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:

• 

  Great SUV - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By agrayson - April 17 - 8:46 am

  I purchased my ML 350 in January 2006. I have experienced an airbag malfunction warning and most recently the battery/brake warning came on. I also had to take it in because I could not reach Tele Aide. All in all I love the car and get a free loner when there is a problem. I owned a 2004 ML 350 had no problems but this one is much more comfortable.

• 

  The Best Car Ever - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Billabong Surfer - April 17 - 2:00 am

  It drives great and looks great. It is a true sport coupe. It has a beautiful engine.

• 

  Love my ML 430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Scott H - April 17 - 2:00 am

  As expected, the handling and road manners are superb. Quality of interior is very high, and my entire family loves this vehicle. The ride is firm but very comfortable. It rewards the driver with excellent road manners and confident road feedback.

• 

  First 230K in Mass. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By crvols - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I have 15K on it now and have enjoyed it. However, since my first service at 10K I have now: 1. Used a quart of oil 2. The rear sunshade had to be replaced 3. A switch on the steering wheel went bad 4. developed some creaks. I like drivng the car and the looks, I just hope it holds up.

• 

  Happy Times - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By paengineer - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Looked for a car for a long time before settling in on this one. Very good value for the money. Great mix of performance, engineering features, safety, and style.

• 

  This is a Mercedes engine in a Chrysler - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ReverendSmoke - April 15 - 10:36 pm

  Ever since Mercedes and Chrysler merged, the quality of Mercedes has dropped. This car can hit 150MPH (track) without tossing and turning. Acceleration is excellent. Fuel economy is amazing, even when driving city very fast, I average 17mpg or even 19mpg. The downside is the interior - cheap nasty plastic(of American design). No more German luxury. You dont realize it because you are excited about your new Benz. After a few days you start to realize that this is not a Benz. A bBenz is about luxury. If you cant enjoy your Benz and show off to your friends, then what good is it? Exterior design is beautiful. Interior is terrible. Parts are ridiculously expensive. And they wear so fast and break

• 

  So Far So Good - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Lissette Cutler - April 15 - 10:00 am

  So Far, This SUV is a 10!

• 

  1998 Mercedes Benz CP600 Coupe - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By aistn - April 15 - 8:39 am

  As a Mercedes Benz owner for over 15 years and BMW owner of the 525 and 700 series, the Benz always coes first!... From E300s to 420SEL and S500s, My favorite... Is the 98 Widebody, not easily found, rare and still ahead of its time....Take a 98 CP600 V12 coupe for a weekend ride and return with the meaning on life!

• 

  When Mercedes was built by Engineers.... - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Paul - April 14 - 2:33 am

  Mercedes and... Ursula Andress were the objects of my fascination when I was 12. I will not comment about the (then) stunning Miss.Andress, but the Merc was the symbol of style and mechanic perfection. The new C-Class has enough refinement to lure customers: with the new design tries to convince the BMW customers to switch to a different proposition. Larger on the outside than the previous model, feels small and cramped inside. The front of the car is appealing, while the back is the result of the involvement of the accountants :- ).Driving over 60 mph brings wind noise in the otherways quiet luxurious cabin. the car handles well, but the steering is uneasily soft and un-engaging

• 

  So much fun - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By scott - April 13 - 12:00 pm

  Tthis car is awesome. I have never been so excited to just go out and drive. Getting my car a little sideways at times, and racing occasionally have brought back my love for driving. All of this, and a very comfortable ride, and just unbridled power. Mileage is a little small. However I guess compared to competitors, its better. So thats a plus for me.