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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  Just the best! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Rich - January 22 - 2:36 am

  Ive had my SL for nearly a month now. Have not regretted it since the moment I drove it off the lot. Just wish the engine was a little more responsive at acceleration as my former CLK. Pure heaven driving this car! Thinking about it? Go for it!

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  Worth the splurge - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Kevin - January 21 - 6:00 am

  Great car. Great finishes. This car will certainly grab the attention of others, especially if its the V12.

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  new car experience - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By you wont regret it - January 21 - 2:00 am

  i have driven jaguars for 20 years. the reason was always the interior and the exterior distictive exterior lines. the new clk cabriolet,has it all and more. great accleration, power, smooth ride and quiet. the mocha blk exterior w/tan connelly interior leather made this a very unique car. i had never consider mercedes before because of their stark interior. this car changes everything. to me it is worth much more than i paid. no post buyer remorse for this unique auto.

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  WOW-WHAT A GREAT CAR - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By CAM,SR - January 21 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS MY 1ST BENZ AND WHAT AN EXCITING CAR! I HAVE OWNED LINCOLNS, CADDYS AND JAGS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. AWESOME DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND TOP DOWN IS A PIECE OF ART. THE 2004 BODY STYLE IS THE BEST.

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  Solid and Fun - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Elvis"the king" - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive but no for a long time or everyday. But when you do drive it, one of the best. Make sure its not your everyday around town car. If you want that, but a car.

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  This car is great - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By benz4eva - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Over all i love this car a alot. It is great to drive and it is very comfortable. Its reliable and it is a 4 matic so it drives in the snow well.

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  Design Flaws and Others - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Poxman - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I dont like how theres no switch that opens the doorlocks from the inside. If I want to let passengers in the backseat, I have to open my door to unlock all the doors. The controls in the dash is hard to reach. The sound system needs an upgrade, and the digital dash display looks too big and generic, reminds me of my 86 Mazda.

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  My new wife - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mike the psychomag - January 21 - 2:00 am

  As a single guy, I had a choice to either get married, or spend the money on a new Benz. I KNOW I made the correct decision. (No offense ladies) This car is everything I imagined and more. It is the most powerful 4 cylinder I have ever driven, and I get 35 MPG on the highway! Incredibly responsive, comfortable, and tight. I will never drive anything but a Mercedes anymore.

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  Best Car ever - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Glenn - January 20 - 7:36 am

  This is the best car I have owned, and I have gone thru 14 cars and vans over the last 30 years and by far this car is the most fun to drive . Many people stop and comment on how cool the car looks due to no B pillar. Mileage on the highway is 31 mpg

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  A nice example of good engineering . . . - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By chronopassion - January 19 - 10:00 am

  I am amazed that there can be so much variability in this car. Everybody I know seems to have only occassional issues that arise. The vast majority of people I know with this car do very well with it. Makes me wonder how legit some of the complaintes are. Anyway, I have only had a couple very minor cosmetic issues and nothing I would even describe as a minor problem. Wonderful fun car to drive.