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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  Id buy another - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By don831 - November 24 - 11:10 pm

  I love this truck. I have put 100,000 miles on over the last 5 years with minimal maintenance. Typically get 21-23 mpg hwy/ 15-16 in town. Not bad for a 6,000lb truck. Down side is brakes! Mercedes recommends changing pads and rotors, very pricey and they wear very fast. I would buy another in a heartbeat, but this one may not wear out.

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  Youve been warned! Dont buy it! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By RLee - November 24 - 10:06 pm

  I bought this car when gas prices were $4 a gallon in Texas. It looked nice, drove well, got good gas mileage and had very low mileage. I thought it would be a great little car for my 75 mile daily round trip. I paid what I thought was a fair price, and my bank even offered to finance more. Since my purchaser, I have replaced or repaired the following (at 29,000 mi): brakes, alternator, radiator, blinker (and not just bulbs-housing), had major electrical problems, automatic rear passenger door, front passenger seat module (drained battery), CD player no longer works, sunroof just went out last week,drivers seat no longer works, steering control no longer works, another blinker went out . .

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  One sweet ride - 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By FN SIK - November 24 - 7:53 pm

  This car is absolutely fantastic! Everything about the car exudes quailty and hand built craftsmanship. The touch of the control buttons, the steering, the road grip (with not a hint of body roll at any speed Ive traveled so far) The AMG leather is better than in the 600 and the seat comfort is unmatched with almost limitless adjustments. opperating the many features is easy and nearly intuitive through the command control or one of the redundant feature buttons. I havnt been able to pull the 4.5 sec.0-60 times reported, only able to get it to 6.3 (ironic) but I am not a professional driver and havent managed to time my shifts correctly yet. Either way the car is a blast to drive.

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  All- Around Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By g55man - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Perfect for anyone to drive!

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  good car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By mycar43 - November 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car as an executive car with 6000. miles on it. I really like the car however it has been back to the dealer at least 4x since purchased. seat belts always hang when released this has caused many dents in my door jam from the kids closing the doors with the seat belt hanging in the door jam. many cracks in the interior panels which service replaced, glove compartment door broke, as well as problems with the drivers side window not working.

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  Not A Happy Camper - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By terry5940 - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Back three times for a vibration Between 30 & 60 MPH, & dealer cant correct problem, BAS-ESP warning came on twice. First it was the computer second time it was dirty contacts. Phone had to be replaced approx. 3 months after my car was delivered.

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  You dont always get what you pay for - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By john thompson - November 24 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed my car, but have some concerns: (1) It should have more horsepower for the price (2) Its been in the shop 3 times before the first service because the computer has malfunctioned (3) the dealers service has been very dissapointing (4) rear leg room inadequate

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  A big step up - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ski2771 - November 24 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this car last Month and I love everything about it. I was an Audi man before this and this car leaves it in the dust as far as comfort, style and power. Only thing I am nervous about is the winter going from 4-wheel drive to 2-wheel drive should be interesting! Another thing that swayed me towards buying the Mercedes is that Mercedes offer an excellent extended warranty. Audi does NOT back their vehicles with an extended warranty. So Basically with Audi once the standard Warranty is up you are on your own unless you go to a third party to purchase and they don’t cover everything. Anyway I am rambling. I love the car.

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  safety issues - 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Barry Kamran - November 24 - 1:56 am

  This car since I leased it 3 moths ago had many electronic issues, the car was suppose to have accident prevention system which should stop when the car may have a colision if the driver doesnt stop . I have involved in minor accident as I didnt see the car on te dide front stopped suddenly while turning , obviously the car did not stop. I compainted to Mercedes USA and they claimed the car was working properly. So my question is how can they claim this as a safety features?! This was exactly the car was supposed to do, stop! This is a complete misrepresentation from Mercedes-Benz USA. The car also is too expensive for lease.

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  A Pleasure to Drive - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Michael Ettinger - November 23 - 2:33 pm

  Traded my S500 4matic for the loaded GL 450 last December and havent looked back. This is my umpteenth Benz since 1984 and I have finally found the machine to replace my previous favorite, the last generation E350 4matic wagon. The GLs ride height and comfort are outstanding. Acceleration is there when needed. Fit and finish are first rate. In fact, it feels like you are riding a sedan. Everything is offered on this vehicle that you could want, except perhaps ventilated seating but this may be nitpicking. Love this car so much that I pat it on the hood ever time I pass it in my garage. A car you can bond with. Bravo, Mercedes!