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 for the Money - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ShadowNeko - April 15 - 10:00 am

  I got a white ext. with Oyster Leather with C2, C5, C7 and NAV for $32K. Get the leather seat and the Sunroof. The rain sensor is nice so you dont have to keep turning up and down on the wipers. Get the Sport package if you wants all the teenagers to look at your car. And get used to the questions and the stares by the by-standers and Toll-men, Gas-men. and not to mentioned (again) to all the teenagers! The Kompressor was great! No lag at all. Solid car for the money.

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  My new baby Benz - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DARLENA ELLIS - April 15 - 6:16 am

  Beautiful and easy to handle. Its not too big, but has 4 doors. I love it! I feel classy, I feel pretty. Drive one and see!

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  Love this vehicle! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By summergirl - April 15 - 5:23 am

  Having owned 2 different Lexus SUVs and liking them, I can honestly say that this MB GL 470 is by far the best vehicle Ive owned. Just the right size for me. Not big, but roomy; not small, but manageable. Its a gorgeous vehicle, great sound system, incredible grade of leather, lacks nothing. Better on mileage than the Lexus GX I previously owned. Its solid and handsome. I travel to my sons home once a month, which is a 450 mile each way trip and I could not be more comfortable. I absolutely love this car. Cannot recommend it enough!

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  Love My Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S55AMG - April 15 - 5:00 am

  I have had the car for just over a month and I am absolutely in love. It has all the room and comfort of a large sedan, and drives like a rocket. It is perfect for me as I wanted a fast sports car, but have a 2 year old and a newborn. It makes the perfect family car with a dual identity as a tremendously powerful sports car. The best car I have ever owned. Every drive leaves me with the biggest smile. Hammer the throttle and the acceleration pins you to the seats and it is impossible not to smile.

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  Initial impression - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By C G 62 - April 14 - 5:06 pm

  Just picked up this beautiful Steel Gray coupe on Valentines day. We had ordered a BMW 328i xdrive sedan. Then Mercedes came out with a fantastic deal on this car. We canceled the 328 and grabbed this incredible car. This car has the ride of a true German luxury car. Far superior to the c300 and even better than the E350. Also you dont see one on every corner. Ive had 3 Infinitis ( G35 coupe, FX35, M35) This car has a far more refined driving experience( better ride, handling, transmission, engine and quietness). The HK stereo is excellent but a little more complicated than it needs to be. Rear seat is good for 2 adults up to 5 10" tall. Trunk has good usable space.

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  Quality and service..or lack of - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dietmar - April 14 - 4:40 pm

  Car was not prpared properly. and pulled to the right, Dealer said he could not repair the alignment unless the customer complained. Several item, such as the automatic tempeature control not working--it was not calibrated at the factory. The automatic transmission leaked because a gasket was used that was not compatble with the fluit. The proper gasket was of a different color and the situation could have been corrected while the car was in for service. MBUSA told me that they do not repair it until it actually leaks. Remember we have a situstion here where we know it WILL LEAK it is only a question of when. For a company like Mercedes, this shure is a lousy attitude, Next car: BMW

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  No regrets - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Carlos - April 11 - 10:33 am

  Have never really been a fan of Mercedes Benz, too boxy looking. Thought it was like driving a good truck. Must say this new 2007 E350 is awesome. I love the new redesign. Finally Mercedes is on the right track. Drives like a dream and really hugs the road and with the sports package. It has nothing to envy compared to the BMW. I just upgraded from my Lexus 430 smooth ride, but the Mercedes is a lot more fun to drive. Especially impressed with the 268hp V-6. Excellent pick up and go!

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  A German muscle car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Elliott91 - April 11 - 6:33 am

  I thought it was time for a true sports car till I drove this hot rod. Ive had the car 18 months and it has performed flawlessly, except I wore the rear tires off at 4,500 miles, but I guess thats my fault. I really like the exclusivity of the AMG package. Not quite the nimble handling of a BMW, but a more refined package overall. Fit and finish are first rate. Mines Diamond Black and I get compliments on the color all the time. Its great to dust 350Zs Mustang GTs and other "quick" cars in my little sedan.

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  Great but not so great - 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rick Banister - April 11 - 3:41 am

  Steep learning curve for the instruments in general and navigation system in particular. Wish they had just used CarPlay, which has native smart phone integration. Programming the nav while driving is extremely distracting. Voice recognition is terrible. Lacks alternate route capability. No advice on traffic avoidance. I do like the freeway advices on services available at oncoming off ramps, but google maps or apple maps are much better. Headrests are superb -- all the other cars these days have head rests far too forward in response to recent federal standards, including the E-class, giving me a pain in the neck just sitting in the parking lot. But the seats are VERY firm. Park bench firm, and not comfortable for long drives. Steering and handling are very light and precise. Fold-down seats make for cavernous cargo capacity. Ive lost $10,000 in resale value the first year, which is ridiculous, as this car seems like its built to last forever and is very high quality.

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  After four months of driving - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Smith - April 10 - 11:53 am

  Have had car for four months. Averaging 33 MPH at highway speeds of 80. Around 26 in town driving. Only had one computer update on console system. No problems. Love car, the acceleration, braking, comfort of drive.