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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  Used e320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By aj - April 6 - 7:13 pm

  I bought the car on ebay. Have had it for one year. Replaced the rear window mechanism and catylitic converter. I love the way the car drives on the freeway. Gets great gas mileage and handling.

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  Exceptional Vehicle - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Eddie C - April 6 - 2:00 am

  This is perhaps one of the best vehicles I have ever driven. My only complaint is the electronics. My passenger seat got stuck and the convertible top also got stuck. I had to reset the computer at the dealership to handle this problem. Other than that this car is exceptionally awesome! Super fast and really classy.

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  e500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By atl0724 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  great car, performs great, better than the e430 I replaced it with. I like it alot more than the 545i that I also looked at.

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  Fun "Little" Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Mr. BaekSoo - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Silver with the panoramic roof is the way to go for this attention getter.

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  Really like my E350 Sport - 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By lawcar - April 5 - 4:58 am

  Having previously leased Lexus GS and BMW 5 series cars, this was my first Mercedes. It is a sporty luxury car rather than a luxury sport car. It drives very good (although not as tight as other sportier cars, it still handles nicely). The cabin is beautiful. The control system is about the same as other similar cars, and does take getting used to. I havent had problems on the car, and drive daily in city driving. Very happy with this car.

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  WOW!!! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By James L. - April 4 - 1:30 pm

  I was a bit apprehensive about buying a car its first year out, but there was a magnetism in this car that was irrestible. The sleek flowing lines literally drew me closer and as I heard the engine come to life under the hood as my salesman turned the key. It was as if this beautiful beast whispered to me, "COME AND TAKE ME NOW!" The seat hugged me as I sat in complete control cornering on the on-ramp to I-88 from Butterfield. The acceleration was a nice feel of torque and there was NO lag between the accelerator press and the engine response. I am in love.

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  2 door Fun to 4 door Enjoyment - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Pamela74 - April 4 - 10:00 am

  I was a very happy owner of the MB SLK- 230. My daughter returned home, and it just wasnt practical, so I resigned myself to the 4-door C class. Much to my pleasant surprise, not only was the SLK engine still maintaining the driving fun, but I actually dont feel the "loss" of the funness going into what I thought was going to be my grandmothers stuffy sedan feel. I like being wrong sometimes ;-)

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  Hunk of Junk - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sorrowful - April 3 - 7:26 pm

  Looks pretty, but everything around the engine has fallen off or broken. The repair costs have been outrageous a real nightmare of a car. Stay clear of it.

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  This SUV is underrated - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Rich - April 2 - 12:10 pm

  Have only had this ML320 for 5 weeks, but wow! I have had BMWs, Cadillacs and Jeeps, but nothing compares. Great to drive, unbelievable performance, and the mileage is tremendous, better than advertised. Need to get more experience with all the features, but so far, so great!

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  Solid and Fun - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ShilohShooter - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Never thought Id use the word "fun" to describe a wagon, but this one has plenty of power, and handles almost as well as my 328i, which is impressive for a wagon. Solid construction, interior is roomier than I was expecting given the cars dimensions. Enough cargo space to meet our needs on long trips (2 adults + 2 kids). Rear seats fold down flat, giving lots of hauling room when needed, and cargo floor is "flush" with a low loading height--no need to lift objects over a lip to get them in the back.