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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  Nice Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By BIG ECO - September 5 - 10:00 am

  This car is one of the best looking cars on the road. It is also great to drive.

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  So far so good - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jm - September 2 - 12:13 pm

  While highly skeptical about quality/reliability when purchased for my wife, so far it has been almost flawless. No electrical problems. Cup holder replacement is it. Knock wood. She loves it, likes the size.

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  Mercedes has done it again! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By ljb - September 1 - 4:13 pm

  I drove the Volvo XC60, the Audi Q5, the VW Toureg. None handled as well, or had the build quality of the Mercedes. Oddly enough, the Mercedes was the lowest price. I have had my GLK for 2 weeks. It is a pleasure to drive, and, unlike some other reviewers, I do not have any complaints about the gas mileage (I am getting around 20mpg). My previous car (and Audi A4) only got 22. I would highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Perfect Change from C240 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Harry_D - September 1 - 12:43 pm

  Owned a C240 2004 and was time for a change. The dealer showed me several C230 sport sedans and finally chose one with only 12K miles on the clock. The C230 looks elegant and stands out with the AMG pge. Rides like a dream on the highway. Would have liked the Navigation package but will need to upgrade it on the next car.

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  My dream Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Bobb - September 1 - 12:23 pm

  I live in Chicago and found my dream car in Annapolis, they made me a deal I couldnt turn down. We drove it home the next day and I loved every minute of the drive. Comfortable, great looking "real head turner", lot of power and 26 miles per gallon. The way dash board lights up at night is like a 747.

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  ML 320 2000 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Kar56 - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Love it all the way for comfort , style and performance. Feels solid

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  I love the SL55AMG - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By MLG - September 1 - 10:00 am

  The SL55AMG is by far the best car in the world. It has then hard top convertible and all the specifcations you can want. The only poor thing is that you cant get in a the charcoal colour. The interior is really comfortable and it has a massage system which is really relaxing.

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  Drives great, but has some irritations - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kevin - September 1 - 2:57 am

  Update: 16k miles I am enjoying the car a lot. The engine, transmission and suspension are 1st class. MB fixed my complaints free under warranty: Gas door, sunroof. AC is still icy. I purchased this car because the reviews were so good, it has the latest tech (Its screen rocks) and I get 34.6 mgp to work. It is quiet and always finds the right gear. When pushed hard it is predictable and well composed. Irritating: sunglass storage will spit your glasses back out, pain to go between functions in infotainmet-really a pain, A/C is always icy, mix of quality and cheap materials, serious lack of useful storage. I opened the hood then could not close it, gas cover is pain to close, head rest started rattling after 4 weeks, there is a loud ding every time you open the door, the seat backs are cheap, the headliner is cheap, floor mats are cheap, the trunk lid is not balanced and does not close well, rear sun shade not opening all the way after 2 weeks, remote window open never works. All the little things kill this car for me. I had 2 Infinitis and never had so many problems in 15 years as I have had in 3 months.

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  Style and performance - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Michael altman - August 31 - 3:50 am

  If you have the 18 sport wheels with performance tires they will only last about 10,000 miles in the tears. Every where I go with this car its still a head turner for a 2003 with a style that will always look new. Update 70,000 miles abs light came on and checked fluid it was low, added fluid OEM and all is good, thought I might need pump but I believe due to heat evaporation there was some loss. Added jdm front tower strut bar for less flex, k&n air filters with improved power and saved gas by 4 mpg. Lowering links dropped car 2 1/2 inches. Now will be installing new exhaust! Truly a great driving machine and a head turner!

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  !st time Mercedes owner - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Karl Boye - August 30 - 10:00 am

  As a first time owner of a Mercedes, I am not impressed. The seating is not comfortable. No adjustable lumbar support and Im still trying to figure out what component of the seat frame is either loose or in need of replacement The seat "Pops" upon acceleration, deceleration or cornering. Im glad I didnt dish out the big bucks for a new model. This is 5 yrs. old. Next car will be a Lexus.