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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  Getting closer to perfect - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By FRANK M. BUSELLI - February 20 - 11:43 am

  The overall look of this vehicle and driving impressions are most favorable. The race to pack the cockpit with mostly useless distracting electronic features,however, is annoying to this driver and I would suggest redirecting that effort toward improving the weight to power ratio combined with better fuel mileage. Lastly, the Sports package , offered at no extra cost, provides a somewhat better ride and appearance profile---- but watch out for curbs and the like that tend to be higher than that ground spoiler!

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  Great fun, and solid - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By sark - February 19 - 12:33 pm

  The car is really a gem and fun to drive. I have been a bit dissapointed by the little things that went wrong. The seat belt assist mechanism, the cheap center console and an alarm that had a mind of its own until the dealer fixed it. I paid sticker so I guess I expected closer to perfect. However, top down with the wife and kids is a blast and its my favorite car in the sector.

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  Mercedes says car is 10 years old, junk it,dealer serviced since day 1 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By peterbanyan - February 19 - 11:12 am

  purchased and serviced since day 1 at benzel busch, englewood,nj. service 1/8/2013 mileage 83,396.brake fluid service,flush,change brake fluid. (perform multipoint inspection) perform major service/shop quote,replace ball joints ($?)valve covers&breathers leaking oil $804.80,boots torn( were replaced at 42,000 miles,what again?), l/r spring cracked $611.40,product adviser at m-b states "not a common problem"engine light,service 5/21/2013,found vacuum hose dry rotted.labor $332.50 part $6.13. (multipoint inspection above?)/shop quote mileage 85,230 or 1,834 miles since 1/8. change brake fluid $195.20 (done above on 1/8(what again?)drive shaft&boot another $1255.11.

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  A Great SUV - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jose Martinez - February 19 - 3:53 am

  I purchased this ML 500 CPO with 22,000 miles. It has performed flawlessly except for a xenon lamp (under warranty) and a faulty heated seat controller (under warranty). It performs well off road and is very comfortable on long trips. I have the Inspiration package and love the fit and finish. I would buy another.

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  Best in class Style Price.. except Value - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By s4hire - February 19 - 1:23 am

  Great looking car especially with the AMG package. Great riding car in terms of comfort, performance and handling.

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  WOW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Jackpotgirl815 - February 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car in the world.

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  ML350... A great machine - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Jerome Cochard - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought this Mercedes in May of 2003. I opted for the ML350 Inspiration edition. Its a great looking SUV with a lot of potential. In snowy conditions, the ML is right at home with excellent road manners and great maneuverability. The 3.7 V6 guzzles more gas than what i had anticipated, but it doesnt bother me at all. The interior is spacious and very luxurious, and the navigation system is top quality. The only issue i have, is that the control for the volume is far away from the driver. There should be steering wheel mounted controls. Other than that, its a great SUV and i love it!

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  My First MB - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Felisto - February 18 - 10:00 am

  Finally moving up from Accords. I purchased this black Benz a week ago with the automatic transmission, sunroof package, heated seats, and CD changer options. This car offers an excellent combination of luxury and performance. Interior room is fine for those up front, but a bit snug in the rear. So don’t buy this car based on its people-hauling ability. After test driving the Audi A4 and Acura TSX, I realized the C230 Sport was the best choice for me. Whether or not it is better than the 325i or A4 is a matter of opinion, but you owe it to yourself to take this car for a good long test drive. Dealing with the Mercedes dealership was a pleasure.

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  love the car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By hockii - February 18 - 10:00 am

  lovely to look at lovely to drive good car for the inexpnsive luxury car love it get compliments all the time

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  Almost Awesome - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Limbo199 - February 17 - 4:33 pm

  I picked up my new wagon on Saturday, and drove it from Philly to Baltimore and back on Sunday. Overall, a very good ride. Incredibly comfortable and great stereo. Decent cornering, but the engine could use another 40 hp.