V for a 2005 M-B C230 KOMPRESSOR black-on-black sedan with a navigation system. Not a very powerful vehicle, especially having just had 400 hp under the hood of the Cadillac. Nevertheless, much more fun to drive, in that the seats are more supportive and one feels much more in-tune with the car, rather than just a passenger. The vehicle gets great gas mileage, has sufficient pep from the supercharged 4-cylinder engine and is a pleasure to drive. The navigation system is very user friendly, although could use a graphics improvement. I have no regrets investing in this vehicle. In fact, my girlfriend purchased the same vehicle (but red-on-black); she loves it!

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  Best auto Ive ever driven - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DC3946 - June 29 - 2:00 am

  The expected German engineering and craftsmanship are all here. Sweet, simple, styling gives a solid yet elegant look to this car. Crisp precise handling at any speeds I would be driving at, and fantastic brakes. We go back and forth to Florida from New Jersey and this car is a pleasure to drive. Comfortable yet a great feel of the road.

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  My 7th E350 Sport Sedan - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By abacomike - June 28 - 5:12 pm

  I just picked up my 2013 E350 Sedan - MSRP was $64,865. This is my 7th straight year purchasing a new E350. This one, by far, is the best one Mercedes has ever built. The ride and handling are superb! The technology is functional, but not overwhelming. Audio system (Harman/Kardon 610 watt 5.1 surround sound w/14 speakers) is the best Ive ever heard in a luxury sedan. Outstanding acceleration when needed! Great visibility both front and rear. Blind Side Monitor is a must option. Wood/leather steering wheel in Walmut is like a piece of good furniture. 3D NAV system is phenomenal! Voice control system responds to every command. Mbrace system great addition! Best E350 yet!

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  Wow! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Lee - June 25 - 6:43 am

  I purchased this car after coming out of a 06 Infiniti M45 and Im very impressed. Performance is outstanding. The car is smooth and whisper quiet at 75mph. Fit and finish is good and typical for German cars, the car feels solid. The exterior styling is so unique for MB so its a real head turner. The interior definitely feels like a coupe. There is plenty of room for driver and font seat passenger however, this will come at the expense of anyone sitting in the rear. The Command system is a disappointment after coming from the M45. Navigation and audio controls are not as intuitive and voice activation is an option as well as bluetooth capability. Still overall I am very happy with the ca