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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  After one year woes - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Jeanpaul - June 1 - 12:53 pm

  After 16 months I would have said almost a perfect 10 on this car. Bringing it in for 20K service has turned into a nightmare. Replacement of recall item has turned into now a replacement of transmission, turbo etc.. So in fairness, I loved my car before this.

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  A Rocket on 4 wheels - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By sprsnic - June 1 - 11:13 am

  This is the ultimate SUV. It is super fast (4.6 to 60), luxurious, comfortable, and has the looks too.

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  built to endure ... - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By trw - May 31 - 10:00 am

  ml review .. i have owned 7 x mbz vehicles and at this time own 2. the ml has been all would expect from mbz, in its ride, durability, and performance. i have never had ONE problem with the 2 mls have owned, (sold the 1st at 123,000 miles) and would not hesitate to recommend one to others. it is a vehicle ready to perform, road ready as well as crash ready. having owned everything from 300ds through 430clk models, i have to call the ml a true merc. NOTE, I WONDER WHY THERE IS NO US MODEL ML WITH THE FOREVER RUNNING INLINE 6 DIESEL ENGINE.?? this would truly be a vehicle to own. FYI I HAVE AN ASSOCIATE WITH A ML 98 MDL THAT HAS JUST TURNED 232,000 MILES.

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  Best Vehicle Ever - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Sherlock - May 31 - 10:00 am

  Its a luxury car with the cargo room of a van. The TeleAid Service is a life saver. I found out last week when my battery finally went dead in a dark, isolated area and I had forgotten my cell phone. Their first concern was for my safety and well being and then wanted to make calls for me since I had no phone. Help arrived within 10 minutes and replaced my battery for free. When I bought this luxury vehicle I also bought luxury roadside assistance.

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  240 excellence - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By rluces - May 31 - 10:00 am

  This automobile rides on clouds. You think that you are in an airplane, first class. 29 miles per gallon on the highway. Noiseless even when going over bumps. Hard to beat.

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  Best Car I Have Owned - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By henryc32 - May 31 - 10:00 am

  This is the perfect sports sedan for the American road. I have driven and owned 911s and other performance cars, but nothing comes close to the overal package that the C32 presents. The gas economy is GREAT for a performace car; the only faster car in accelleration that I have owned is a 911 twin turbo; it will out handle any sedan I have driven and most sports cars. In addition, despite being 10 inches shorter it has almost as much room inside as a BMW 5 series. If you want a true perfomance sedan that is comparable to an M5 for less money get a C32

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  Fast and Responsive - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Nodeew - May 31 - 10:00 am

  Small problem with cruise control. It will shut off after 200-300 miles and engine has to be restarted to turn back on. The satellite system offers little value and a chare is incurred for each contact.

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  hands down best car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By MICHAEL ZARABI - May 31 - 10:00 am

  a gtr car without the price tag. this is one of the fastest and most luxurious cars on the market. I wouldnt trade it for any other car.

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  awsome - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By molson - May 31 - 10:00 am

  The sl 55 is the best car I had ever had.I have 10 cars.I like the sl 55 the best.The have a thing you can push (sos) if there is ever a emergency witch will call mb care.If you want a good nice car get the sl 55

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  A sad attempt. Never purchase a MB. - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Edwin - May 30 - 10:56 pm

  I have had so many problems with My 1999 ML430 (98K miles), I want to cry. Its been a very, very, troublesome vehicle from the day I bought it. My current stable is made up a BMW 3 series and Volvo S80 (as well as the ML430). The Mercedes has easily had twice (if not thrice) the amount of issues of both my other vehicles combined. Not to mention one of the poorest after sales service dealers I have ever encountered with a cost of ownership that is stifling.