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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  great - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By nashandrus - December 15 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazing. I love it.

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  Great Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Doctor Mike - December 14 - 12:40 pm

  I wound up buying a second S-430 after my wife would not share and I fell in love with hers. Car is magnificent to drive, very safe, and beautiful to look at. Truly a great value for what you get. You only go around once, why not do it in style and drive something you love? We will keep both cars for at least 10 years. Go for it!

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  Great Car! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dykemyster - December 12 - 3:33 pm

  Wolf is sheeps clothing is how I would describe this car. Interior and gas mileage are the only non-perfect things on this car. Interior needs in -dash CD player some of the controls are overly complicated with no apperent reason but the interior is still very nice compared to Acura or BMW. Gas mileage is just a result of being able to go as fast as most Corvettes and the goverened top speed is easily attained. If you have a family and want to have the ultimate car experience and cant afford a Merecedes Benz CLS AMG then this is your car.

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  Best Mercedes out there - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Benzowner - December 11 - 12:53 am

  I have a 1999 S320, It is my most favorite Mercedes because it has power and it is limited edition bullet proof. The S320 has alot of power considered the weight it has to pull. I would recommend the S320 to anyone. Never had a problem with it yet!

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  You should own a V12 once in your life! - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By BillC - December 10 - 3:00 pm

  Just bought this beautiful SL600 Sport, all black. With only 52k miles it drives like a new car! After considerable research, I went with the 48 valve V 12 because the newer bi- turbo versions are much less reliable and have far more plastic. If you drive one, you will fall in love with it. Driving reasonably I am getting 17 mpg with 70% around town, 30% highway, what a nice surprise for a 400 hp V-12. These cars had 1 man who built each engine and the smooth delivery of power has to be felt to be believed. I know they are expensive to repair, the drive is worth it though. Awesome stereo with Sirius radio (highly recommended). Just driving the car feels special.~$125k when new. A bargain now!

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  Gosh, I love this car! - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Midwest Merc Lover - December 10 - 6:00 am

  This is my 4th Mercedes, my 3rd diesel. Wow, they got this one right. Its powerful, reasonably quiet, dead simple to maintain, and the parts arent bad at all. Bought her with 235k on her, and did ball joints, tie rod ends, brake line ends, and an epic cleaning. Changed the oil and coolant several times, cleaning out the sins of the previous owner. Ive put 10k miles on in 6 months, and nothing but smiles. I hit 40 mpg on a 800 mile road trip in October, and nailed 41 mpg on a 400 mile trek later that month! The daily commute gets 36 mpg in the summer, down to 31 in the winter. Shes big, shes bad, shes comfortable, and the wife even likes her. Worth the steep price.

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  Superb, Enjoy every minute driven - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By M. Hashem - December 9 - 2:00 am

  My 3rd ML after a 98, 2000. This is it! All bugs fixed, hardly goes to the dealer for any problems. Best part is the free Service for the warranty period. If people buying a cheaper fors or GM would add the service cost they would find it cheaper to own an ML and safer too. Advice; Dont miss the convenience option, I love the lights under the rearview mirror, and the folding outside mirrors

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  Why did I wait so long? - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Floridadriver - December 8 - 7:10 pm

  After waiting to compare the new BMW 545 to the E500 and other also rans, I went with the E500 and have not been disappointed. No quality issues with mine. Very few nits to pick on. Performance is OUTSTANDING, unless the 5.8 sec 0-60 isnt good enough for you (go E55). The three position suspension is very handy - dials in the three settings I like (cruising, everyday, and attack). The 7 speed is a joy, and the comfort/style is timeless. The headlights are great, always eliciting delight from passengers. Seats (adaptive) are spectacular. Seat/steering wheel adjustments combine for the best ergonomic setting possibilities Ive seen in a vehicle.

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  Tricky cars. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Omar Diaz Aguilar - December 8 - 12:54 pm

  Parts are very expensive. Check carfax and maintenance records or you will regret buying an used car. Edmunds sucks on costumer service. They never Send me the 100 dollar visa card for using Edmunds. Never replied to my emails or phone calls.

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  C32 Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Norm C32 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Impressive power from the supercharged V6 mated to automatic transmission with Speedshift. The handling is the best match for the street and track but with quality that passengers that pass through its 4-door will not find uncomfortable. Interior has a nice heavy weighted feeling to the controls which give it a rich quality which other drivers found very substantial. I am very please overall with the C32.