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:

• 

  E55 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kevin89 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  ITS A NICE CAR!

• 

  Fun in a small package! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Panahi - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Eventhough the car looks small on the out side its roomy on the inside. Feels sport when driving and I have had positive feed back on its looks as well. An all around car at resonable price. After all its a Benz.

• 

  Quietest Diesel Yet! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Diesel Lover - May 6 - 12:43 pm

  The look is very similar to the Chrysler Pacifica. The diesel engine is quiet, but the 7 speed transmission can be a little slushy and stumbled changing gears during easy acceleration (needed a reprogram). Everything seems to be tied to the computer, from the radio to the taillights. Needs to be able to readily accept a trailer hitch and harness. Some of the driver controls need better ergonomics such as the seat adjustment, clock, radio. AND there are counterintuitive RED lights to indicate a climate control function is operating. Bluetooth should be standard in a car of this class. Parktronic is essential due to poor sightlines.

• 

  WHY CANT THEY FIX THE SMALL STUFF - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By VeryVeryDisappointed - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Squeaks abound and other noises appear from no where. There is not even 1,500 miles on the vehicle yet! Several electerical problems and MB Doesnt even respond! ITS A LEMON!

• 

  My C320 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mikey - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Much better than my 95 C280, a bit pricey, but worth every penny...especially with the COMAND system.

• 

  glk tank - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By glk girl - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had it for a short time but so far it is a blast to drive. It feels very solid, handles like a sports car, reeks of quality and durability, and is actually not too bad on gas. Not as good as my Eclass, but still decent for a truck. I wanted an SUV type of a vehicle but not a vehicle that was too big or too clumsy. This is the perfect car for me and just makes sense. The utility of an SUV with the handling of a sports car and not a major gas hog like other larger SUVs. The cabin is extremely quiet while driving in varied road conditions, and thats even with the 20 inch AMG wheel package. The navigation is easy to use and the sound system is fantastic.

• 

  Smoothest Ride Ever - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By carlo - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This was my first car purchased as new, and Ive had it for about a year and a half. Ive driven and rode in many different vehicles, but the C300 is hands down the quietest, best handling, and has the most buttery smooth ride. Exterior is beautiful and flawless. Ive gotten countless double-takes while driving around town, and have been complimented many times by passers by. I havent had a single issue in a year and a half and 20,000 miles. One gripe is the car is kind of low; Ive scraped the front bumper several times on curbs, causing the black paint to scrape off, showing the white underside.

• 

  This car is before its time! - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Anwar - May 3 - 5:03 am

  I bought my s500 with 182,000 miles on it and quickly added 10,000 miles within a month. this is a great solid car. i bought it with a few problems but once i gave it a tune up(new starter,spark plugs, oil change to ROYAL PURPLE and spark plug wires) this car ran smoother than a babys bottom. I drove up and down i95 in and out of town with no problem. A 30 min trip on this car feels like a 10 min trip especially on the open road my foot always seems to sink into the pedal and i end up doing 100+ mph without noticing at all! lol. GREAT CAR! I bought it and invested a few dollars and sold it 10,000 miles later because GAS was to much! a v12 using Diesel would of been cheaper!

• 

  great car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By amf - May 1 - 2:00 am

  This is a fabulous car to drive. Lots of fun. Gets a lot of attention. Had a problem with the trunk latch a couple of times, but the dealer was very responsive and took care of it. Other than that, just a really fun car.

• 

  Incredible car for the price range - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By BostonBill - May 1 - 12:40 am

  We just bought the new 4Matic E350 and it is AWESOME. The fit and finish of the car is just terrific. Acceleration is MUCH better than the BMW 545 and anything Lexus offers in this price range. The steering is incredible. On the interior, the COMAND control knob is very nice, once you get used to it. Some other good features are the backup camera and the integrated bluetooth. We love this car - it seems as though it should be a lot more expensive than the $61K we paid for it.