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 best car on the market - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By nicki - May 2 - 10:00 am

  i have owned so many cars and this car is by far the best car i have ever owned. awesome to drive the hard top is great and the confort is unbeleivable.

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  Ride of your life - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JoeDQ - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I love this car and it may be one of the finest creations Mercedes has ever put on the market.

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  Awesome - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Kimberly0007 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Awesome car! i wouldnt change a thing!

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  When your New Benz Breaks Down - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By NewportBeach - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car on August 1st and she was in the shop on August 5th. Things happen. But guess what....Mercedes does have 2005 parts in stock in US...or Germany. After two months of driving a loaner. I started with letters to MBUSA. Threat of Lawsuits...etc. Finally, since the dealer was waiting till the cows came home. MBUSA intervened, they have asked someone to send the part over from factory. It is now October 20 and I am still waiting for my car.

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  Wow! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Gary - May 1 - 8:20 pm

  I have had several Mercedes, Lexus and BMWs and this car really hits a bullseye! I was teetering between a new S550 and this car, and after driving the E550 with a P2 package I was sold. I couldnt justify the extra $35K for the S-class...the E does everything well and is a true drivers car. Feels like a sports car and seems to have a build quality and technology unlike any MBZ I have owned. It is built like a bank vault and has the technology you only saw the in the upscale Japanese cars prior to this. I wouldnt hesitate in the slightest to recommend this car to any true car lover!

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  CLK350-Classy car thats fun to drive!! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Nina - May 1 - 3:03 am

  This car feels strong & sturdy on the road, but not heavy (like the Volvo I test drove that wouldnt pick up speed). I love the space afforded in this coupe (coming from the teeny lexusSC430). Plenty of headroom & legroom, and both the driver & passenger seats can be adjusted from the seat "tuners" on the doors (including the height of the headrest). The Sirius satelite radio is nice, I liked the option of listening to the BBC news or the Discovery channel from our car. Some people have commented on there only being 1 cupholder, but there are two. One is right next to the gear shift, and the other one is located inside the arm rest (easy to get to by scrolling back the armrest).

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  Many Repairs - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By strollershopper - April 30 - 8:06 am

  Bought this 05 4Matic certified pre- owned two years ago. I have never had a car which was this new, in the shop as many times as this! Valve cover blew, problems with the automatic window/sunroof "summer" feature in the door handle, voltage regulator replacement after dash lights kept dimming, differential replacement, and now, knocking in the front end. Interior feels cheap, radio is absolutely horrible. "Leather seating inserts" are a crafty way of saying "mostly vinyl." Loud clunking of windshield wipers, and blasting loud defroster which first makes the windows totally fogged up, then clears them. Go figure with that one.

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  6 month toy - 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By duck - April 30 - 2:00 am

  The looks this car gets are off the charts, but they come at a hefty price. I only drive my SL500 6 months a year. Therein lies the problem; already expensive cost of ownership, exacerbated by spreading the costs over only six months. That said, I still keep it, and wait for the spring to bring nice weather. The thrill of hitting the accelerator on this 300+ HP beast is beyond compare. Driving with the top down on a nice day is one of the finest auto experiences around. Then, pulling into valet parking of a crowded cafe or club is bound to stroke the ego of any redblooded American male.

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  Black Beauty - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By spanishteacher - April 30 - 2:00 am

  Traded in my much loved 2002 S55 AMG for a 2003 S600. It is much improved, especially the dash design and the nav system. I was on a waiting list for 10 months. It was worth the wait! Looks great in the teachers parking lot at the school where I teach.

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  Most excellent car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bob Knob - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. The only thing I did to make it better was to install stiffer springs and swaybars. AMG swaybars actually. Directly from MBZ for only ~$200. Car drives like a sports car for real now.