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:

• 

  How Good Can It Get - 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By car guy - September 23 - 4:36 am

  Having moved up from an E500 that I thought was a good ride, this is sheer driving bliss. The quietness, feeling of solidity, lush interior ambiance, smart Euro styling, responsiveness, fore and aft roominess all combine for a memorable driving experience. Although my choice is not heavily optioned, the long list of standard features adequately satisfies my convenience and comfort wants. The paddle shifter capability is of dubious value for my driving habits and they inadvertently get bumped on occasion. I plan for this car to be a long term keeper and knowing that MB maintenance cost is expensive, I opted for the extended warranty.

• 

  My first Diesel - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mike S - September 22 - 5:36 pm

  This car has so many things going for it. The diesel engine so far has been amazing. I averaged 37.5 MPG on a recent trip to Florida. I drove 722 miles on one tank. I like that! That and 0-60 in 6.6 sec. in amazing to me. The car is beautiful in every way. It has a great ride. Recently I have been hearing a whistle in the vent fan. Not sure what that is. It sounds a little more noisy than when I purchased it 4 months ago. I would buy this car again. The only complaint is that Mercedes thinks they know better than we do and automatically turn the recirculate button off when it thinks it should. I press that button a hundred times a day. Its my car, let me decide!

• 

  Luv-n It in Alaska - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Diamond_Dan - September 20 - 8:00 pm

  I bought this for my wife. The grandkids were coming home, and I wanted more security than the 04 Outback wagon. So, one day were cruising the lots in Fairbanks, AK. and find this sweet E320 4matic. So, we test drive and she is really liking the car, but is reserved. It is way more car than we have ever owned before. Now, I do own an 83 240D, and love it, 4spd 28 miles to the gallon on its second engine...but a 2002? Well I go to work, I drive the Dalton Hiway ...the haul road. When I get home 2 days later, the wife has had a change of heart...she had it all arranged. She loves the car. Ive added a few things, 18" chromes, stainless window trim, and wash it every weekend. Love the silver!

• 

  Best car ever - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert norton - September 20 - 12:50 am

  Love driving this car, feels like being in a spaceship..

• 

  Great car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By leslie - September 19 - 9:16 pm

  For the money you cant go wrong. The car is outrageously fast. The ride is smooth. Everything on the interior is in its proper place. The handling is very good on or off the track. The fuel economy is good on the highway, but low in the city. So far no mechanical problems. The car is a gem.

• 

  From One Black Beauty to Another - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By hazellocks - September 19 - 11:43 am

  With a child in college, Id planned to drive my 97 Lexus ES300 until it died. Sure, it was a bit long in the tooth, but it worked just fine. Until it died. Suddenly. Irrevocably. In my neck of the woods, Lexus rules; Beemers are well-represented, too. I was loyal to Lexus, but in my heart of hearts, I wanted an MBz. A good friend and private dealer found my new baby. At first sight, it was so beautiful, I was afraid to drive it. It was too fancy, too ostentatious, too TOO. Took about a week to get over it. I am in love. Smitten. Besotted to the point of purchasing a custom cover to minimize sun damage (blk ext, no tinted windows, hot sun, all that leather). Co-workers tease, but thats OK!

• 

  WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By RDS949 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought my CLK 500 two weeks ago and it has bought back the fun in driving. It has been 10 years since I last bought a Mercedes and I dont know what I was thinking. Drives great, looks great, feels great in town and on the open road. Great Car.

• 

  1st Mercedes SL - 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Ohio - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive. Lately it is winning out over the Harley. The looks that you get, and the enjoyment of driving it makes it one of the best cars Ive owned.

• 

  After four months of driving - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Smith - September 18 - 1:50 pm

  I dearly love the car, if I can keep it out of the shop. It is the small things, like keyless go has given me fits (three service visits). Now the steering wheel up and down module is out (6 hours of labor). Other small things have gone out. I love the power, the economy of fuel, Sirius radio, GPS, and comfort, but overall quality stinks.

• 

  Bought used C240 4matic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By borisbad - September 18 - 1:27 am

  I got the C240 with about 89000 miles. Only had one prior owner who supposedly took good care of it. I have had the problem at the shop almost weekly with small problems, like sensor problems, new plugs and coils. Had to get a new AC compressor, rotors, and had many other issues. Now I was told that a problem I had with the climate control system (after getting the compressor and a new climate control unit) is due to some SIMM computer module that controls the programming for the A/C, but also other things like the programming of my second key fob. They say the new unit is $1,200 plus labor and that might not even solve the problem.