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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  Saved by the Benz! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Scott - October 14 - 9:06 pm

  I finally found a vehicle that I felt good about. Great price, great fuel economy and very good customer service. I purchased a demo here in ATL in May and find myself liking the car more and more everytime I drive it. Im coming from an SUV that avgd at most 20 mpg. My C230 hit an avg high of 33.5 mpg a couple of weeks ago. I went a full two weeks without fueling! The AMG design is classic and the car is roomy enough to take friends to dinner. I never thought that I would own a Benz and plan on keeping this one as long as I can.

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  Better than I expected - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gnormant - October 14 - 5:45 am

  I concur with the other reviewer, this is one fun car. I started my car search wanting a V8 engine and a lot of horsepower. Im not wealthy so I couldnt justify buying a $60+ thousand dollar AMG when the $40,000 C250 had an adequate, even surprising, amount of power. And reasonable gas mileage to boot. I suggest the Lighting Package, I love the techno looking LED and bi-xenon lighting. I almost never carry more than one passenger so the coupe body style was great for me. But I tried the back seat and fit just fine, plenty of leg room, adequate head room. I just picked mine up about 6 hours ago and I didnt want to get out of it.

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  1st MB and Luvin It - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Dan - October 13 - 7:30 pm

  After fours years in an Armada our lease was up and my wife wanted to downsize. We test drove several cars including the X5, MDX, and a decked out Murano. When they pulled up the GLK for a test drive at the Houston North dealership, my wife left me little room for negotiating the price with a solid, "Well take it". It was love at first sight for her and she thanks me everyday for the purchase. Being the mother of two teenage boys, she rarely leaves the neighborhood but we still get around 18 mpg with an average speed of a mere 25 mph. I rarely get to drive it but everytime I do I am impressed with the handling, the power and above all else, the quietness. A solid 10 for the money.

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  134k Miles and counting! - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By chevegan - October 12 - 6:03 pm

  My father purchased this car in 1999 at the end of his friends lease for $36,500. The car has been nothing but a joy. It has every single option that the dealer + merc had to offer at the time. In all these years shes been so good to us. Now with the economy i sold off my cars and started driving the merc which was sitting for 2 years. Issues? No. Creaks? Squeeks? Rattles? NONONO. I love this car. yes 91 octane BUT i Average 22mpg in mostly L.A. traffic. Note one thing that all these e-classes seem to need a new steering pump ONLY since it starts to leak. Other than that not ONE crazy repair unlike the other guys rant. Can you say LEMON? or maybe hes hard on his cars what can i say.

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  Great Automobile - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Clint Roy - October 12 - 4:46 pm

  I traded a 07 Corvette - fully loaded, it was a great American car, but no comparison to my new SL 550. Performance, handling, quality interior and exterior are beyond my expectations. I have had many MB automobiles since my first 1988, this is by far the best.

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  Great used car value - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By gv3 - October 12 - 10:00 am

  Got my 99 ML320 with a little more than 50,000 miles on the odometer, spending $22k, or about half the cost of a new model. A service record obtained from the local MB dealer showed that most of the annoying glitches that plagued early MLs had been taken care of (window switches, etc.). Ive had no issues with the vehicle, and am much happier with it than my Jeep Grand Cherokee. A lot of car for the $!

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  The last rock-solid S-Class - 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By SRS - October 11 - 10:33 pm

  This car replaced my 84 300SD which I lost in an accident. But having saved my life, I wanted another Mercedes S-Class and decided to try a W140 chassis. It is built like a bank vault and still has all of the hallmarks of a true Mercedes Benz (before the Chrysler merger). It has not been without problems (oil tappet pipe replaced, central locking pump, lower oil pan seal, control arm bushings, steering damper to name a few). But this is a 12 year old car w/ 144K miles. Any automobile that old and with that kind of mileage is going to need attention. So overall, I recommend this car to any Mercedes lover. With proper care and feeding (and a nice "rainy day" fund), you will enjoy it!

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  S550 performance at an E550 price tag! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By westcott - October 11 - 7:16 pm

  My first MB and I now understand all the hype surrounding German engineering. The attention to details, the technology, brute performance, and respectable handling and braking for a luxury sports sedan. It will take a top of the line S600 or E65 to pass you and cost a whole lot less. I really enjoy all the conveniences and I am quickly getting a handle on the voice activated Command System. Keyless Go really is a nice feature. The AMG sport package really adds a nice touch. Operating the 7 speed auto via FI style paddle shifters really makes it feel like a performance vehicle. The safety features are not to be ignored. A fun car to drive!

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  Small car for small people. - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mac Miller - October 11 - 6:46 pm

  This is a nice drivetrain, giving stout acceleration and 25 mpg while being smooth and quiet. The chassis feels solid, safe. Slow steering and soft shocks make the car a cruiser, not sporty. The interior is very handsome, high quality and nice to be in. Im selling this car. At 6ft/200lbs I dont fit in it. The cars center door post is forward of the drivers seatback, blocking exit from the car. To exit the seat I have to swing both my legs out first, hook my left elbow out around the center post and leverage my way out between the post and steering wheel. If the side of the car is dirty so is my shirt sleeve. The things you dont notice until after time!

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  "Entry-level" headache - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Teddirex - October 10 - 8:16 pm

  If you want luxury no other name can do it like MB. However what is there to a name if the vehicle doesnt live up to its prestige. I have owned my C230 for a year. It is an excellent daily driver but costly to keep prime. I have replaced the mass air flow sensor ($300 w/o labor), breaks twice (once w/ rotors all together $1300 w/ labor), and instrument panel computer ($expensive!). I am a cautious driver and maintain it well. Handles well at highway speeds, but the seats are tiring after 2 hours or so. This defeats the purpose of luxury. If you want a star on your hood look no further, but if you are looking for something behind the logo keep star gazing!