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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  Favorite car I own - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Mike - January 25 - 3:16 pm

  This car is simply the most incredible car I have ever driven. Its like a mini version on my 07 Maybach 67. I love this car. I drive it everyday. It haddles like a champ and the fact that the headlights follow the wheel is a big plus. Its one of the best cars I have purchased by far.

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  Great Car - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Cam-Guy - January 25 - 4:03 am

  Love it, in Mars Red, or Fire Opal in Canada. Drove a few thousand KM so far and its fantastic, AC is amazing no hot or cold spots. The ride is good and the seats comfortable. Easy in and out. Sun shade a great feature, all the electronics are useful too. Gas premium only, not so great, but OK, to get performance.

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  Incredible Ride - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By corplaw425 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2004 CLK500 at Barrier in Bellevue, Wash., in June 2004. I have owned and driven several German automobiles in the past and this blows them all away. The styling draws attention wherever I go, and the performance and ride are incredible. This is by far the best car I have ever had.

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  Quality remains only what Mercedes knows - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By John Fabri - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Once one owns a MB they understand what it is to own a MB and will never consider another car. The total absense of any noise... rattles do not exist.. noise does not exist... true quality built throughout... and you feel good about the car and yourself every time the ignition is energized.

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  E320 AWD WAGON - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By michaelm - January 24 - 10:00 am

  One of the best cars Ive ever owned. Solidly built and HUGE cargo space...bigger than most SUVs without the risk of rollover. I would suggest getting an extended warranty as repairs can be pricey. To replace the AWD mechanism cost 4k but the warranty covered. I liked the car so much I bought two.

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  I Love It More... - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JJC San Diego - January 24 - 10:00 am

  My 89LC was mint & incredible off- road, but was severely underpowered, handled like a ship, fatiguing, had no safety features, and got 10mpg, but I still loved it for what it was when I sold it after 9yrs. The ML55AMGs engine has an exceptional powerband, a fantastic interior, handles like a sports sedan, is extremely comfortable, has all the gadgets, can consistently get 15MPG (combined) if I dont "floor it" constantly, 18MPG on long trips, and is incredible fun. The cup holders are too flimsy, its has limited cargo space, and it has too much wind noise, but short of the Kawa ZX11 and 69 BMW 2002 I once owned, Ive never loved a vehicle nearly as much

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  Lets see what happens after 100K miles - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Robert Yokley - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Overall, I like the car. However, I had to return it to the dealership 7=8 times for various problems (primarily electrical in nature). To the dealerships credit, they addressed all the problems promptly and efficiently. I must reserve final judgment on this car after attaining >100K miles.

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  ML 350 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Shankar Bhattacharya - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Our ML350 Is the third Mercedes we have. It is great to drive in the mountainous roas in the Sierras. The best thing we enjoy about the ML350 is its maneuverability in the snow. We will not drive any other cars for our ski trip. The interior of the car is very practical and the dash board is very user friendly. We also use it to haul materials for our weekend projects, either using the top rack or by creating space by folding down the back seat. We are very happy

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  Great car,terrible dealer service - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By johnlo - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my second S-class. As with my first , I cannot find a better vehicle. Considering that this car costs over $80,000 to buy, the dealer support is unsatisfactory. I have tried two dealers in my area and I find that their Service Departments have no clue as to customer service.One department misplaced my vehicle for one hour at time of pickup, but did not complete the repairs- they did not tell me- I had to read the work order. The other dealer was to call me when a part came in and never did. One month later , I went to their parts department and purchased the item which I installed myself.

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  Poor Quality Mercedes - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By fac - January 24 - 10:00 am

  My car has been to the shop over 22 times for all different problems and they way I have been treated.Poor senior managent and the quality of the cars is not what they just to be.