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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  Great entry level Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Steve - March 17 - 4:23 am

  Im pleased with my purchase. The cost for maintenance and repairs are the worst aspect of this vehicle. When it is time to do brake work, be prepared to drop $1,000. Mercedes is the only one who can get the specialized soft brake pads with the specialized coating. It handles exceptional for a 4-cylinder vehicle. It can turn on a dime and has uncharacteristically fast acceleration for a small car. Great car for a first Mercedes or for a hand-me-down to a teenager.

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  Good value - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RW - March 15 - 12:33 am

  I traded up from a 98 SLK, which I loved but needed more room. The sedan is not as balanced, responsive or sporty as the convertible but overall a great ride. The supercharged 4 is a phenomenal engine, superb torque, and amazing pull available throughout the smooth shifting gears. Ride quality and quietness are acceptable but no one will mistake it for an S Class. Too much body roll on hard cornering. Seats are pretty firm and not enough lateral support. If you normally use cupholders, forget about it! Brakes are excellent. Overall fit and finish top- notch, ergonomics plain but well laid out. Still the best buy in the 35K+/- price group.

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  Compact interior but WOW - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Sam M. - March 6 - 7:50 am

  I bought this car to replace an ALTIMA 2.5S. Interior is small with but this car is nothing like any that I have owned, everything is tight, pickup is superb, it drives and handles like a turbo charged sports car. Its a lot of fun to drive, only if it had a few more inches to recline the front seat.

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  Nice design particulary the front side. - 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By Ed Reyes - March 4 - 12:25 pm

  Its been a month that I owned this car, so far so good I dont have any problem or concern. Ill let you know in a year.

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  an excellent sport/ luxury car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By cookie monster - March 3 - 10:00 am

  If you have the money and the time I suggest getting it right away. YOU WILL LOVE IT

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  Too many problems for 80k car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Doug Long - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Our car has been in the shop way too much for a car of this price. We are at 60000 now and have real problems. Will trade out in the near future...maybe a lexus

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  Not bad - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By David K - March 2 - 9:20 pm

  My first MB. Has rough downshift from 2nd to 1st gear. Acceleration gets better after 500+ miles. One day after a heavy rain, the CD player failed to eject the CD and displayed "no CD" in the unit and I had to use a plier to pull it out. The rear door also failed to open at the same time.

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  what I think. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By DD - February 28 - 10:33 pm

  While there isnt much visual differences between the CL500,600,55 the 65 stands alone when it comes to power. The 604hp is almost too much for the rear wheels. I wish it had all wheel drive and was about 1500lbs lighter and was truly stand out that this vehicle cost close to $200K I was tempted to leave the window sticker permanently in the window. I also wish MB would not have put a governor on the vehicle it tops out at 155 where it still has plenty of room to stretch out to the 200 mark. I admit I dont feel 100% safe driving at the mid triple mark speeds b/c it is close to 6K lbs and would hate to have to try to stop or make a swerve If cash is tight go buy a BMW

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  Cool car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By xolilmariaxo - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I just brought the ML320 and i think it is a great car. Easy and fun to drive. I also have the SL500 and the Ml320 is more comfortable. Easy to park. Looks great in every color. Eats a lot of gas. oo the acceleration is not to great, you can push the accelerater down to the floor and the car will still go the same speed, it needs a few seconds to build up. Other then that i think its a great car.

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  Beast of a Car--worth the extra money - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By socalh2oskier - February 23 - 2:06 pm

  I have owned the CLK 350 CAB, a 550 CAB, and now upgraded to the CLK 6.3 AMG. This car is exhilarating--the engine is amazing, the suspension is almost perfectly tuned--it provides a nice balance between a firm, sporty ride without beating you up, it has back seats that are actually usable, and it flat out goes! I have a few minor gripes-- for a car in this price range, things like NAV, Xenon lights, etc. should be standard. Gas mileage is poor in the city, but surprisingly not bad on the freeway--I average over 24 mpg cruising at 80 mph. Drive one and you will likely buy it--if its too pricey, opt for a 550, but get the sport suspension--it makes a huge difference.