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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  2005 C240 4matic - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By cnyc - February 26 - 12:33 pm

  Ive had the car for about 4 months, and its a great ride. Acceleration from a stop could be a little quicker, but once you get up to speed, this car rides nice. The 4Matic works great in the snow, and heavy rain. The car feels extremely solid for a smaller luxury car, and it handles very nicely. The interior design for 2005 makes a big difference, and looks much better than Audi, or BMW.

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  Beautiful CLS - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By W C McGahee - February 25 - 8:46 am

  Have owned this car about 6 weeks. Absolutely love it. Have about 2000 miles on it. No quality problems at all, and build quality seems great. Car attracts attention at every stop. It is smoothe and powerful, with great exterior lines and pretty interior.

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  Great driving automobile - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Herman - February 24 - 6:40 pm

  Excellent automobile, only returned once during 50,000 mile warranty for replacement of automatic temperature control module. Very tight turning radius makes parking very easy. Manual transmission and supercharged 4 cylinder engine provides for excellent gas mileage. 28-30 mph in town and 32- 40 mph on the highway at 65-70 mph.

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  Bullet proof - 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By cemi - February 23 - 4:19 pm

  I like this truck in every way.

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  Worth it - new or used - 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Happy ! - February 23 - 3:56 pm

  The 2001 S55 AMG is worth it, new or used. Currently own two while this is my third Mercedes. This one has an excellent balance of performance and comfort which is very hard to beat in this model. Take it for a long drive, pulsed massage, air conditioned or heated seats pamper you along the way. This car is complicated to maintain, it requires a genuine understanding of whats under the hood. Find a solid mechanic and you are set, it is a very reliable car. It is a given you need to bite the bullet on gas mileage. Stick to cruise control to save, makes a difference. Ironic advice given tempting performance at your fingertips. Scratch that, pay a little extra, enjoy the ride!

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  Best E-class wagon so far - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Rooney - February 23 - 8:26 am

  Ive owned Mercedes E-class wagons since my first purchase back in 2000 when a bought an E320 wagon. That car was great, then I purchased a 2004 E320 wagon, better but not excellent, then came my E350 4MATIC. It has so many options to choose from that the tested price went from a 55k MSRP to a 66,000 dollar family mover. It has a much more powerful engine and handles much better too. Also it offers equal amounts of gas mileage although it weighs more and has a more powerful engine. It has 270 hp and is all this 2 ton car needs to reach 60 mph in 7 seconds. Has the same horsepower as my wifes Lexus ES350 yet weighs 550 lbs more and still has the same acceleration times. Very great car!

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  Nice Ride - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By TJ - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Lots of power, handles great, and is fun to drive. The 7 speed transmission provides smooth acceleration and improved gas mileage.

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  A Diesel All the Way - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Sawjai - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Have taken vehicle on two long haul trips. One to Vancouver and one to LA and averaged over 25 mpg. The 600 mile range at least for me is more like 700 to 800 miles when driving less aggressively. LA trip hauled enough stuff for 4 adults and a newborn and everyone was comfortable. I wish that the rear two rows had legroom adjustments, but there is still a lot for a 3 row SUV. Power is excellent for passing, could use more off the line go power. The brakes have an initial feel of mush, but the stopping power is excellent. Saved me a few times, but didnt save the guy that rear-ended me. Built like a tank, little to no damage to my vehicle bumper, but totaled front panel of rear car.

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  My CLS 55 AMG...I Love It! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By John F - February 19 - 8:43 am

  Everything so far is awesome. More than expected. Very responsive. Forceful power. I feel safe in this car. Love it!

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  Great Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By carcrazy - February 18 - 4:56 pm

  To start with, this car is great!! With the obsidian black color and the nappa cashmere beige interior, its outstanding! This car brings lots of attention and many tend to turn their heads when I drive by. I would say with a 6.2 0-60 you cant go wrong with it. It demands respect when on the highway. Not only is it fun to drive but its also great for the family. With 2 kids and a wife, its great for me.