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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  E500 Sport " tErrific" - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Philip Biderman - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Turned in my 2001 E320 at lease end and got a new E500 Sport. I am surprised at how improved the new model E is. Of course the car is more powerful with the bigger engine, but it is also more comfortable, handles better, is quieter and looks great. The sound system makes you feel like your at a concert. So far no service required. If I didnt have to deal with Mercedes leasing it would have been a near perfect deal.

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  Best Sedan Ever - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dantheman2 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Buy it!! The car is beautiful and handles like a toy. It is very fun to drive.

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  Wake me up... im dreaming... - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By mercedes is my name - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I have always been a diehard beamer. But we decided to splurge when the exact color combo I wanted arrived on the lot. Drives like a dream. Of course, not enough room for all my shopping bags!

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  The Ultimate Package - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LKF - September 30 - 2:00 am

  The C32 that I currently have is a 2003 model. I absolutely recommend any car enthusiast who is looking for a sophisticated styling with a hidden performance.

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  The best Car I everg bought - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By K. k. - September 30 - 2:00 am

  The ride comfort is superb, especially with 17" wheels. The Car has this excellent power when you need it. The Strassenlage (German) (I dont the English word) is outstanding and also the Car doesn’t brake away on sharp curvy roads, no over or under steering curvy roads or wet surface. I am very pleased with the Car that my next car will be again a 230 Sport.

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  Mercedes WunderKind - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Satisfied280Owner - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Nimble, lightfooted and mroe fun that its predecessor, the 190E2.6, the C280 is an amazing blend of practicality and constrained performance. Not quite up to the standards of its AMG relations, the C280 nonetheless can MOVE out of its own way without the long windup that dogged the 190E family. The fold down rear seats, four doors, and seating make you think youre going to get into a luxoslug, but once behind the wheel, the combination of the increased power of the 280 engine, compled with the adaptive transmission and a superb electronic stabilization package make the C280 agile responsive, and genrally a hoot to drive.

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  its the best - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By kirk - September 29 - 10:00 am

  i have just purchased an ml500 with all the options and features its amazing it drives like a luxury sedan,its roomy,comfortable,powerful and capable

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  Excellent Choice - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jim C. - September 29 - 10:00 am

  For the safety features--its almost a mobile air bag--the build quality, and all the comforts this was an easy choice vs. American competitors. Some say a little pricey, true, but my dealer took off $3800 by the end. Rare for MB.

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  Best Mercedes Yet - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By carlover14 - September 29 - 10:00 am

  I Love my S600, its the best Mercedes I have owned yet. Everything is perfect and flawless. The engine is smooth and silky and the interior is overflowing with luxury features. I LOVE THIS CAR!!

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  #1 Car in the world - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By 600 Owner - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Great Car. It is a world of difference when compared to the other S class cars. The V-12 is incredible and mileage is excellent, same or better than the S500. I am a collector and will keep this car for a long time.