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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  The docs car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Dr. Fraccaro - May 11 - 9:46 am

  I believe that this vehicle is a serious machine. Since I previously owned an SL 55 AMG, I was lloking for a change. I sold my SL for a good price, since it did cost me an arm in a leg, and I downgraded to this car. I cannot even tell the difference. The SL was not worth $150,000 but the R 500 was worth every penny. Who knows, the AMG may also be that much better also

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  Ed`s review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ed - May 11 - 2:50 am

  Had an old Ml320 for 5 years and like it. This one is a far better car , drives better , looks better and has all this bells and whistles. It doesn`t drive like a SUV anymore. High quality vehicle.

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  I switched from the 3 series - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By nealb0853 - May 11 - 12:23 am

  My lease was up on my 04 325i. Saw the pics of the c300 and had to see it in person. Immediately fell in love. The ride is superb. The car looks and feels more like an expensive luxo-car. Its comforts are so much better then my BMW.

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  Safe and Secure. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Joe Cross - May 9 - 4:56 pm

  The feel of this SUV on the road is one of stability and security. This is my second M class, the first was the reason for the second. On my way home one evening a Lincoln Town Car pulled out in front of me and we collided nearly head on, I ended up on 2 wheels going the wrong way into on coming traffic. I was able to control the vehicle and turn it while on two wheels back onto my side of the road.

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  Sa-weet Ride! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Celia - May 9 - 6:26 am

  Great turning radius, easy to drive and park, and looks good. Great speaker quality. Cruise control--unlike with some cars--will hold your mileage steady through hills and valleys. Find a great mechanic who doesnt work for Mercedes, and you can keep the maintenance costs down. Solid and safe car!

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  Ride Quality??? - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Paul - May 9 - 3:37 am

  I test drove a 2014 cls550 4matic with 50k on the clock, I was not impressed by the ride quality at all, I expected the air ride to be more comfortable, I felt every crack in the road and the road noise was bad, the tires were new with plenty of tread, I will stick with my 2014 Audi s5 prestige much smoother ride and less road noise....also the the head room was terrible even in the driver seat and Im 6 foot....my 2 door s5 has much more head room.

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  ML has a heavy and sticky gas pedal. - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By JBear - May 8 - 10:00 am

  One very annoying problem that is mentioned by many ML owners is the heavy and sticky feel of the gas pedal. It makes it difficult and uncomfortable to drive smoothly. MB service just says "thats the way it is" theres no fix. That is unfortunate because there is a lot to like about the ML and this problem is something that you experience every single time you drive. MB engineers need to drive a BMW and experience the silky smooth progression of the BMW throttle.

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  Greatest MB Ive ever owned! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Warren - May 8 - 12:46 am

  The CL600 just blew me away when I test drove it at the dealership! Fit and finish is superb. Handling is excellent. I love how it comes fully loaded with all options. Ive owned an SL500, SL55 and a CLS500 before this car. None of those MB cars comes close to how wonderful this car is.

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  C230 Kompressor - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By C230 Kompressor - May 7 - 3:20 pm

  Bought used 4 years old. Great performance wise, no doubt. Within 2nd year of ownership, had to replace wiper, AC, rotors. Sometimes windows dont work. Dash lights go on. In 3rd year of ownership, rust on both sides of door, under wheel well. This is a garaged car. My 13 year old Corolla had no rust at all! Very disappointed, especially for a Benz. The body integrity is poor on the car I own. I am looking forward to getting rid of it.

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  Luxury no verve, but kudos in the snow - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Daniel W. - May 7 - 1:23 am

  The car is heavy, very heavy and the drive lags with the 4.3 liter V8. The interior luxury appointments are what you would expect from an S-Class, top notch, especially the optional Bose entertainment system. Particularly impressive is the cars handling and poise in the snow. Three inches of fresh powder could do nothing the upset or throw off the ride, and the car tracks as well in the snow as it does on dry pavement. The optional airmatic suspension does well to firm up the ride and limit body roll on the first of the two settings, but the sport setting provides a rude ride not fit for even the liveliest drivers. I would recommend the S500 4m, or for more sport and fun a 7 series BMW.