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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  C230 Sports Coupe is fun to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dannymurph - March 10 - 3:30 am

  We have owned this car for 8+ years and have enjoyed driving the stick shift every mile. Very peppy engine, yet over 30 mpg on the highway. Very good handling.

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  2002 ML 320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By rousseau - March 10 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd ML, improvements over the 98 and 00 models were needed. Rear a/c and heat, rear air bags (safety concern for my children); better stereo system; turn signal lights on the side mirrors; Tele-aid

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  Extremely Pleased - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Warren - March 6 - 4:13 am

  The new Mercedes-Benz S550 is my favorite car that I have ever owned. It has the presence and, finally, quality that has attracted me to Mercedes-Benz for more than forty years. This is my sixth S-Class and has reaffirmed my faith in the company (my 2002 S500 had me doubting, although it was very reliable). It performs so effortlessly and coddles me so, it feels like an S-Class should. It has also been completely problem free.

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  Best made and Handling compact?Hot! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rachelle Hanson - March 4 - 11:23 pm

  I have owned many high end cars and when the gas prices went nuts and I moved away from the beach I needed a car that satisfied my high end needs and quality was #1. This little car was not my choice, but I fell in love with it . It has 40/60 fold down rear seats so you can bring your skis and haul larger items and it is a kick to drive. Parking is easy. And I rarely have to stop for fuel! Gotta love it ! The side doors cubbies stink as far as use goes and there are some wicked blind spots, but once you are aware, use extra caution. I put a ton of miles on it and the stereo is great. Sunroof opens to a huge ray of light with more safety than a convertible. Whats not to love?

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  best of all worlds - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ethan t - March 4 - 10:00 am

  as i have had a 190 2.3 1988 and 300d 1991, i found this car to be the best of all worlds. fold down rear seats, gas mileage and performance fun is the total experience. addition of wood wheel, knob and 6 disc changer. it is the package i like. plan to keep for a period of tim.

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  Sporty look with luxury and room - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve - March 3 - 7:56 am

  Ive had many Jaguars, BMWs and Mercedes Benz. Mercedes seems to engineer their cars to do many things without the driver having to think about it. Not a lot of switches and gadgets to adjust while driving. As an example, Jaguar and BMW offer rain sensing wipers too. Theirs dont work as well and have to be set. MB has it as the standard first spot on the switch and they work perfectly in all amounts of drizzle to downpour. The car is quick but quiet. It looks sporty from the outside (and handles curves well) but holds four 6 plus tall adults in comfort and quiet on a 300 mile drive. The interior size of the new E seems more like the S models of old.

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  Still Love it - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c32amg2003 - March 2 - 12:36 pm

  This car is still a blast to drive. The fuel economy is good for the power available, but it depends on how you drive it. When you want the performance it is there, when you dont it is a fuel sipping V6. I considered getting a new car, but why, this car is still amazing. Every time I hit the gas from a stop a smile comes over my face. I had a couple of minor electrical issues that occurred just before the car was out of warranty (6 disk cd changer stopped working, drivers heated seat didnt heat, and the visor vanity mirror light would come on when the visor was lowered because the mirror cover would open slightly). The dealer took care of them and The car has been very reliable since.

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  No punches - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gt - March 2 - 4:40 am

  E350 sport with Pk #2 one of several MBs Ive owned. Always good quality, never the zippiest ride, but totally reliable and comfortable. MPG 20 town, 27 hwy. good for this size and weight. Its like my dog, always there, and always reliable and friendly 26K miles and in shop only 2x and that was for routine maintenance.

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  Best Diesel - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gary - March 2 - 3:46 am

  Best diesel Ive owned. 750-800 miles to a tank. Great for a salesman, but wish the wagon was available.

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  Love my mercedes benz! - 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By tunemeup - February 28 - 5:41 pm

  Having read as many reviews of the GLK as possible I have come to the conclusion that the average American is so spoiled they have have lost sight of what is to have an exceptional vehicle. One reviewer complained about the stitching on the steering wheel, several about the room in the back seat, others about the cheap materials on all models prior to 2013. Yes it is expensive and yes the maintenance costs are higher than average, and yes the mpg could be better as in all SUVs. Everyone knows that. Buy a Honda and if you think it is too small then you didnt pay attention when you test drove it, if you did.