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:

• 

  7th mercedes owned - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By gunlawyer - August 12 - 1:10 am

  Owned Mercedes since 1976. From 190E thru stationwagons. By far the best appearance since 1979 Wagon, great ride, show stopping appearance. Hard dealing to get acceptable purchase price with trade (Mercedes). Would do it again in a heartbeat.

• 

  A great car. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Walter Mooshoolzadeh - August 11 - 10:00 am

  My E320 has been a great car so far. The ride is really smooth and street bumps can hardly be felt. The six cylinder has plenty of power even when the car is full of passengers. The am radio had terrible reception because of a loose antenna but was fixed. Another problem initially was a malfunctioning alternator sensor but again was fixed. The fit and finish is excellent. I traded a 2001 C320 for this because the C had many problems.

• 

  Excellent ride, comfort, safety - 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By HeyJohnnyK - August 11 - 12:40 am

  Bought this car with 48K miles, now have 60K. First S-Class Ive owned. Last of the S-classes where Mercedes only used top quality materials. Doors close like a vault. This is our mini- van alternative. Ive been driving this for 18 months and still puts a smile on my face every time and feel safe putting my kids in it. Double pane glass makes for incredible quiet ride. Car is 500lbs heavier then newer models, but drives nicer. I have never experienced more comfortable seats, with their separate bottom cushion controls. No mechanical issues. Fixed close-assist motor and wheel sensor. For road trips, nothing better. Arrive relaxed. Sitting in traffic in silent cabin, no problem. Just buy one

• 

  Feels Great - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rich - August 10 - 5:03 pm

  I traded in my 03 G35 for this little gem. Not as fast as the G35, but a wonderful, solid feel. Extremely well made, great handling, and MUCH better gas mileage. Im much less likely to get speeding tickets, yet Im really enjoying driving this exceptional car. The "Tiptronic" manual shifting is much better, quicker, than in the G35.

• 

  Great combo of ride and drive! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sacguy - August 10 - 1:53 pm

  This car replaced a 2002 BMW 5 series. I just could not warm to the new 5 series interior/exterior. I never owned a MBZ, but this car is great. Quiet, serene ride and good handling, feels very competent and secure on the road. Nice interior is dignified and well done, with a touch of sportiness with the Appearance pkg. The 7 speed V6 is smooth and has plenty of power, Seats are first rate and I no longer get lower back pain on long drives, like I did in the BMW. This car is a wonderful combination of comfortable cruiser with enough road manners to make it fun to drive. I wopuld not get it without the appearannce package - makes it look so much better - in and out

• 

  not reliable - 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By asad shamim - August 10 - 6:00 am

  Since purchasing my E350 in June 2009, the engine has failed twice. The interior rattles causing annoyance. The car has been back into the garage for noises coming from rear and still has not been resolved by the garage. To be honest with you I am totally fed up with this car as it has caused me so much inconvenience in time and money. Furthermore this car is totally useless in snow conditions because it is rear wheel drive. I strongly recommend consumers not to buy this model. If the garage i bought this vehicle from does not do anything soon then i will be taking further action against mercedes. They certainly do not live up to their name.

• 

  This has been a great car - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gary - August 9 - 4:20 pm

  This has been a great car. Bought it new, and have driven it hard for ten years. Its coming up on 150,000 miles and I will probably sell it to a friend soon, but it has been reliable, solid, fun to drive, and comfortable.

• 

  CLK550: Use EDP to drive it on Autobahn! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By No Tickets Yet - August 9 - 11:20 am

  If you get a CLK550 Cabriolet, the sport suspension option is a must have. Had mine trucked down to N. Cal. from Wash. State, since it was only one in Western USA with sport suspension (for me), run flats (for wife), backseat side airbags (for son), and P3 option (best front seats). It has every opt. except power trunk closer. This is the best Mercedes Ive every owned, and been loyal customer since bought 380 SL in 1982! Solid build, no problems, performs better than last years AMG model for $20K less, quiet with the top up. 0-60 mph on mine is much faster than 5.1 sec. spec. It can go 65+ on 25mph curved exit w/o ESC. Wish I could take it to Germany and drive it on the Autobahn!

• 

  The Lew Review - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Lewis87 - August 9 - 9:03 am

  My 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320 is a joy to drive. My friends and I always use my car around town because it is just amazing. I hope to purchase this vehicle in a newer model very soon so I can continue to enjoy my driving experiences.

• 

  Great car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Happy Owner - August 9 - 7:43 am

  I bought this car brand new, and been driving it since 1999. I am happy with every aspect of this wonderful car. Keep in mind, owning MB is not cheap, maintenance is on expensive side, but the pleasure of owning and driving this wonderful car is all worth it. I wish the new body style was as elegant as this one.