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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  Get a good Pre-Purchase inspection - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By pjo - June 23 - 10:00 am

  Excellent gas mileage for a car this large (an honest 28mpg plus on the road). Good power, quiet, Only had one problem so far; a stuck relay kept the smog pump on after I shut off the engine which burned up the pump. A $1000 repair that wasnt necessary. Bad design here--- Overall i you get a good one, I think its an excellent second choice for a family. Its a better used buy then a C class. I wouldnt use it as a daily driver, though. Also, get a good, honest independent mechanic. These cars will send you to the poorhouse quick if youre not careful.

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  Excellent SUV - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Jon - June 23 - 3:16 am

  Have over 3000miles and love this SUV. The bluetec diesel is just amazing. Power/torque and smoothness combination is addicting. Averaging 26mpg combined. Just came back from a trip to Lake Tahoe. SUV felt very strong and stable at high altitude and temperature in the teens. Interior is also excellent except for the 2nd row seats. They should slide and recline like those in R350.

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  First Sports Car.. I love it!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By spenc618 - June 21 - 6:36 pm

  Fast great handling, SEXY car. I love it and would recommend to anyone as a head turner. Gas mileage is as expected, not your everyday driver. 4 sets of brake pads set me back 400 dollars at the dealer. No way to keep the factory look and add satellite radio unless it was already installed. Changing the head unit is not an option unless a custom bracket is fabricated. Verify the one you buy has the wiring to attach the bluetooth adapter for your hands free calling by taking it to the dealer. Adding it later is very expensive.

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  Whats missing from this car? Not much. - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sam - June 20 - 4:33 pm

  Apart from having a few too many options for being an MB, this car is otherwise perfect. 369 ft/lbs torque at 1800rpm... 0-60 in 6.6 (I timed it twice).. and passing power like the best sports cars Ive driven. All with 37mpg (observed by me). Built like a tank, safest sedan sold in the US (IIHS Study).. Mercedes Benz build quality and materials..

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  Poor reliability - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By qualitypro - June 19 - 3:53 pm

  After owning a CLK-350 for 2 months, my average maintenance is $600 per month. Two manufacturing defects, beyond the warranty cost $600 each to fix. A noise from the A/C compressor clutch (bracket?) was repaited,Secondlt, a month later, the Tire Pressure warning came on. I reprressurized 4 times. Rgen the dash indicator turned red for tires. Next the dash said SRS malfunction. The dealer says wiring under the sets is defecrive and seats need to be removed, etc. This follows an experience with a 320E which was disastrous, window falling, etc. Last Mercedes.

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  Off lease purchase - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve - June 19 - 2:56 pm

  Just purchases this 350E AWD w/17200 miles on it. Beautiful vehicle. My 4th Mercedes. No complaints on vehicle purchase. Love the car. Whisper quiet on highway.

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  My best SUV - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By felipe rodriges - June 19 - 2:00 am

  My best suv i ever had was the mercedes benz m-class. Exellent performance and fun to drive. Very powerful V6 3.7 liters fills like V8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Best Quality and Looks of any compact. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mcflemming - June 19 - 2:00 am

  After more than two years it is still exhilirating to get behind the wheel of this vehicle. Quality, look and respect are tops in its class. Although some competitors may offer more features and higher rated horsepower - Ive had no regrets. C- 240 has more than enough acceleration and speed. Now that I have a toddler its a bit cramped with the baby seat, diaper bag and stroller though. I would buy again, but go for E class or a minivan/suv if youre starting a family.

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  Excellent Value for a Benz mobile! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Lacoste - June 17 - 10:00 am

  What a car for the Suggested MSRP of $25K! Car is extremely fun to drive and after testing both Manual and Auto transmissions... both are great - just matters which on you prefer. Car seems after two months of ownership to be still rattle free. Car is a blast to drive with the moonroof open. I recommend getting the upgraded tire package of $750.00 and the leather option and the sun roof!

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  Great Vaule and Superior Performance - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By jayssl500 - June 17 - 5:26 am

  With 130,000 miles my black beauty is making people look. A road trip out West delivered top performance and comfort. Wished they had an auto tilt on the steering column instead pushing the button . Maintenance has always been a priority and the pre-owned warranty was well worth it. Alternator gave out at 120K, air condition replace at 60K, Headers replaced at 60K along with seat trim. All under warranty saving me over $4k. Do go without it. I firmly believe in the Starmark brand and only buy pre-owned. Front cow under bumper as well as inside wheel well covers go if you hit a parking bumper (too low) Need to re-paint and detail the interior to bring it back to A shape. Go get one now!