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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  Looker - not driver! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Wayne - March 12 - 1:43 pm

  I have two boys, my partner and three dogs. we needed to upgrade from our 05 E-Wagon. It is too bad that with this larger wagon you lose touch with the road. It is very comfortable and spacious, nice to look at but not fun to drive. OK on the highway but take it onto a winding road and yuk! You are able to steEr out of an emergency but it does not hold the road. This is my 11th MB. A little bummed but will probabaly be back for a smaller one!

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  Fun Car - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By jay - March 12 - 10:40 am

  Really nice car for the price. It needs more technology to be used, and they should be standard features, not an options.

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  ultimate motoring - 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By esq - March 12 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle was purchased Starmarked from dealer -- in excellent shape with 27k miles. Has been an excellent driving experience, especially on the highway. Very easy to exceed speed limits because car is totally quiet, smooth and has unprecedented power reserve for accelerating, even at high speeds. Car has suffered very high depcreciation since purchase.

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  Hard Worker - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By deboese - March 12 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle is driven daily commute and hauls my bass boat. Delievered quality was good. Minimal maintenance has been needed. Except in snow, >9 in., vehicle goes with minimal fuss. It tries its best to keep you from doing stupid things. Driving position is generally good and seats supportive. However on long drives >6 hrs. could use more thigh support. length. More than adequate power to tow my 21 bassboat (~4200 Lbs. Combat Loaded). Heater/AC is acceptable but noisy at high fan speeds. Cheap interior plastics are a put down. Off Road activity has been acceptable but not rubicon capable. The lack of a full size spare tire is not good.

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  Expected More - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By dempsy - March 12 - 10:00 am

  Overall the vehicle is a good buy if you are stepping up in class for the first time. However if you expect Mercedes quality in the M-class you will be disappointed as I was. Within the 1st year of ownership I had to return the vehicle to the dealership 3 times to fix small rattles, loose nuts etc. The breaks seem to wear more on this vehicle than any other that I have owned. Coming from a Ford Explorer I expected more from a Mercedes. If you have to go with Mercedes go with their cars, but as far as luxury SUVs their so-so.

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  The Right Decison Afterall - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Eric Dise - March 12 - 7:00 am

  I tinkered around with moving to a car from a SUV for several years. I began looking at Infinitis, Lexuss, BMWs, and even Porsches. The main draw of the E350 was the 4Matic feature. I am a work-aholic and dont like to miss work due to weather. After I found one at a local dealer, I took it out for a spin. Oh my, was it impressive. I loved the looks. I loved the power. I loved the comfort and fit. It was smooth and powerful. The seats are very supportive. The tranny is smooth and agile and the ride is perfection! After only months of ownership I am convinced I made a great choice. I havent had it serviced yet which makes me a bit nervous. However, I expect a great experience!

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  Incredible for the money on the used market - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By syberfilm - March 12 - 12:43 am

  I have about 150,000 miles on my CL65. I always wanted a 65 but was told not to get one because of the expense to work on. Let me tell you this is ultra reliable and way cheaper then my Ferrari. I have only had to issues in over 100K of driving. I bought it used with about 50K on it. First issue was a coil unit went out and I had to replace it. Cost about $2,500. The other issue, the ABC was drooping. The shop wanted over $3,000 to fix. I found a video on youtube and did it myself. for about $400 US. I am not very mechanical at all. It took me all day to do. But saved some bucks. Other then those two issues. The car has been a dream. I just do the scheduled maintenance and drive.

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  DISAPPOINTED E320 OWNER - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DISAPPOINTED OWNER - March 11 - 7:40 pm

  I purchased my E320 in 8/03 and drove about 15000 mi. My selection was based on appearance, test drive, competitors and MB reputation. So far I was in for 5 service visits for alarm short, stuck gas cap, battery short and at least 4 times for the transmission. All of the problems were addressed except for the transmission. In low speeds the car bucks and the transmission hangs up between gears. According to the dealer who was generally helpful, MB headquarters do not recognize a transmission problem as it is not a safety issue. Basically they do not know how to fix it. I guess that in Germany where they drive a stick, they do not care about US cars. My first auto, a 63 Tempest with 2 speed transaxle, had a smoother transmission.

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  A Sports Car/SUV - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By ET - March 11 - 3:36 am

  I purchased my GLK in May, with all the bells and whistles. Love the light grey/black and wood interior. Last car was a King Ranch Expedition @ 14 mpg. Glad to see the overall avg of 20 Im getting with the GLK. The Nav system, bluetooth recognition for my I-Phone, safety are all pluses. Obviously, less room but after all it is a smaller SUV. I find the lift gate and space more than adequate. Lots of power for passing on highways! Comfortable, quiet, and fun to drive. My GLK is well appointed, quality workmanship, and appearance. I have the 20 inch wheels and premium black finish. No defects in the paint or elsewhere. No negatives - easy to drive, great handling, just a terrific car!

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  This is a great automobile! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By DElovesMB - March 10 - 11:36 am

  My ML 320 has never let me down. No major repairs, only routine maintenance. I have yet to see the "service engine soon" light come on. Performance, safety, and winter handling are unbeatable. This vehicle is glued to the road in any conditions! I still average 24 mpg on the highway at 70 mph (22 mpg at 80 mph)! My only complaints are with the interior. My rearview mirror adjustment knob popped off and I have not been able to find it. Well, what can you expect when the Germans hired someone else to engineer the interior? I am not disappointed, the interior it is still good, it just doesnt live up to the quality of the rest of the vehicle.