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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  Almost perfect - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By AZ Driver - December 20 - 1:10 pm

  Great driver, fun with plenty of power and comfortable. Good styling, controls are easy to use. Its really a joy to drive. Really disappointed in the quality of the tires-25K and they needed replacing. But the real disappointment is the quality and longevity of the brake pads and rotors. Had to replace both rotors and pads at 27K, unbelievable! You expect much more/better quality from a Mercedes Benz, especially under the mild driving conditions (Speed) in the USA vs the German autobahn. The dealer indicated they have changed material to a softer variation, ostensibly to resolve the squeaking issues that I have read about, but they have done this at significant reliabilty and customer cost

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  E350 AWL - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CSTIER - December 20 - 3:53 am

  Break dust is too excessive. Windows need to be tinted somewhat. Side mirrors should automaticaly close when car is turned off considering the cost of the car. Back seat is too small. Although there are 3 headrests it really is not comfortable for 3 adults. Headrest adjustments on the passenger seat fails to perform

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  Performance Decrease for 2006 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Aaron - December 19 - 11:10 am

  I assume it was for "Marketing" purposes but starting 2006, Benz is putting a 6cyl just breaking that "magic barrier" at a reported 201HP. Well I just traded my 2004 C230 Kompressor in for a 2006 that I had ordered. It was the first 2006 C230 to be delivered so I hadnt driven a 2006. Big Mistake! There is a significant perforance drop compared to my 2004 even though it has a reported 189 HP, but I think the key is there is less torque on the new 6 cyl compared to the 4 cyl.

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  best all around - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Saks - December 19 - 10:00 am

  As one ventures into the world of higher quality vehicles,many if not all will find this vehicle offers a complete package for a reasonable exspense.

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  E-320 4-matic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ks E-320 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle! Fund to drive. V6 engine is very powerful - impressive accelleration. Great gas mileage - 22 mpg commuting. Handling is remarkable - best Ive ever driven. Sticks to any curve in the road. Sure-footed in snow - 4-matic really works! Huge trunk with well-designed storage. Very legible, easy to read gages and displays (including the radio).

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  Love My Car! - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LJonesy2 - December 19 - 6:00 am

  I love my Mercedes-Benz C 230. It is my first car and I could not be more happy with everything. It is a great ride, very dependable, fast, and comfortable. The interior is cozy and roomy enough for all my friends! The features are fabulous and I enjoy the interior layout. The car runs great and gets great gas mileage (32 hwy). The pedals are touchier than a Lexus, but it was easy to get used to that. I commute to school and I dont mind the drive now! I am very happy with this car and plan on being a loyal Mercedes-Benz customer due to their high quality and expertise in luxury.

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  Perfect for Cape Cod - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By asifflard - December 19 - 2:00 am

  Took it on Xmas trip Boston to Cincinniti to Rochester NY to Cape Cod. Never missed a beat. Power when needed as trucks roll at 80 plus all the time. Climate system better than my 1999. Good solid vehicle.

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  solid and reliable - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By barag - December 19 - 2:00 am

  the dealer has been great. we have no problems of any kind.

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  So far so good! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Golfdog - December 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my first MB (2004 E320)and it is a very nice car that handles extremely well, looks like it was engineered and put together well and looks good. Handles like I would imagine a German car should handle. After reading owners manual I was a bit dissapointed to find out that I couldnt use my cell phone without an external antenna (could interfere with electronics). But I may opt for the $2000 phone. Ill post more feed back as I put a few more miles on this car. So far a great car!

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  Wifes Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ARBO - December 19 - 2:00 am

  Safety and the Mercedes name are what brought me to this car. We like the car except it lacks comfort for long trips. Our hind ends go from pain to numb after a couple of hours in the car. Also, we find the climate control to be confusing to figure out. And make sure someone cramped into the rear seat gets fair warning before you turn of the car, the front seat will be coming back into their knee space automaticaly.