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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  Very impressed - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jay - December 4 - 1:56 am

  This is my 3rd MB. I have the sport package, Auto with the multimedia option. Amazing sound system and overall a very fun car to drive. By far has been my favorite car Ive ever owned. For the money, the C class provides everything I could imagine. The car feels and looks much more expensive than it is. In my opinion the body style is more appealing than any 60K dollar car Ive seen on the road. Its eye catching, I get tons of compliments and is a true joy to drive to work and back everyday. Im amazed at some of the other reviews Ive read bashing this car. I cant find one thing I "hate" about this car.

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  E350 review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Erik - December 2 - 3:33 am

  So far so good. We only have about 200 miles so far but a great lease price compared others in the category.

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  Best engineered car in the world! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Alex - December 1 - 1:23 am

  I purchsed this vehicle back in March of 06. I also own a 760iL and a Bentley Continental, but so far, this Benz has been my favorite car. It has a more luxurious feel than the other two, and is more high tech. The new command system has improved and is more intuitive than the previous model, but some owners may still find it a bit frustrating initially. In a way, I kind of miss having all those buttons surrounding me. I owned a 2005 S500 that I traded in when I acquired this one. The new 550 engine is more powerful and more economical than the 500. Overall, I havent yet found any reason not to love this car, and Im sure if youre an owner youd agree with me!

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  Superb SUV! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By mblover - November 30 - 7:03 am

  Just returned back from vacation and driven a total of 4000 miles. Got about 20 miles/gal. Excellent drive and ride comfort. Love the Off-Road package and P1 and lighting package. All my cars are Benz, but thought about buying Lexus LX470 but ended up buying the lovely GL450.

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  Excellent MB Classic - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By pjcoolie - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The 2001 CLK in my opinion is going to be a classic. The design is sleek and traditional along with cutting edge technology. It has an excellent punch to it, especially it being the 3.2 and if you use your gear shifter, you will be in for an adventure!

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  Best of 16 Vehicle Ive owned. - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By GinJersey - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Of the 16 vehicles (cars, vans, SUVs) Ive owned, this has the best value and utility. I have over 48,000 miles, and although there have been some minor problems with the rear seat, the over- all performance and use-ability of this vehicle is great. There is lots of room, great visibility, enough power to pass trucks and great braking. I have never driven a vehicle with more "sure- footedness". I am never fearfull in the rain or snow. The comfort level is very good, and I get 20 MPG over-all (22 highway).

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  Merc + suck - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Flipp Wilson - November 29 - 10:00 am

  So I bought this mint used 430 with 16,000 miles on it and boy was i burned. Been in the shop 7 times in 6 months. Door latchs, window lifts, winshield washers, seats, mirrors, electronics, on and on. What an idiot for thinking mercedes meant a solidly built car.

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  CLK500 Coupe - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Drew01 - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Handles great, and has a lot of power off the line.

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  Dont buy one - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By millerp - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The build quality and reliabilty is terrible. I have never owned a car or truck this bad.

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  Dont miss this car when you shop - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By andkovacs - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Since 1991 I had two dodge stealths because of the qualtity, the handling and the winter performance (ah yes). I live in Canada ... Finnaly I saw this Mercedes C230 a couple of month ago. Before I never even thought about buying a Mercedes because of the old 20 years old look. Mercedes didnt change its look since a while. However this car is a beast. All new styling and handling. The quality and desigh of the inside perfect. I am tall and I have enought space too. The radio is not outstanding but its still a good quality. I dont recommend the soon roof because even the demo cars had problem with. Also the heating fan is a little noicy.