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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  Good but not greatest - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bu - February 23 - 7:00 am

  Electrical problem at 1500 miles which is disturbing in view of Mercedes history of electrical problems. Otherwise good driving. Somewhat lower fuel economy than on sticker.

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  From VA to IL - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By from VA to IL - February 20 - 2:00 am

  This car has been by far the most fun yet most complicated car Ive ever owned. When people see it I usually hear things like: wow! Mercedes. If they only knew the depreciation Ive taken on it, Hyundais would be Maybachs per comparison. Based on its current value it is like a yugo made by MB. As reliable as the wheather man (but hey I always get a mercedes benz loaner so who cares) when it works it is a jewel, controls easy to reach but seat comfort is relegated to passengers rather than driver. Overrall it is okay, it looks agressive so it appears fast. Tires R-bad but so- R our other cars.

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  My 2004 ML is my 4th since 1999 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jeff G Atlanta - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Most impressive, I walked away from a 55mph front end crash -- completely unhurt. Sure,it isnt perfect, but there is nothing out there -- for any price, much less the low $40,000 range that offers the safety, warranty, utility or value. Ask the BMW or Volovo dealer if they even offer a factory, extended warranty -- they dont It may not blow anyone away with styling or any other singular aspect, but once you drive one through a bad storm, youll appreciate what it does very well, which is get you where ever you need in safety and comfort.

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  40,000 Miles of Use - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By William Odle - February 13 - 10:00 am

  My Mercedes has been reliable and in general a joy to drive. Negatives: 1. 26,000 $900.00 brake jobs. 2. Everything done to the vehicle, not covered by warranty costs more than $400.00. 3. Rattles and squeaks. 4. Paint finish is pretty, but very poor in its ability to withstand normal road dings.

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  12 C250 unidentified groan - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ppatterson - February 12 - 4:57 am

  Hello: I have a 12 C250 luxury sedan with 12K miles. I occasionally hear a groaning sound that occurs intermittently. Its usually noticeable when the car is downshifting to a lower gear. Ive taken it to the dealer twice. Though theyve reproduced the sound, and not been able to positively identify it, they say that the car is operating "normally." Im doubtful. Has anyone else experienced this. If so, what was it and how was it corrected. Thanks.

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  Never again - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Maria Peralta - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had trouble with my E430 since day one. The passenger power window jammed at the down postion. At 20k miles the radio went dead. Dealer repaired it and it went dead once more at 21k miles. At 30k miles the power locks always lock back when opened. Nothin else went wrong untill 39k miles when the car didnt recognize none of my keys. I gave up due to the fact that the warranty was about to end and I went and bought an Jaguar S-type which is a wonderful car that gives me no problems unlike MBs E430.

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  After having a 3rd Lexus... - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Daves MB - February 7 - 8:46 am

  This is my first Mercedes and I love it! Ive owned 3 Lexus models and a BMW but have never enjoyed a car as much. How much do I love this car? I never had one single problem with any of my previous Lexus cars and Ive had 10 things replaced or fixed on this CLK... and I still wouldnt switch back. (Nothing related to the drivetrain and all covered under warranty of course... hope you like your service department!) The car looks best with the windows down... no B pillar- sexy!

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  Youre Not Going To Believe This! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Cynthia A. - February 2 - 10:36 pm

  Let me begin by saying, I am trying to love my ML350. I have had it for 1 1/2 yrs. now. The ride is smooth and without the major and minor hiccups Im about to explain, I really try to love it. Lets begin: there is a plastic rattle sound that I hear every single day while driving at low speeds on normally worn roads.(cant hear it on the highway or interstate) My dealership had it for four days and cant seem to fix it. Next, one day while opening my back hatch a large bolt just fell out of the hatch. Of course, there is the trailer hitch recall. Best of all my drivers side heated seat burned a hole in my seat and nearly caught on fire. Daughter was sitting in seat warming up between soccer games.

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  Take this car and... - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kflana - February 2 - 9:43 am

  After 15 months of driving this car, and at least 10 trips to the dealer for repairs for electrical, leaks etc. in the last 10 months I am going to sell it and get another Lexus. The electrics are horrible, and it takes 2 weeks to get the gaskets from Germany for the oil leaks. Buyer beware

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  Nice - Really Nice - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jw - January 31 - 6:53 am

  I owned a couple of MBs back in the 80s and while they were reliable (boringly so), they were just not fun to drive. I recently purchased a 1999 E430 just because it looked good on the lot and had only 30000 miles on it (in June of 2007!). I must say these cars have come a long, long, way. This thing is powerful, smooth, and handles like its on rails. It gets 31 mpg on the Interstate (in cruise control)and averages 25. If you need a great used car for a real bargain price, look at one of these wonderful machines.