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 Car all around!!! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By benzy - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Great Car.Very comfortable(might be a little tight in the back seat).Engine could use a little more kick.Seats are very comfortable and sound is very good (I didnt get bose because there wasnt much of a difference.Stock system is made by Alpine.Good enough for me).Overall a good buy,many features,handles the road great,and very luxury!!This cars great!!!

• 

  ML 350 2007 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jimmy B - December 22 - 9:23 am

  Leased a new ML350 upon learning my 2002 C320 needed extensive repairs. They just dont make Mercedes like they used too. Drove off the lot and have enjoyed this SUV to date, (1 month) no problem so far...however, Mercedes has the worst navigation system ever created. What happened Mercedes? You introduced the Airbags, ABS Brakes, Premium Stereos and a host of other things to the auto industry. Now you have fallen behind in basic standard electronic gadgets that even GM and Lexus are light years ahead. Shape up Mercedes, because the next Car/SUV I buy might be a Lexus

• 

  A 2-wheel Gas Guzzler! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By foolcertified - December 22 - 4:04 am

  Leased a 2-wheel drive 2011 GLK-350 from Caliber Motors w/bad lease tuin April this year to replace the 2008 E350 due to too many unsafe blind spots. After driven 3 months of the GLK-350, here are my personal driving experience of this half-breed SUV:Pros:Not too high, not to low, the height is just about right, not too many blind spots as the 2008 E350, better visibility, quiet, good chairs, maneuverability okay Cons:A terrible 2-wheel drive GAS GUZZLER!Gas consumption worse than E350, worse than 1999 ML320.Soft brakes, hesitant accelerating, ugly side mirrors,rear blind spots,worst turning radius, stupid GPS navigator,knob control,small screen,a German JOKE! Bad heat penetrating moon roof

• 

  mercedes c-coupe - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By dickson - December 21 - 3:40 pm

  this is a great car eventhough it is a little expensive for a hatchback but consider it is a mercedes-benz a famous and well known brand. better than other japanese manufactures.

• 

  Mercedes E 350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Ford - December 21 - 9:23 am

  The car is a joy to drive with great performance but has proven to be a little touchy with some smaller issues. We have had problems with seat belt sensors going off even when the belt is fastened. The check oil level light comes on (twice in spite of service) when the oil is fine. The air conditioning is very noisy and the dealer says that is the way it is. Engine performance and fuel economy is terrrific. At times the transmission does not shift smoothly.

• 

  a lifesaver - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By 07boxster2 - December 20 - 2:23 pm

  Bought this brand new. Within 6 mo. Had the steering rack replaced and several other minor problems. Radio is possessed and theyve never been able to fix it. Car has only 48,000 miles after 6 years and a number of expensive nuisance repairs have had to be made. Shouldnt happen for the price and marque. Its a beautiful car: rides and drives wonderfully. Has also been a lifesaver for me......... Was taken out by a western star dump truck on the highway and only needed two doors replaced. Shes a keeper ..... For now.

• 

  Just Hit 20K - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Lawyeretal - December 19 - 8:56 pm

  This was my pick by far based on looks, but I gave my wife the command decision. We drove everything out there from Lexus to Infinity and this one drove most like a car. She picked this one hands down. We have had to have the one of the air shocks replaced, but that was no issue. The fit and finish are superb and everything inside is solid and well constructed. We have taken it on 3 long road trips with 3 kids, and the quiet ride (for the baby), the comfort (my wife) and the joy of driving it (me) have further impressed us to the point that we will probably buy another in a couple years. The older kids love the back seat entertainment package!

• 

  My baby! 1st Car! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bekums - December 19 - 3:50 am

  This is my very first car. I love it! Its the best car ever. I hate only one thing, that I only have ONE cup holder.

• 

  Comfort and Utility - - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By jkf398 - December 18 - 9:00 pm

  After four satisfying years in a BMW 3- series, I decided to mix it up a bit. After test-driving the Toyota Venza, BMW X3, VW Tiguan, Ford Edge, Acura RDX, and Porsche Cayenne, it took only 15 minutes in the GLK to make up my mind. This is a chiseled, tough- looking little CUV that drives serenely and quietly, but that also pours on the coal when needed. I went with a loaded version that includes leather, rear-seat DVD, tow package, and Premium One + Nav, and I truly feel like Im in a strong, beautifully- made, and multi-use vehicle that is small enough to handle like a car and big enough to carry chairs to our storage facility. Its not an inexpensive car, but doesnt feel like one either!

• 

  C230 Kompressor - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jayjkay - December 18 - 10:00 am

  Multiple little problems with this car. Sunroof losing its settings, fuel door locking up etc. Fun to drive, great looking. If the minor mechanical issues go away, I would rate higher.