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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  ML350 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Sebastian - May 21 - 11:53 pm

  I purchased a new 2007 ML350 in April with the Premimum II and heating packages. I think the front and rear heated seats and heated steering wheel will come in handy this winter. It is alabaster white and has the sport package chrome accents and chrome running boards)with the 19 inch Rukbat six twin spoke wheels, chrome door inserts, etc. The car is a blast to drive and has plenty get up and go. It will corner and stop on a dime. It gets great gas mileage for the type of vehicle it is, and is a definite eye catcher. I have had many compliments on it. It is my first Mercedes, but not likely my last.

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  Luv my Mercedes - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By antonio246 - May 21 - 4:45 pm

  Gave up my Infiniti G37 for the C300. Narrowed down my choices to four vehicles. MB was the last dealer I went to. Turned out to be the best deal. Love this car!!! I have about 1000 miles on it and it has been an absolute pleasure to drive. The transmission is smooth as silk, and it is quiet. I now understand why people buy one Mercedes then end up owning them again and again.

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  Better Luck Last Year - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By KL - May 19 - 10:23 pm

  I had a 1999, then a 2002 ML 320. We set our hopes too high for the 2006. So far we have been less than satisfied. It has been the shop for erratic transmission shifting in stop and go traffic, and the transmission is noisy when shifting into park, reverse etc. Lots of plastic, you can see the Chrysler influence. No additional storage under seats. On the open road, the ride is smooth and more quiet than previous models. Hope they figure it out because the overall design is great. I should have kept the the 02 at least until they worked out the kinks. Although, we may have a lemon on our hands.

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  Leg room - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By ron - May 19 - 2:26 pm

  The car handles well, I gave up a 650i I am 6,5" and had a lot more leg room than the SL gives. More color choice and wish the seat would go back even more. Overall love the car

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  G-500 Good Buy - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By EWY2003 - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Former Rover owner-love the dependability. Have always owned MPPV, this has great performance. I have not experienced any excessive wind noise or other negative points shared by editors or reviewers. Better than the Escalade and the new Porshe toureag/cayen.

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  Former Lexus owner - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mark Burns - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Drove an LS 400 for 250,000 enjoyable miles, but wanted something with a little more road character. Throughly enjoying this new experience.

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  10 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Hi - May 16 - 8:36 pm

  The SL65 is a very reliable, fast, and is a joy to ride and drive. It has so much horsepower that as soon as you step on the gas you are flying. It is great.

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  The Best Mercedes-Benz Ever!!! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mike - May 15 - 4:36 pm

  I just bought my 2010 E350 Sedan, sport package with P1 package, Panoramic sunroof and the AMG Sport Wheels, I owned MB E class cars since 1975, and however, the 2010 is the best ever build in term of design, performance, quality, beauty, curb appeal, technology and fun to drive. In summary, this is unbelievable car.

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  Good overall, but expect a bouncy ride - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By John C. - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Traveling in my ML 320 at 65 mph over a rough stretch of freeway is a very bumpy experience. The bumpy ride makes the entire back end of my ML 320 rattle and shake. This effect is unnerving at times. On smooth road surfaces, my ML 320 is a very nice riding SUV. Would I buy another ML 320? Probably not.

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  Excellent for all year round use. - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Leo - May 15 - 2:00 am

  This is the best all year round car, especially if you need to drive in winter conditions. However, do not expect a sporty ride. In turns, it sometimes feels like a boat. The Continental tires that came with the new car was poor in handling corners and in tread life, the Michelin that I changed to was much better.