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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  3 Irritating Things, but I Love the Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Hoot - January 1 - 5:46 am

  Side mirrors are tiny- very difficult to see. Ride is too mushy even on sport mode setting. Glare on interior windshield on passenger side from wood trim is distracting. I plan to keep the car for 5 years. Found out that I cannot obtain an extended warranty since i am not the original owner. So now AAA gets my business and I can take it to the M-B dealer. Wake up Daimler! If youre over 6 you sit in the front seats- in the rear seat your head touches the roof- believe me. The 2010 version looks more aggressive so after 5 years Ill get one at less than half cost. This car depreciates 50% in less than 3 years!

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  No thanks - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By B Sim - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Not impressed with this Mercedes. The brakes sqweel when coming to a stop. No cup holders, glove box, or storage. At around 60K the fuel pump, steering pump, headlight switch, sun roof switch, mirror switch, and exhoust pipe failed. Constently replacing the tailight bulbs. The stereo sucks, the seats are too hard,the accelerator is too stiff, and I had to stuff foam everywhere in the back panels to cut down on the road noise! The car does drive nice however...

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  bugs - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By harvey - December 31 - 10:00 am

  The car is overengineered. The computer seems to bleed information on lights,mirrors,seats,etc. The electronic key is sluggish. The trunk is too small. Im glad I have my 91 190. I cant see the dashboard screen during sunlit hours. Still, it is fun to drive.How do I find Recall notices?

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  2002 C240 a month old! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By EXT.Warranty? - December 31 - 5:40 am

  I bought my 2002 C240w/C2pkg las month for 32750 otd. Since its only a month of time, I cant tell any defective yet. But I have a feeling that I SHOULD have buy extended warranties from dealer($2400)?

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  SL600 - Yes! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By JohnS - December 26 - 11:23 pm

  Fun, fun, fun to drive. Good handling, nice looking. it gets lots of looks. A true, comfortable, sports car.

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  Beauty - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By desolateraid - December 26 - 4:33 am

  This car just looks beautiful from outside. I play hockey and have and the steering column break and had the power steering fluid leak a couple times when the weather was under -40. Other than that, drives fast, guzzles gas, but looks good which is the most important right. I love how the seats fold flat. Seriously perfect. We are the 1st owner and love the ride. Gets you from point A to point B in style

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  Nothing to Complain About - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jbarbour - December 25 - 4:36 am

  With over 167,000 miles on my 2004 and synthetic Mobil 1 oil since the beginning my car is my second home and more reliable than most of my so called friends. Commuting, traveling, or just cruising is a delight in my C230 nicknamed "Jett" (supercharger). My first Mercedes when I turned 40 and will not be my last. Would love to get the 4-door version in the future. Buy it you wont be disappointed, if you take care of it.

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  FUEL PUMP - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By SCOOTS - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. The fuel pump went at 34k miles. This happened driving the car back from purchasing it.... Mercedes warranty covered the car, but now my wife has lossed confidence in the vehicle. I hope no other problems occur. The car drives nice, for a truck

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  Great vehicle just not for us - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Mike Williams - December 22 - 10:49 am

  We decided on something larger

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  Has bad side too - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Agie - December 20 - 9:03 am

  I have this vehicle for over 2 months and stumbled into a common mistake and filled up with gas. Costing around $800 to remove the gas when I did not started the car and realize while fueling. If you start it may cost you $6000-$8000. Very delicate fuel and exhaust system.