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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  Nice car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By tvo - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I have a 1992 300E and 2004 E320 both are black int and black ext. The 2004 has better technology and power (of course). As far as quality and ride, I like the 1992 better. My 1992 has better handling ad better quality material. So far I encounter 1 minor problem. The Nav system had problem reading the DVD. After driving for 30 min, and turn off/on the car again. The problem went away. I am glad to hold out for 2004 model instead of previous model (1996-2002). The previous model got ugly tail light (personal experience).

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  Solid - Formed Out of One Piece - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mbzla - March 31 - 7:40 am

  Ive had my wagon for almost 3 years now and love it. It has a very solid feel - it just feels like its formed out of one piece. The seats, seating position and layout are extremely comfortable. I highly recommend this car/wagon and would quickly buy another. Beware of expert reviews. Ive had an Audi and the quality and feel is just not the same. My MBZ is not the fastest, but it is sporty and has plenty of pep when you need it. It handles nicely. The interior is classy (not overdone) and the exterior looks great.

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  Best SUV on the Market - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Rick C - March 31 - 4:13 am

  Weve owned the GL for three months now, and it has been flawless. Ive put 4,000 miles on it, with regular trips from the SF Bay Area to the sierras. Its incredibly solid and comfortable on the highway, completely stable on ice and snow, and easy to drive around town. The car is deceptive, there is a lot of room for both people and cargo hauling. We own this and an E-Class, and the GL feels even smoother to drive than the E. We tried all the 3-row SUVs and nothing on the market comes close to the GL.

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  So far, very pleased - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ron Eldon - March 30 - 8:03 pm

  So far the E-350 has performed above my expectations. The handling and power is matched well to the cars size. The interior design, fit and finish are superb. The rear seat room is far superior to the C-300 and close to the S-550. The command control system was eazier to learn than I expected.

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  High Cost of Maintenance - Great Car! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Krista - March 29 - 9:00 am

  This is my first Benz and I really like the car. My fiance bought a 2004 C Class the same day and has not had as good an experience as I. Great interior size, great performance, great styling. White Exterior, cream interior - just yummy looking! Stereo system sounds great, but the iPod connection is subpar, to say the least. Handles well in all weather and the brakes are second to none; I feel very safe in this vehicle. The only major issues are: electronics are touch and go on this vehicle, maintenance costs are expensive on all MB, storage is NON EXISTANT on this vehicle (interior or trunk - you are hard pressed to fit 10 bags of groceries). But the leg room in back is truly wonderful!

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  C350 moves! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By 2000 - March 28 - 11:26 pm

  After testing the Jaguar X type, I purchased the Mercedes C350 instead, and am I glad that I did! The handling is buttery smooth, the pick-up incredible! The quality overall leaves nothing to be desired.

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  Dont bother with C300, get C350 - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mac Binger - March 28 - 2:13 pm

  After looking at many cars like the Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, and VW Jetta, we decided on purchasing this 2009 Mercedes C350 Sport. We have no regrets. This car looks fantastic in red. We were not interested in the basic c class cars, as BMW and Audi makes much better alternatives, but this car is amazing. After driving it thousands of miles to our home after picking it up, we were happy about the pick up and comfort of this car. While not as comfortable as our Cadillac STS, it has more personality and sporty style. The 3.5 V6 is fast and steering is very sensitive and responsive. Overall we are very happy about the purchase.

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  2001 C320 Sport sedan - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DG - March 28 - 10:16 am

  Ive owned this car for 5 years. I bought it used at a BMW dealer in St. Louis, MO. I have enjoyed this car and would consider buying another in the future. It has a solid feel that I have never matched with any other car. I have the Sport package. It handles superbly. I have kept a warranty the whole 5 years. Im glad I did. It has needed some repairs. The Japanese brands dont quite come up to the ride standard of this car. If you drive one, you will want one.

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  2015 glk250 bluetech - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Mitch - March 28 - 3:30 am

  Great close out deal. Msrp was 49925. Left dealer at 40k even. I liked the glk navigation better than the new one that looks like it was added on. Car is flawless. Ive yet to do the first service but so far we love it. Replaced a Cadillac SRX

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  Didnt know I was Buying a Chrysler! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By bug - March 28 - 2:00 am

  My ML320 has been great mechanically but a disaster with the electronic systems. I have had problems with power windows, seats (both sides), sterio, cd player, overhead trip computer, gas gauge, heated seats, rear wipers, ac adapters and third row seats. Service has been great (Im on a first name basis with them). MB extended my warrantee but its not enough. It is in the shop too often, it takes 2 weeks for an appointment and then I have to wait for parts. Too many problems! I thought I was buying the best. How disappointing to find that I bought a very expensive Chrysler!