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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  Best Car on the Market in its class.. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Voltaire - May 28 - 10:00 am

  A lot of people will say different things about a lot of different areas of a car, this is quicker, that is faster, this handles better, but when all is said and done and when everything is taken into account and you look at the entire package you just cant beat a Benz! The C-320 holds true to its nature, offering comfort, luxury, safety, reliability, and performance all in one, that is truly admirable and like no other in its class.. Im a first time Benz owner and I have to say, its the best car Ive ever driven..and Ive driven them all (under 100K that is..).

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  Great Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By opeler1900 - May 27 - 12:30 pm

  I already have 7700 miles on the car in just a little over 2 months. I opted for the Sport, P2 Package, Manual Transmission, Panorama Roof, 18" AMG wheels, multimedia package, Ipod Kit, and TeleAid. I recommend this car to anyone looking for quality, performance, style and a heck of a fun ride.

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  CLS500 Solid 4Dr Coupe - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Lou - May 27 - 11:56 am

  I have had the luxury of owning just about 15 different types of luxury and performance type vehicles and this new CLS 500 gives you the best of both worlds. This car handles like a great sports car should and has the quiet smooth ride you would find in a luxury sedan. I get loads of complimeents from everyone who has seen it.

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  Best Car Ive even owned! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By glennhl - May 26 - 7:33 am

  This is my second Mercedes. I had a 97 E320 which I liked a lot, but the new 2010 C300 is the best car Ive ever owned. It does everything very well. I dont know how Mercedes does it. It rides great, but it also handles great. It gets excellent fuel mileage, but it also has plenty of power. The IPOD and bluetooth work great and makes it a pleasure to drive the car. It is amazing how much car you can get for a car that only costs in the mid 30s.

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  Great value - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Frank - May 25 - 11:33 pm

  Perhaps the best value on the market. Great fuel efficiency and pep and sporty styling are big pluses. Tires wear out quickly though and front and rear sizes are different. When my Michelins wore out at 15,000 I found some Bridgestone Fuzions that are much better and more reasonably priced.

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  Health System Specialist - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By aristides.maldonado- - May 25 - 6:16 pm

  I was surprised with the performance of the car. I tested the BMW 325 and the 300 has better performance that the BMW.

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  A Tank - 2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By mangliyo - May 25 - 1:03 am

  No Question, this vehicle is not for everybody. Its rough, strong, and at the same time a beautiful piece of art. Even though MPG is very low that doesnt keep me from driving it daily.

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  Is it a Prince or a Frog? - 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By rowner - May 24 - 4:57 pm

  I have been fortunate through the years to own a lot of premium sports cars and the SL was not one of them or even on my "Top 5" list. This time around, my "wants" changed, with comfort, amenities and room as a top priority. Because of the new SLs aluminum construction and bi-turbo V8, it was added as a possibility. After driving everything else out there, I finally drove a new SL. Its agility, raw power and amenities were surprising, but the exterior lines seemed disjointed. I bought the SL, added custom wheels and the rear factory spoiler and I am very pleased. These additions seem minor, but they changed the entire look of the car and I am pleased.

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  Great Car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By roach - May 24 - 10:00 am

  It has been fun for me to own this car for the last two years. Drives like a dream. Highly recommended

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  2000 ML320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MB newbee - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought this SUV last month before doing my usual online investigative work. I admit I bought the vehicle because I liked the drive, image and I actualy fit behind the wheel (64"). I have 6 months left on the factory warrantee and I am having the local MB dealer check out the usual bugs reported in the reviews I read here. I notice some folks love the ML320 while others seem to hate it due to build quality. I hope I got one of the "good" ones..