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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  This is not your parents car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steven Kendrick - May 11 - 10:00 am

  When this car is in warranty, everybody smiles and loves you. When this car is out of warranty, you find out the previous smiles were the after the laughs. This car had issues under warranty and the dealer was happy to fix them and get you on your way. The NAv/Radio started to go but since it had not passed the point of no return, they would not replace it. I could tell other things started to go before the car got out of warranty and it was not until I crossed that warranty mileage marker all hell broke loose. At that point, Murphys Law took affect. The good side: the car drove like a dream, in the daylight. Go rent the movie "It Takes Two" (1988) when the guy builds his dream car.

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  Wow!! Great SUV!! Very Happy!! - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By markss2 - May 10 - 12:36 am

  My last car was a Cayenne V6. I like the new ML much better. I cant say enough about every aspect of the car and the great dealer, MB of North Olmstead Ohio. You should be willing to travel a long long way to do business with these guys.

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  CDI is way to go - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By losarkos - May 9 - 3:56 am

  The CDI at 34 mpg on my last 3600 mile road trip cant be beat. I do miss a middle armrest but the distronic seats make up for it. The car is fast. I do find the Harmon Kardon radio a tad less bass capable than I like

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  Mercedes ML after one year - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By David - May 9 - 12:56 am

  The ML 350 compares favorably with my old BMW X5 in comfort and design with the following exceptions: Not as sporty a ride as the X5. BMWs just drive more like sporting cars to me than Mercedes. Lack of low-end acceleration. The X5 and ML that I had are both 6-cyl models. I havent compared acceleration times but the Merc doesnt seem as quick. The new 6-sp transmission on the ML has a whine to it that can be annoying. The radio controls embedded within the nav screen on the ML are not intuitive. Poor positioning of the cruise control stalk. Ill be happy with the ML but not as happy as w/the X5. Cant wait for the reported development of the BMW X6!

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  The Beast - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Vazgen - May 9 - 12:23 am

  I had one of the best expiriences driving the new Mercedes Benz E63. For some reason I just did not find anything wrong with the car for me to say oh they should have done this like this or anything like that. If you like the E55 then youll love the E63. Not only does the car have speed that you need but also the handling that we all seek for. Taking turns at like 40 mph the car sticks to the road like its on railroad tracks. Anyways long story short, if you have the money, this is the car you should get. I am a hundred percent that you will not regret buying this car.

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  Terrific Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Rich Hanson - May 7 - 9:56 pm

  This is my 3rd Mercedes (98 C230, 02 C320) and the best car Ive ever owned, besting 4 BMWs, a SAAB and a Volvo. It is extremely comfortable, especially with the Comfort Package seats. Controls, while still over-engineered, are easier to use than the 02 C320. Handling is great, and performance is just fine. $7,000 for the V-8 is a waste of money.

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  Four-years this month - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Oxford15 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  My wife (principle driver) loves this car; Im less enthused, but its been much more reliable than what Consumers Report would lead one to believe. Other than regular maintenance and recalls, weve had: replace the cassette deck; adjustment of door latches x2; front brake pad replacement (27K); drivers power window switch replaced. Could be better for a car at 40K miles; but could have been a lot worse.

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  ML-350 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Debhazz - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Great fun to drive and classy style. I chose the Bordeaux Red & really like it as it is not a color I see often. My only complaints are the gas mileage and the rear loading cd player. Impressive vehicle. Plan to keep it many years.

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  Good But Not Great - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Reasonable Man - May 7 - 2:00 am

  S500 Sport. Forearms will grow because it takes real strength to guide car thru turns at low end. Best enjoyed at over 60 mph. Awesome acceleration at high end. Beautiful but uninspiring driver around town. Needs to be quicker. Plush interior, cavernous backseat. Nav system is not intuitive. Average sound system.

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  E500 Dream - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By bailey - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Performance, especially acceleration is unmatched. Road noise almost non- existant. Interior controls are intuitive and properly placed. Styling continues to turn heads