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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  eye catcher - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By vic500sl - November 18 - 10:00 am

  fun and eye catcher sporty vehicle

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  WOW! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By skyking4hire - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Ive had it for a month and have never owned a car that got so much attention, and to my surprise it is well deserved. I have never enjoyed driving this much, and the power is awesome-and I race cars competitively. . .

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  Poor Tires - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Weak Tires - November 17 - 10:36 am

  Overall, this is a wonderful automobile-my 4th E Class Sedan. However, I have had a very bad experience with the Continental tires supplied in this sport model. I had 2 blowouts and a bubble in the sidewall of a third tire in 4 months of ownership, 5000 total miles. I admit that driving in the Northeast with potholes is stressful on the tires, but I have never had a blowout before. I suspect that these tires have a weak sidewall. Continental and Mercedes customer relations have been no help.I would recommend the luxury version with the smaller wheels in areas of the country with uneven roads.

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  What they didnt tell me - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Eddie Huggins - November 17 - 2:56 am

  Car provides a good ride. The interior is comfortable but was not told that when it rains water get inside the car because there is no run-off or drainage system. After each rain, I must take a cloth and wipe the running board and the area under the doors and the sides, inside the car. $50K is a lot of money to spend for one to have to wipe the water out of the inside of the car each time it rains. When questioned was told "it is a design flaw" caused by the way the windows open and then close to seal for air tightness. Didnt they know about the "flaw"?

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  1997 E420 is Junk - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By AD - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new in 1997 and it is one of the worst cars I ever purchased. It gave me lot of grief and frankly I wouldnt have been as disappointed if it had the Chrysler logo instead. Its motor had to be changed twice, All window motors broke down, speed sensor gave up, AC didnt work. Shock absorbers crumbled into pieces, and more - all in first 5 years! Frankly, I and some of my friends gave up buying Merc in favor of BMW. The car has only 93K miles- but it is a hunk of junk and been a LEMON. I have a 10 inch thick file with notes and problems that Mercedes had to fix. Stay away from MERCEDES, if you want peace in your life!

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  Very disappointed - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Vicki - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my first Benz and positively my last. The SUV in general was pretty good until a couple of months later after I purchased it (brand new) Its been a nightmare since then. Something had to be fixed every now and then,at least 3-4 times a year.When it was still under warranty,it wasnt a big deal. Then big things started breaking after the warranty expired. I can now say its a piece of junk. My 2 Lexus RX 330s and a Nissan pathfinder in the past had not been in the shop for repairs collectively as my ML was. Finally got rid of it and traded it for an Infiniti. Whew! what a relief.

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  My 1st Benz - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By PhillyBurbs_Benz - November 16 - 10:00 am

  Bought my first Benz, a 2010 300 Sport 4matic. Was considering Acura TL SH- AWD and BMW. Mercedes dealer gave great price for certified pre-owned, and extended warranty. Acura was faster, but overall Benz is better looking, great handling, comfortable and great quality. Ive put around 1,500 miles on it so far and no complaints. Its quick, but not FAST, but you cant beat the ride and handling, and 1st class exterior looks. I wish they made the C350 in 4matic, then it would be perfect. Currently getting around 19 mpg around town with pedal down, averaging 21 - 22 mpg in mixed condition, and have gotten up to 25 mpg on mostly highway driving. Smooth acceleration / 7 speed transmission.

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  Fantastic - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fantastic - November 16 - 10:00 am

  This car is fantastic if you want dont care for the driving experience that BMW provides. Dont get me wrong though, I love the way this drives, but I just started a family and wanted a smoother, more luxurious drive. I think this car cannot be beat in its class. We looked at the 2011 BMW and the interior design and technology doesnt compare to the E350. We also looked at Lexus GS 350 and were considering the Jaguar XF, both of which did not seem to offer the luxury drive that the E350 did. I love this car, and I highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Driven - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jefrazier - November 15 - 11:46 pm

  We purchased this vehicle over 3 years ago with reservations based on negative reviews from consumer reports. After purchasing and over 3 years of ownership, I can confidently say that this is the best car Ive ever owned or driven, especially for highway driving. Weve had a few issues..., new brake pads, and battery, but, overall the car has proven to be very reliable. The comfort level is like no other and Im almost certain, when the time comes, well be purchasing another one.

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  Great Car - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Daniel - November 14 - 4:55 pm

  Ive owned this car for 4 years and have had no problems. I baby it when it comes to maintenance, but I di drive it rather hard.