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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  GREAT CAR! I LOVE IT! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bck113 - December 10 - 2:00 am

  I just got my new 2003 C240 about a month ago and absolutely love it! I was getting this car for my first car so i needed a car that was going to last me through high school and all of college. Im so glad I got this car, it looks great, performs well, and is extremely high quality. I havent had any problems yet. Many people love to compare the BMW 325i and the MBZ C240, yet i think they are incomparable. My brother just got a 325xi and they are both awesome cars, just differences in style. If you are thinking about getting this car, you will not be sorry. I love my C240 more and more everyday.

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  Diesel sets this SUV apart - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bill jenkins - December 9 - 3:30 am

  Selected the ML because I wanted a diesel with good mpg. To my surprise this is a great driver, probably because I ordered the air suspension handling package. This is a pricey vehicle, but has exceeded my expectations. Great on country roads and highways, which together comprise about 90 % of my driving.

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  S-class on stilts - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By DrBillyD - December 8 - 8:32 pm

  The upside: Smooth ride. Precise steering. Powerful acceleration (with the GL550). Fairly capable off road for a vehicle w/o locking differential. Prestige. Comfortable seat(s). The downside: Maintenance cost(s)... E.g. had to replace all for air shocks (front about $1300--each; rear about $900 (for both)), starter motor ($800). Brakes actually last a long time and replacing rotors surprisingly "cheap" at about $350/axle. Tires only last about 20-25K miles (295/40-21) and theres a limited selection--a new set will set you back about $2200. The electronics were capricious--sometimes car wouldnt completely shut down when door opened (i.e. normal shut down is engine off & accessories stay on until door opened. started acting up sometimes where accessories wouldnt power down when door opened & had to open/shut door a few times to get it to shut down). Homelink garage door opener had a button that wouldnt work. EZ-GO door handles had to be replaced. Drivers side mirror folding mechanism broke. When I smelled leaking oil burning on the exhaust manifold, I knew it was time to get rid of it. Bottom line: Surprisingly comfortable and agile for a 7 passenger, 3 ton SUV and most comfortable car/truck Ive ever driven. However, after repair issues cited above, Id be reluctant to own a M-B again..... Update (5/2016): Traded in @ 120K miles. Reading through original review brought back bad memories of astronomical repair bills. There are better choices in the large luxury SUV segment.

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  Great Vrooom - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By R. Ravenstad - December 7 - 10:00 am

  Great to drive on gentle country roads with the sunroof open and the Bose system jammin. Feels like a Benz is suppose to. It makes you feel like water on moderately crowded freeways.

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  Beautiful, but a bad "investment" - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MRR - December 6 - 7:04 am

  Beautiful car with a great interior design with superior materials. Performance on the road is first rate. Like all Mercedes, the command and navigation systems remains second class. If you get a C-Class do not get the sport package or AMG package unless you like buying tires and having regular alignment appointments. Six tires in my first year, and now the car is in the shop having the engine replaced. Resale value is deplorable.

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  Awesome so far - 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By mrmonty - December 6 - 4:10 am

  Great so far. Ride is smooth, quiet and acceleration in Sport Mode is excellent. I would like to refute a few negative points that I read prior to buying. 1)the backseat- yes it is small and most times a tall driver will have to put his seat up for someone to even sit behind him. However, unless you have a family, realistically how many times do you really have people in the back? If you do have a family there are plenty of other options(ML, GL etc) 2) Fuel Economy- Its not terrible. about 22 highway/15 city for me so far I laugh when people spend 40,000 on a car and then complain about gas. If you have 40K to spend you shouldnt be sweating gas. if you are, get a Honda CRV or Civic.

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  Satisfaction - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Pastis - December 5 - 2:00 am

  Hard ride. Defrost system clumsy to operate. Have to be constantly careful steering because it is very sensitive. Like being high. No place to put purse in front when there is someone in passenger seat. Great storage at waste high trunk. Dont like having to pay for highest octane gasoline. Good ride on interstates. Feel every bump on local streets.

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  S Class number 1 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By JFL - December 4 - 5:06 pm

  I have owned Volvos, Bmws and Mercedes Benz. The new S 430 I recently purchased with the AMG package is not only the nicest looking car I have ever owned, it is the most fun to drive. For a large sedan, it drives like a smaller vehicle and is very easy to navigate in the city, and is pure heaven on the open road. This is without a doubt the best vehicle I have ever owned and it is more comfortable to drive than my wifes 2004 SL500. I cant wait to see what Mercedes comes up with next.

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  2007SL550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Erie CPA - December 4 - 4:23 pm

  Traded 2005 SL500 on 2007 SL550. As nice as the 05 was, the new 07 is more powerful, quieter and has a much better steering feel.

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  Best SUV - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Faisal Farooq - December 4 - 8:36 am

  Great SUV. Traded in 2003 Escalade ESV for ML500. Had test driven Range Rover Sport HSE, BMW X5 4.4 and Porsche Cayenne S, but ML500 is the best. Great Style, quality and faster than all of its competitors. 0-60 mph for ML500 is 6.7 sec. (X5 4.4 - 6.8, Porsche Cayenne S - 6.9, Range Rover Sport Super Charged - 7.3 (HSE - 8.2))