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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  Good car overall -- a few bugs - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By presta_presta - May 22 - 2:00 am

  The C240 is a great road car. Absolutely wonderful on a long road trip. Comfortable, powerful--it rides like its on rails. Its fine in the city too, but fabulous on the open highway. Ive had a few problems. It had to be towed once because the electronic key failed, and currently the sunroof wont work properly. When I press the sunroof button, it opens a little way, not entirely. If press the button about 20 times I can get the sunroof open. Annoying little bugs like that are bothersome when youve paid this much.

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  Six years makes no difference - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Billy V - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive always wanted a supercar, a 2-seater and a convertible. We got all three and got it in this car. Ive always enjoyed driving, have favored Mercedes over other brands once I started buying them. I had Audi and BMW top line cars in the past and the final kicker than makes the Benz best for me (besides being able to handle my 1.97 m height)is superior quality and service. The M-B people have always taken exceptional care of my cars and I am a fussy one. Buying a 2004 model, the only real limitation I did not pay enough attention to was the dated transmission, it does not shift responsively enough with that motor and especially with the steering wheel buttons/early paddle shifters.

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  Awesome - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By GSM - May 22 - 2:00 am

  If you are looking for a car to turn heads (especially females) and you have the means, look no further. This is in my opinion the most beautiful new car on the market now or in the last 10 years.

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  defects - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jvs - May 21 - 8:53 am

  The front seat broke. The xenon head lights broke. The window wipers broke. The sun roof failed. Simply put, the car is an electrical nightmare. Will never go with Mercedes again.

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  defects - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By jvs - May 21 - 8:03 am

  The front seat broke. The xenon head lights broke. The window wipers broke. The sun roof failed. Simply put, the car is an electrical nightmare. Will never go with Mercedes again.

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  2015 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Allen A - May 20 - 5:44 am

  I absolutely love this car. Buyers be aware!! If you get the C300 4matic be advised that from the dealer the tow of the vehicle prematurley weares both front tires. I was told I need new front tires at around 13,000 miles and my rear were in great shape. MB cutomer service was useless as so was Keyes European. I met a MB technician at a gas station who told me this info, that he has reported the issue to his superiors which I am hoping they have notified MBZ USA but so far the agents at HQ do not know of this issue. My suggestion to all current owners of any new MBZ car who has 4matic and tires prematurely wore is to complain to your dealership and to MBZ HQ USA.

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  CLS 63 AMG - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By David - May 18 - 12:46 pm

  It is difficult for me to describe just how brilliant the CLS 63 AMG is. It really is a dream car. It simply does everything! When you are stressed, tired or off to lets say the ball, it will simply drive like a very comfortable and expensive saloon. However, should you need to get somewhere quickly, its speed will leave you breathless and with a big smile on you face! It will get you from 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds if you use the paddle shifts or 4.3 if you leave it in sport mode. Only very serious supercars like a Lambo are faster. I spent about 8 months researching the CLS range and decided there was nothing out there with this combination of beauty, style, performance, and practicality.

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  Another great Mercedes - 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By lreidy - May 18 - 8:14 am

  I purchased the R-Class From Mercedes Benz of Cincinnati(great dealer) It has all the usual great Mercedes comfort & tech packages. The command center is terrific. Extremely quiet ride. Excellent mileage, great ride, very comfortable seats. I cant think of anything that I do not like about this auto.

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  Rag top in the snow belt - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Skaneateles, NY - May 18 - 2:06 am

  A great year-round car. With snows on in winter drivability is excellent - we get 100" of snow a year. The top is very well insulated & quiet. On any sunny day above 55 degrees I have the top down. The wind screen does a great job of keeping the cabin serene and the heated seats keep you warm, that way you can focus on the excellent exhaust note. Mileage is good at 24MPG and 27MPG highway. This is a cruiser-not a sports car. Performance is adequate, not stellar. High speed cruising is addictive and one can blast to high speed and beyond without realizing it, even with the top down - Its that well designed. I targeted this car specifically over the new model as this one is designed by Bruno Sacco.

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  Amazingly fast but amazingly expensive to maintain - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MarkMelbourneFl - May 18 - 2:03 am

  In short: - purchased fall 2014 as 2015 model - C400 with some upgrades (Burmeister, LED, but no advanced assistance) - one recall (steering) - one issue with radio (reboots every 2-3 hours) - one door handle light died - one rear bumper replaced due to discoloration - two services - 10K miles and 20K miles. 10K miles a bit expensive but within limits ($270). 20K miles service outrageously expensive ($680) - front tires are pretty much gone after 20K miles, rear tires look like new. - mean dealer - implying I painted bumper myself and this is why it changed color. Worst experience of my life Overall - the car is surprisingly reliable, but my Mercedes dealer sucks. Will have to drive to Orlando for future service.