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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  The 4-430 AWD is super - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By prush - May 15 - 2:00 am

  This car has performed virtually flawlessly for three years. I hate to give it up. It is comfortable, a great road car.

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  I Love my Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tom Roddenberry - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Luxury all around, the car looks and feels like a $50,000 car. Very Comfortable. Gets wonderful gas mileage. The perfect luxury car to take my mind away from the horrible commute. I looked at everything else, the Acura TL, the Infiniti I 35, the BMW 3 Series, the Jaguar X-Type, the Lexus ES, the Volvo S60, nothing else came close to the luxurious feel of the Mercedes C240. This car feels like it should be far more expensive than it is.

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  Best mid-size SUV on market - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By BEN-Z - May 14 - 12:30 am

  The rumor is true, when you buy a Mercedes you expect nothing less than the best in everything; and that is what you get. 2003 ml350 w/ sport and comfort pkgs. Cant say enough good things about the car, gets better gas milage than expected! Truely the classiest yet most fun to drive SUV on the market. There is definately a reason the star turns heads no I know why! All of our expectations were met. Sincerely, Extremely Pleased Mercedes-Benz owner

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  A Joy to Drive - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Maggie - May 13 - 9:20 pm

  This car is truly a joy to drive! This is my fourth Mercedes (previous ones were 450SL,C240, and SLK230), and Ive also driven BMWs (including an 850ci). And this car, although certainly not the largest or most powerful of the Mercedes, compares most favorably to all of my past vehicles. The handling is smooth as silk, the acceleration quick, and the braking sure and steady. As in all of the Mercedes, I feel safe and secure with a very solid car beneath me. Oh, and dare I say that its a "beauty" too!

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  The R-500 (S500 Station wagon) - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By EmAnBkLyN - May 12 - 3:43 am

  Just picked the car up this weekend. I LOVE IT! Handles like a dream, the V8 pulls! I am a 740IL owner and I feel the speed on this car. The AWD handling is just great! A lot of people think its a minivan. No, it is not! Its an S500 Station wagon build in the states.

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  Diamond Black C55 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mizutiger - May 9 - 4:50 pm

  This vehicle has surpassed my expectations. I had two M3s before this car. I miss the exterior design of the M3, but nothing else. This cars interior is first rate. The stereo is first rate (unlike the M3 it can handle bass). The ride is nicer than the M3 as well. I understand they cancelled the C55. I guess they couldnt fit the 6.3 litre motor in the compartment. Its a shame because I think this is a perfect small sports sedan. One of the best I have driven.

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  Smoke and Mirrors - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By SHANE - May 8 - 2:13 pm

  If you want to waste $30,000 then this is the car for you. I traded in a KIA Rio and thought I was taking a huge step up but I was mistaken. In the 6 months I have had this car it has been in the shop 7 times for various problems including alignment problems, electrical glitches with the ESP system, transmission and the lost goes on. The car is full of squeaks & rattles. I wish I had been smarter and purchased a car based on its actual merits not on the logo on the hood. Save yourself $10,000 and countless trips to the dealer and buy a Honda or Toyota. Mercedes is only a name now. There is NO quality behind the shiny hood emblem in my opinion.

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  Thought it would be better - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lbf - May 8 - 10:30 am

  Great car until it hit 107,000. New power steering pump $1000. Next month emmission air pump $1400. Drove it 4 miles check engine light came on again. Must clean engine vents. Maybe cleaned externaly for $650. If that does not work - $2000+. m selling the car. Lots of little stuff goes wrong.

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  Rapid Depreciation - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By chip - May 6 - 1:50 pm

  Bought new E350 in may the car performs very well. Expect a rapid depreciation the first 6 months of about 40%. Purchased in May for $53,000, trade value in December was $29,000 with a peak of $30,000. Car is pristine. Tried to trade for an 09 could due to the depreciation.

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  E63 AMG - 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By IB - May 6 - 7:29 am

  Unfortunately the standard 5 minutes test drive at the dealership is way too short to get to know any car. The great things about this car are very obvious, so I will only mention the lows. The ride is excessively firm, it feels like riding a cart with wooden wheels. The firm suspension and the low profile tires make the ride very harsh even in "comfort setting". The air suspension is only on the rear axle. It probably would ride better with all around air suspension, slightly thicker tires and with one setting for real comfort. In my opinion it is hard to live with this car as a daily driver. Luckily for me I have the GL SUV as well which I use for any ride that would take more than an hour.