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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  C63 AMG= gas thirsty but fun and fast - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C6 Z06 to C63 AMG - March 29 - 6:00 am

  Traded my 08 C6 Z06for a 09 C63 AMG. This car looks great, handles well,is fast and the engine sounds terrific. Gas mileage is simply pathetic, the worst car I ever had in gas mileage, I am only guessing a Hummer or a Ford Excursion are worst on gas. You must get the P2 package, definitely you wouldnt need the performance package. The seats are the best I ever seen, better than my Evo IX Recaros. Be aware that the maintenance can be expensive but overall you are getting a top notch quality car. Insurance is OK,not too bad. Again, whenever you plan buying this car makes sure you put aside a good solid $300 for monthly gas expenses. Red and black colors dont have $720 penalty. Good luck!

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  GL63 AMG Money Pit - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Al - March 29 - 3:20 am

  Excellent SUV worth every penny (its a hotrod) until you get between 10K and 14K miles, then you realize brakes need replacement. Yes, pads and rotors need to be replaced (light turns on) and there is no way to replace just pads. Cost $2400 for front and back brakes. $250 for 10K mile service, $800 for 40K mile and $1200 for 50K mile. Great SUV but very high maintenance $$$

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  E350 4MATIC Sport - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jbryanh - March 28 - 8:08 am

  Moved up to the E-class from 2011 C300 4Matic Sport because I wanted a slightly larger vehicle. The E350 certainly accomplished that. Compared to the C300 sport the E350 ride is more comfortable but a little less "sporty". There is a some body roll noted when driving even mildly aggressive but not so enough to ruin the driving experience. There is plenty of power from the 302hp V6 and surprisingly reasonable gas mileage, thus far. Just like with my previous MB, I wanted a vehicle that stood out a little from the other MBs commonly seen. I opted for the sport trim (obviously), the 18" AMG twin spoke wheel package and rear deck-lid spoiler. Aside from appearance choices, I went with P2 p

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  121,000 miles later... - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By realrideracing - March 28 - 4:18 am

  ... our 2004 E320 4Matic is still running like a champ! No significant mechanical issues and the car has never left us stranded. We keep it in the garage (our 2015 GLK350 gets the carport parking) and keep up on all the maintenance religiously. Get the E500 if you want a rocketship. Were happy with the trusty M112 V6 engine. Enough power for most applications yet provides decent fuel mileage. Its a much more desirable engine than the dreaded M272 in the 2006 - 2009 E350 that was prone to balance shaft failures (theres even a class action suit against Mercedes for this now). Handling is decent for a wagon but eats tires.

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  You Bought a What? - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By guyspat - March 28 - 4:16 am

  Telling friends and family about this car is difficult but once they see it or ride in it they are impressed. In fact, I get looks of disbelief when I tell them that it is a diesel.

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  DTF Light - 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By hothanddd - March 28 - 12:58 am

  DTF light keeps coming on when DTF tank is full has done it in two vans now.

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  Rescent Test Drive in the new CL600! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By JSalama - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has got gobs of power and the turbo just doesnt quit... there absolutely NO turbo lag whatsoever... however it just doesnt have a sense of occassion in the interior as you would expect from the performance and exterior looks... the interior design is good but fit and finish/ material quality good be better. GREAT car overall.

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  I expected more from a Mercedes - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By couchmore - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I have been nothing but disappointed with this car. Exterior styling is great, but inside is nothing special. I was hit with $3,000 worth of repairs 6 months after the warranty ran out (I too have had problems with power windows). We are trying to get rid of it right now and trade value is not good. Well chalk this one up to a very expensive "lesson learned" and will never own another Mercedes again.

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  Chose this over BMW and Audi - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Theresa - March 25 - 2:53 pm

  I had just purchased this vehicle and love it. I looked at the BMW 3 series and the Audi 3 series. People will try to contradict you about Mercedes and how its not that great of a car. It is far better than the BMW and Audi. My family owns both BMW and Audis. The interior does not even compare to the others. Also, the 4 wheel drive is something that BMW doesnt have. The horsepower in the C280 4matic has more HP than the more expensive Audi(3.0 Quattro) and BMW(330) models. I paid $38,500 Fully loaded nav system and all.

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  Great Wagon but the Transmission. - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By hamil65 - March 25 - 11:58 am

  Purchased this for my wife with only 20k 4-years ago and the car has been great except the transmission. The 722.6 transmission was problem in the older E320 and still is. The TCU connector seal failed which Mercedes had an updated part but then in leaked later on also. Read some forums and Im not alone. Even the new 722.9 Transmissions are having issues. I have owned 4 Mercedes and all the transmissions have had issues.