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 car overall - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By NIckP - July 28 - 4:33 am

  Bought this car with 50K on it, now have 62K. Excellent to drive, great highway cruiser. Has had some odd ball repairs that added up to about $1200. but a lot less than a car payment.Full inspection by dealer just came out perfect with ball joints due in about 10K miles.

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  c63 bullet - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By .................. - July 28 - 1:43 am

  people didnt thinkthat its real what about the new engine of the amg and the rocket acceletation of the car.

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  worth to keep - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By laautoowner - July 27 - 9:39 am

  I purchased this car when it was new back in October 2002. I was a sport package with leather n panorama roof and Bose system. Such a fun car to drive. Over the years Id put on 130k mileage on it so far. This was my third car I purchased new. my kind of driving style both my civic and accord never made it to 120k... This 230k had been some cam repair done within the first 50k warranty. and replaced the OC sensor and some hosts last year. other than that I have no issue with the engine, transmission and the radiator whatsoever. Itd been such a reliable car. Im going to keep this car for another 130k hopefully. and just do my synthetic oil change every 5k miles and see how far it can go..

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  Capable and sure-footed ride - 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By us1fedvet - July 26 - 12:50 am

  Purchased our C300 Sport 4Matic in September 2011. Just ticked to 10K. So far, so good. No maintenance issues - changed oil myself at 5K and ready to have dealer handle the scheduled 10K (free of charge). Solid, strong performer that is built like an ingot. Just did a 2K mile r/t to FL. Averaged 27.5 mpg overall with cruise at 78 mph on 835 mile run down I-95. Local driving a breeze - nimble and quick. Excellent audio system, seats good, back a bit tight for large folks. Adequate trunk for a getaway or other.

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  2003 Certified Used SL55 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By miles of smiles - July 25 - 2:36 am

  I purchased a 2003 certified Diamond Silver SL55 avoiding the $50K depreciation. What a car. Incredible looks and power, and a great sounding rumble. The car is truely amazing, yet the navigation is dated years compared to Lexus. I have no regrets in the first 2,000 miles. I have heard both positive and negative reviews for the car so I purchased the extended warranty to 100K miles. It appears to be hit or miss with some of the cars with the research Ive done.

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  2006 ML350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jdgreav es - July 24 - 11:30 pm

  This model is much improved over the 2004 ML350 that I previously owned. This is my 5th ML and is far superior to previous models.

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  Suggest to get a light color interior - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By J.Rima - July 24 - 3:43 pm

  Fun to drive, but I suggest not to get a light color interior. The light gray dashboard reflects to windshield badly. It feels like driving in smoke, disrupts your vision, and gives you tired eyes.

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  The AMG working people can afford - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By abndoc73 - July 24 - 10:50 am

  This car is great to drive and brings a smile to my face every time I start it up. Yes, the ride is firm and with 355 hp you need to feel that. But, driving on the autobahn at 140mph you have no issues taking turns.

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  Our Best Car Yet - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JimiB - July 24 - 2:00 am

  We have had our C320 for almost two years now and we are very pleased. We have been to the dealership once so far for the first routine service included in the price of the car. That is it! I think the build quality is very high. This is our first MB but have had alot of other "luxury" type cars in the past to compare. It is that right mix between luxury and sport. Before buying we test drove a BMW 330ci, Lexus IS300, Lexus ES300, Acura TL, an Infinity, an Audi and last the C320 all on the same day. We were 1 block down the road and my wife said "this is the one". Overall very pleased.

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  Love this fun little car! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By trismiss - July 23 - 10:43 pm

  This is a great zip around town car. I love the feel, looks, and handling. You could be going 90 and it feels like your going 30. just an all around awesome car.