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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  dont buy this piece of junk - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JayKay - August 25 - 10:00 am

  having spent over $60,000 I expected more.....car came in with incorrect color. The cars performance is great - and fun to drive. BUT, the reliability is not worth it! Its been back to the dealer countless time for electrical problems (phone/audio/locks). Wanted navigation at time of purchase - was not available. Dealer said I could add later - turned out to be a lie. Dealer is pathetic and arrogant. About to turn in for a competitors car - unlikely to buy another MB. (this was my second). Dont waste your money on this car - better choices out there today.

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  My last Mercedes - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Aphra - August 23 - 9:36 pm

  This is my third and last Mercedes. Since buying it in 2003 I have replaced the transmission, radiator, electrical system, plus 3-sets of tires, 4 sets of brakes. In 2008, I spent $4700 on car repairs alone! I wish I had sold this car years ago! My other two cars were trouble free but they were diesels. Its a pretty car from the exterior but the interior has not worn well

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  Quality of the Mercedes brand is gone... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By shaf - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Rear window fell into the door!!!! The plastic carriage had broken. Service advisor told me, since the cost of this item is handled by the outsourced manufacturer of the part and not Mercedes, Mercedes does not care and has not and will not address this issue. Customer headache is not sufficient reason to address this problem!!?? Check Engine Electronics light comes on for no apparent reason...call the MB service advisor, am told not to drive the car but that I cannot get a loaner car for 2 weeks....he was very helpful in suggesting that I rent a car in the meantime!!!!!!!says they have 150 loaner cars, all are out

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  Problems, problems, followed by 10 grand - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Benznogood - August 13 - 7:23 pm

  This car is an absolute mess. 3 Months and thousands of dollars later I couldnt have bought a bigger lemon. Its falling apart. Supercharger out. ECU out. Having a legal battle with Mercedes over warranty work that should be done, but its not. Im not so much mad at the car. The Mercedes corporation is awful. What a bunch of no good tightwads. Its has been nothing but an absolute nightmare dealing with them. They refuse to honor their warranty. The car rattles, electronics go out. Oh and to fix ALL the problems they have the audacity to ask for ten thousand dollars. No way. I hope everyone else has a better experience.

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  2010 GLK350 - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By mercedes2010 - August 13 - 4:22 pm

  Great car mechanically however, if you are over 58" tall and weigh more than 180 pounds, not the car for you! After 13500 miles, the drivers side door rubber and interior molding is completely worn out from entrance and exit "rubbing"!! Poor quality materials as far as I am concerned. When taken and shown to the dealer he indicated this wear was not covered by warranty. Would expect this after 40 - 50 thousand miles but not from a new car, especially a mercedes. Stay aware if your an average person!!

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  My disappointing MB S65 AMG - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Joseph Lieberman - August 12 - 11:00 pm

  My 9th and last MB. The mechanical problems are endless. AC is noisier than ever. Shifts like a truck. I had the transmission replaced. Now I have vibrations from there. Knobs and buttons are breaking. Speedometer is a full 20% off. Obviously not the German craftsmanship found in earlier models. I went to the factory last year and was astounded to see a huge number of unskilled laborers performing "Technicians" Jobs. I am very unhappy with this vehicle. I got a Mercedes LEMON.

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  Bad air conditioning system - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kai - August 2 - 12:13 am

  The air conditioner continues giving out foul, sour, acidic smell even after 2 heater core replaced, 2 complete cleaning. The manufacturer call center confirmed its a known issue. Transmission adapter failed once and is now leaking agin. Independent service center called it a fire hazard. Does anyone experience the same as I do with this car, please let me know. I really appreciate it.

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  Make sure you have a good mechanic - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By lodenlee - July 30 - 10:00 am

  My car spent 21 days in the shop, before it had 2500 miles on it. The car pulled hard to the right, the front end was totally out of aligment! It then went back in because the passenger side would flood everytime it rained. Something was wrong with the dam around the sun roof, causing the dam, side airbag and footwell to need replacing. now i just received a recall on the steering bolt... yikes, so much for quality for your money. You might want to wait a year or two to purchase, so they can work the kinks out.

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  Disappointed - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - July 28 - 10:00 am

  Just got rid of this after 2 years. Soon after buying, back of the passenger seat fell-off, then, the engines serpentine belt fell-off & left me w/o power steering & in serious danger of overheating. Then the interior door handle of the drivers-side door broke off, then the drivers cup-holder broke. Round logo inserts in center of wheels fell off. Right driver arm-rest/storage lid gets sticky & attracts a layer of grime. The interior door handles made of malleable plastic discolor & become mismatched with the rest of the arm-rest assembly & scratches and looks terrible. Then, I discovered RUST on all door bottoms & above the license plate. Then the a/c dampers began to malfunction.

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  Very Disappointed With This Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TIM - July 18 - 5:36 pm

  Waited 5 months for car to be delivered. Within 3 months of delivery we had a leak in the transmission that left the car inoperable. After two visits, they replaced the trans. Next the Zenon headlight started shorting out; it had to be replaced. Next was alignment issues, this car will wear out top quality tires in less than 12k miles of normal driving! My car has had to be aligned 3 times in 2 years. Next was the seatbelt, the mechanism that hands you the belt had to be replaced. And finally, today my wife is at the dealership having a gear replaced in the tilt steering mechanism. I am so disappointed in this car! I thought I was buying the best, but, I got a lemon! Buyer beware.