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:

• 

  Smooth & Classy - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By 1st Convertible - January 25 - 4:23 pm

  Rare Mars Red w/Stone,Black Top. An absolute stunner - I get stopped where- ever I go! No comparison to common, tiny BMW Cabs. Classier than all the others. Excellent power, refined ride, great amenities. Comparisons to a Lexus are absurd. Every car has its bugs. I owned one of the first RX3000s in the state-nothing but problems for 16 mos. - and Lexus wouldnt help me. MB makes the best product available - I should know - Ive been exporting autos for 15 yrs!

• 

  Excellent - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jay - January 24 - 7:39 pm

  About 15,000 miles without issues. The appearance of the vehicle is superb and gets compliments weekly. Excellent performance Luxurious inside and extremely comfortable. Our 2nd Benz and we love it. Rearview camera is excellent Distronic Plus is totally awesome Stereo ROCKS I do wish they put a spot for my phone AC on/off is complex Mine is loaded

• 

  CLK 350 Cabrio For Fun - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Bud Springer - January 21 - 11:40 am

  Chose CLK Cabrio over BMW Convertable and am truly pleased with the choice. Great looking and driving. Gas mileage is exceptional; you really can get 27- 28 mpg on the highway. Great top down ride at 65-70 mph w/no wind problems at all. We can talk and be heard and the excellent radio sound carries well. This is perfect car for a couple and unlike the roadsters, there is ample room for a reasonable amount of baggage, even with the top down as the rear seats serve well for cargo and even our 2 small dogs on occassion. We selected a black over white color combo and just love it. We constantly get compliments and this one stands out over the usual silver bodies we see too much of.

• 

  Love my Benz - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Grant - January 21 - 9:56 am

  This is my 3rd Mercedes. I bought this 2.5 years ago with 75,000 miles and have 120,00 on it now. Routine maintenance is more expensive, but at the end of the day, Im not driving a Honda and dont expect this to act/cost like one. I love the feel, the weight, and the safety. My gas mileage is getting better with time. (22/30 respectively) I could not be happier! Know what youre buying (good maintenance history, hasnt been abused) and know what to expect (its more expensive to maintain).

• 

  The best new car purchase Ive ever made! - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Gary Neill - January 21 - 9:43 am

  I just purchased the 2015 S550 Coupe, and I must say that it is a pleasure to drive. Smooth, comfortable, luxurious and sporty. This is the best new car purchase Ive ever made.

• 

  Love my 2013 E350 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mike Shanok - January 21 - 7:50 am

  32,800 miles since previous review with no service needs other than routine maintenance. Because I drive more than 35,000 miles a year on business and typically buy a 3-year old car and turn it in at 300,000 miles, durability, reliability, comfort and safety count much more than the cache of a luxury auto. My previous auto, a 2007 E350, was great, but the added technology in the 2013 model - better fuel economy more safety features and better storage - is a remarkable improvement.

• 

  Best so far... - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By carlover14 - January 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my third S-Class, and it is the best one to date. The materials are much improved over the previous generation and now having been with the COMAND system for 3 years, it has become intuitive. The ride is incredible and all the electronics (albeit somewhat worrying me reliability wise) have been working flawlessly and easily. If MB keeps building them like this, a Mercedes is all Ill have until I die.

• 

  Wonderful - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Kmalk - January 18 - 8:20 am

  The light truck, as Mercedes calls it, is simply a joy to drive. Handling is superb. Engine is very powerful. Interior is extremely comfortable. Friends at school are filled with envy of my car. No problems yet anyway. New replacement key - $115. New automatically adjusing rear view mirror - $585. But overall ride quality is just wonderful.

• 

  First non diesel since 95 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By sarkinen - January 18 - 4:08 am

  Rock solid SUV! Its the first vehicle my wife may admit is better than her audi Q7 tdi. The designo interior is amazing. I thought the radar guided cruise would be a joke, but I love it. With direct fuel injection and two turbos, my diesel days may well be over. 510pound-feet of torque wait at LOW rpm to effortlessly pull any load.

• 

  What a Car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By AlinIndiana - January 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive had Lexus, BMW, Nissan, Lincoln, Corvettes, and wife currently drives a Jaguar X - Type. This C-230 Sport Sedan is the best car for the $$ spent of all. Fast, economical and fun to drive. Highly recommend it to others.