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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  Over 20 visits to dealer in 24 months - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Sad in St. Louis - July 4 - 2:00 am

  What a sincere disappointment this vehicle has been. After having everything from pieces falling off of the inside to the car stalling out while driving, not to mention the week we couldnt get it to go into reverse causing us to cancel our vacation...the Merecedes area rep hung up on me when I asked if they could do anything to help us out since apparently we had a problem vehicle. Doesnt that make you feel good about dealing the the company? When it drives, we love the car but since it isnt that often...well, we are looking into something else for our next car.

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  Incredible car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By steve - July 3 - 9:53 am

  I bought this car after having driven its larger, S-class, cousin in Europe. I rented one for a week and, after a week of driving in the mountains and highways of northern Italy was amazed at how few liters of fuel went into the tank before returning it. Impressed, I bought an E-class shortly after my return. I have not been disappointed. Its performance is nothing short of phenomenal both in 0-60 terms and when passing at highway speeds. Better yet it consistently delivers 37-38mpg on trips and in the high 20s around town. Coupled with its comfort and handling, its clearly the best car Ive ever owned. My only complaint is that the HVAC controls are needlessly complex.

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  the best choice - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By johnmb - July 3 - 8:47 am

  For a pre-owned SUV, there is probably no vehicle available for the money that provides the overall features including impressive fuel economy, style and useful utility. This 2007 includes all of todays competitor’s features that I wanted including Blue tooth, Navigation, Satellite and I-pod integration. It simply can’t be beat. Overall handling is great, it’s very smooth and quiet however the engine doesn’t have the ‘snap’ off the line that would make it superb. I don’t have much positive to say about the stalk style gear selector. It’s odd at best and in my opinion further compromises any sport feel to the interior working the controls. Also, you have to get used to putting it into Park with the only assurance being the ‘bing’ sound rather than any true visual reassurance that a shift lever shows. All in all, it’s a great car for a great value delivering a combination of desirable qualities.

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  Wow, nice car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By bradkurtz - July 3 - 8:20 am

  Picked this up as a MB certified used car and I am much impressed. On paper my wifes Acura RL should drive better, but it doesnt. This car is amazing and fun to drive when ask it to, while at the same time being ultr-lux when you want it to be. The 7 speed auto keeps the car in the highest torque zone in sport mode, and makes it feel like a much more powerful car. Great work, my first Benz, it wont be my last.

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  Im Happy - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Doc1 - July 3 - 7:23 am

  Ive owned the following , LS400, (2) Q45s Qx4, 528e, Caddys and Lincolns. This my 7th S class Im very happy . it gets plenty of looks and so far in 8 months I put 15k miles on the car. Now Im starting to see little expensive things like transmission seals, control arms, and when we very cold days like below 28 degrees the pump for the suspension stop working.luv the sound system, but it sways a little at high speeds. Ive never driven any other car @ 130 mph. Gas mileage stinks in the city. Nevertheless I plan to buy another one when I can.

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  Back to MB with a GLK ! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By GVR - July 3 - 2:00 am

  Our family now has 2 reliable MB vehicles. My last car was a Porsche up until I purchased the GLK. So happy to get rid of that unreliable money pit Porsche ! Dont get me started on the dealerships! Mercedes Benz = great cars and excellent service. 2 ingredients that are essential for motoring happiness. GLK is just a really well thought out, comfortable, practical, solid, quality SUV. Loaded with all options except for the rear video. I enjoy every minute in my Mobile Office / Hockey Dad / Night Out / Off to the cottage, fits the bill on all accounts. Including the bank!

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  Great SUV! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By JJB060797 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  We have owned the GLK-350 for 2 weeks now having moved up from an 06 E-350 sedan. I must say this SUV was indeed a step up. I am 6 3" tall and found getting in and out of the E-350 sometimes a challenge, but much prefer the entry and exit of the GLK-350. At cruising speeds of 65 mph, there is very little, if any, engine noise and no air noise at all. The SUV is built solid. This SUV is equipped with the P1 package, Multimedia, and AMG appearance package. It is beautiful and even though we have had it only 2 weeks, we are still very much pleased with our purchase.

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  Best CLK Yet - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By #1 Benz - July 1 - 8:50 pm

  This is my 1st Mercedes. Have been looking for a new car for over a year. Looked at BMW 5 and 3 series and other performance rated cars and have found overall build quality and ammenities of the MB to be far superior to any of these cars. Also ride quality is much more comfortable. The new 7 speed transmission is tops. You literally dont feel this car shift. Car is also a great looker. Get lots of positive complements from many folks. Make sure to get the sun roof if you buy the coupe. For you performance freaks there are alot of aftermarket parts you can get for this car that will bring your performance to Ferrari levels for little additional cost.

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  My "Awesome E" - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gdhr11 - July 1 - 2:33 am

  I bought my CPO 2007 E350 just a couple of weeks ago. This makes my 7th Mercedes-Benz. I currently also own a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. This car is just amazing! It is quiet, fast, sleek and so comfortable. Mine is black on black with the Sport Package and Premium 1 package. In a word, the car is stunning! My previous MBs have included another E class, two S classes, an SL and a C class. This E is just perfect...not too big and not too small. I cant wait to take it on a long trip. The build quality and workmanship is terrific and I feel confident driving it and very well protected.

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  I am in love! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Kaushik Lodh - June 30 - 5:16 pm

  I am a Principal Engineer at a tier one Automotive supplier. I am also 28 yrs old. I needed a car that would be fun to drive, reflect prestige and above all, perform flawlessly to stand up to the toughest engineering standards. This car does it and more. Its perfect, nothing needs improvement (including the stylish cup holder). It is made in Stuttgart, Germany, excellent fuel economy, and SUPERB performance. Every single day, every single time, I am at a light, I race it against my neighboring vehicle. Till date, NOTHING has been able to beat its acceleration. It handles curves like a ... mercedes! Stability, comfort, elegance, style...! No other car (including the BMW) can satisy like this.