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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  Longing for a Lexus - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Mistake in Philly - March 31 - 10:03 pm

  I have a 05 E500 sedan and wagon (4- matic) The sedan has been a problem since day one. The wagon has been a joy to own and since it is my wifes I dont get it that often. The sedans brakes have been and continue to be an issue. The electronic brake system needs to be trashed. After numerous trips back to the dealer due to the hydralic pump activating for no reason, the system was finally replaced. The brakes have been squeaking even after 2 "treatments". The wipers "stink on ice". In addition, it is not as quick as my wagon. There is a noticeable lag in acceleration. I am truly disappointed in this car-- especially for the price. Thank God I leased it. Mercedes can have it back.

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  Whadabout da paint chips! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jason James - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this car for about 4 months now but this car is great. I love the way it looks from the outside, but the interior could be better. The V8 is just right for me, but that doesnt mean that the E320 is weak and slow. I love this car. But am I the only person that notices how easily this car gets paint chips? This is my biggest problem with the car. I think the older models had more durable paint.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By spenc618 - March 30 - 5:59 am

  I was very concerned on the maintenance cost for this car but its really not as bad as you think if you are mentally prepared to expect slightly higher costs. I did have a transmission issue that kept the car jumping into default mode (3rd gear). I hear it is a common issue.. a $900 dollar issue. Other than that (FYI the dealership treated me very well) I brought the car as a weekend car. The power and looks make it practically impossible to NOT drive it daily. It pulls so smoothly from the light that it is not until you look in the mirror or down at the dash that you notice you are moving so quickly. Only car i have driven just for fun like riding my motorcycle.

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  Amazing Vehicle - 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Linda J. - March 29 - 2:16 am

  I love my Mercedes, the fact that you can go from hard top to soft top in a few easy minutes. There is room for a couple of bags in the back "seat", unlike other sports cars where you dont even have room for a purse. The ride is like sitting home in your livingroom. The gas mileage on mine is 30-32 mpg on a trip. Its an all around beautiful car. I am not an engineer, but I see no improving on perfection here. I have driven them all, I wanted to before I made an educated purchase and this was the only one standing at the end of the tests, all things considered, gas mileage, comfort, style, class.

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  Never again! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Eric G - March 29 - 12:16 am

  What a nightmare! Its just so much fun to drive a 6 year old Mercedes with only 52,000 miles that doesnt have an operational radio. There is a widely known issue with the radio with these vehicle (go ahead and Google 2004 e500 radio problems) yet no one at MB cares! The dealers wont go to battle for you even though they acknowledge its a widely known issue. MB Customer Care? Well arent they the most pompous and arrogant individuals on the planet. Go buy something else, there are far better luxury automobiles out there.

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  Its been real good - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Brian S - March 27 - 10:00 pm

  The car is coming up on seven years old. In those years it has been quite reliable. The supercharged engine gets 32-35 MPG on the highway, but still has great pick up when you need to punch up acceleration. City MPG suffers a bit in stop & go traffic. I am 6 1" and find there is plenty of leg and head room. The hatch is great - too bad Americans do not favor this handy body style.

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  E430 rules - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tommy - March 27 - 2:33 am

  The E430 is my third Mercedes Benz. Ie had the C280, E320, E320 4matic and now the E430. I miss my awd but I can honestly say this model has made me the most satisfied to date. The power is awesome and drivers give you respect when you come rolling thru. Its truly the ultimate in luxury. Once you drive one theres no turning back.

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  one of the worlds greatest sedans - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By thekman - March 26 - 10:00 am

  a really beautiful car, awesome power, if ur going for the e500 at least. 302hp and 330 lbs per torgue at your toes and finger tips. great comfort up front, not as much in the back, but still more then enough space.

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  Great family car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By joy5d2002 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Considered LS and 540. Chose E430 for good blend of performance and luxury. Its perfect for our family of 4.

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  Baby Benz with S-Class features - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mcync - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Great car Ive ever owned. Quiet, reasonable power, good mileage, excellent handling, excellent brakes, and classy.