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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  Too many problems - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By kaylee - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Right when i drove out of the lot, there was a problems with the car. The Ac was hot, the windshield wiper was noisy, my malfunction thing was on saying my sos was not working, my back shades were loose making alot of noise. Overall this car is really fast with 362 hp, but too many problems. Had taken this car to the dealership way too many times!

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  R350 engine problems - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Andrew - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Not many potential buyers know that the R350 with the v-6 engine has a faulty balancing camshaft gear that is prone to failure. The gear is failing impacting the timing of the engine. In order to repair it the entire engine needs to be taken out of the car and apart. Cost over $5,500. All V-6 M272,and V-8 M273 engines between 2004 and 2009 have the potential problem that results in the extensive repairs. MB USA is not honoring the repairs and there is a class action complaint in process. Think twice about buying a used Mercedes Benz. You may be for a $5,500 surprise even if the car has 50,000 miles on it.

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  Dont buy one - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jfa - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought car with 10,000 miles onm it and it has been the worse car I have ever owned- will never buy another one. Now have 102,000 miles on it and have replaced fuel and water pumps and had numerous minor problems. Just found out i have a major electrical problem which will cost over $1000.00 to fix. Considering what I paid for the car, it has been a disaster. Am going to trade it in on an Acura.

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  Not Such A Good Choice - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By First Timer - May 18 - 4:20 am

  Ive had my 06 C280 for about 14 months now. I have had it into the dealer five times, each time with a list of minor problems. The last visit, three weeks ago, the transmission was replaced under warranty. Plenty of squeaks, rattles and vibrations. Transmission still seems to make a funny noise. My center console cover has come off four times. This is my first and last Mercedes. They have sacrificed quality and reliability.

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  2009 E350 RWD Review - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ppnff - May 16 - 4:03 am

  I bought a new 2009 E350 due to the massive incentives, both dealer and financing subsidies in July 2009. If the subsidies did not decrease the price by over 33%, I would not have bought the vehicle. Also, the 2009 fixed a lot of the prior model year issues (e.g., COMMAND problems), and a lot of options (iPod, bluetooth, DVD) were now free. At this price point, the deal was a steal. Coming from an Infiniti G (more hp and faster), I like my change.

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  NOT TO SHABBY - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By WAHLER - May 16 - 2:00 am

  NICE OVERALL PREFORMANCE,LIKING THE RIDE AND DRIVE. HORSEPOWER IS GOOD ,TORQUE IS EXCELLENT. LOTS OF ROOM. FEELS PRETTY SAFE.

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  My dream car - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Crescent City Girl - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I always wanted an E320 MB. My dream materialized in April of 2002. This is my first of many MB purchases. MB will be the only brand of car I will drive going forward. I totaly love the car, and so does my family and friends. My E320 MB is definitely a head-turner!!! Coming from a Honda civic, Im in awe. I recommend this vehicle to all.

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  Fantastic Engine, but not for twistys - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By socalh2oskier - May 13 - 9:10 pm

  Just upgraded from 350 cab to the 550 cab. The engine on the 550 is amazing. Too bad the rest of the car lags in comparison. The suspension is downright sloppy. Straight line acceleration is exhilirating, but the smile on your face quickly fades if you have to turn, as it is plagued by execissive body roll and lack of control in corners. Stereo is so-so, and seating, even with the p-3 option pdg which includes upgraded "body contour" seats, is still far below the support and comfort of a BMW. If the BMW 335 convertible were available, I would have bought it. But it is not so I will enjoy this car for my 3 yr lease term and then trade for the more comfortable and sure-footed BMW.

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  Traded in a 2014 E350 and its an upgrade. - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dave - May 9 - 11:21 am

  Our lease was up on our 2014 E350, which we loved. We werent even thinking about the new E300 because of the change from the 302 hp V6 to the 241hp turbo 4. I did have the opportunity to experience how smooth an powerful the new generation of twin turbo 4s can be as I recently also bought a BMW 328i. Two days after picking up the E300 I took it on a 500 mile trip that I did often in the 2014. There is really no discernible difference in performance between the two engines in speeds up to 90 mph. The 4 with the 9 speed transmission is incredibly smooth. The full torque is available at very low rpm so the car felt just as powerful, fast and quick as the V6. Both cars have a similar smooth ride with the new car having a little better driving dynamics. The beautiful exterior and interior styling, amazing seats with power thigh bolsters, and cutting edge safety and entertainment tech makes the new car superior to the 2014. Our new car stickered about $4k less than the 2014, but overall was better equipped. Although I dont have adaptive headlights or pano sunroof this time, having lane departure, self parking, autonomous braking, Appleplay, etc makes up for it. Dont hesitate being concerned about the shift from the 6 to the turbo 4. It makes no difference in real world driving. Compared to the BMW turbo 4, the Benz is smoother and quieter, the BMW is quicker and more athletic. The E350 was the best sedan I ever owned and the new E300 is clearly better. Surprisingly though the gas mileage is not that much better: 2 mpg on the highway - 29 for the 2014 and 31 for the new one, both 4matic. This was at average speeds of 75-80. UPDATE at 1 year. I will not be getting another Mercedes when this lease is up. Car performs well, but the technology does not work as advertised. Appleplay conks out, the screen goes blank, nav is very awkward to use, voice recognition is not very good, self Park is useless, Mercedes app doesn’t work right. Mercedes service doesn’t have answers. Beautiful car, nice highway ride, but not really an upgrade on the old E350. Next time I’ll be looking at Audi or BMW.

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  This car rocks! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By James - May 9 - 2:33 am

  So far this has been a terrific car. The power is unlike any vehicle Ive ever driven. Believe everything you have read about this car; it boogies. The interior is different for me, having had SUVs and trucks. Cupholders and basic storage are the only downside. The build quality overall is impressive as is the overall comfort of driving. The driving experience is somewhat different because the brakes, gas pedal, and tranny are always "thinking" on how I am driving, etc, so it will take getting used to. It does drink the premium though. Also, the a/c is incredible, as in hang meat in the cabin cold. Stereo is OK...lots of gadgets overall. Its a beauty to look at too, makes me smile.