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:

• 

  My .02 (just sold my ML320) - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By EPB - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Our ML320 had several annoying issues which, while covered under warranty, did not meet my expectations of Mercedes Benz quality. The car is great to drive and has a wonderful interior, but here is my laundry list: failed emission test due to faulty sensor, GPS system ate a cassette and I had to pull the fuse to get it to stop chewing (even with ML powered off it kept going), MB replaced the entire GPS unit. Back seat rest inserts pop off when adjusting, back seat was stuck in down position (dealer had to adjust cables), High Oil light came on when oil was low (took 3 trips to the dealer before diagnosed also), moon roof air dam bar came off.

• 

  Great Car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By diesel - September 19 - 12:00 am

  Great car in all respects--Mercedes does not understand what a great car they have here. Great pickup, Great economy. Who needd a hybrid when you can drive this?

• 

  G500 EI Review - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By IBCNYA - September 14 - 10:00 am

  This my third high-end SUV, and it is my best by far. The unique styling is very eye catching. All of the creature comforts offered in the G500 are comparable to those of the S and CL classes. The comfort seat makes long drives or sitting through protracted traffic jams a very comfortable experience. Couple the seats with the upgraded sound system and can almost shut out the rest of the world. The all-terrain tires can offer a fairly stiff ride, but that can be remedied by replacing them with a softer, wider tire that is more suited for highway driving.

• 

  Mixed review - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By j3 - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Like many ML320 owners, I have been frustrated over the last 3 years with numerous needed repairs. Early problems took away any new car fun. The dealership was very good about fixing the problems. My wifes 1998 E320 Wagon is a tank, few issues and superb build. It is hard not to lay the blame of the ML quality problems on the US based manufacturing. Still, the ML has not left me stranded, and if I could ignore the quality problems, it is a good size/design for my family of 5. Used it on several road trips. Still, I doubt I would buy another car made in America, regardless of brand.

• 

  One Year Review - Update - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By oldsnwbrdr - September 10 - 8:33 pm

  Had the car for one year and this is my second review. Made only minor adjustments to my ratings to up the rating for exterior styling and reliability. Car has been bulletproof; has been in the dealership only for routine service and one damaged tire. The car isnt particularly exciting but it has a certain intangible quality. Like an expensive suit, I feel like a better person when I drive this car. The ride in the sport model is perfect and I like the steering feel. The car is exceptionally smooth and quiet, and the seats, while firm, are extremely comfortable on long drives. MB-TEX is an asset... not an ounce of wear, which you cant say about leather. I want a new E Class!

• 

  E55 autobahn Power!!!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Loucho - September 9 - 9:20 pm

  Great car Im very happy with whats nice about the AMG E55 is its exclusivity, not many people know what your driving or have any type of understanding of the potency and performance of this car. This car is an excellent cruiser on the highway or in town. I love it

• 

  worth the $ - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By CPRNY - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Great coupe w/ useful backseat & trunk. Opted for 320 not 500, 320 has plenty of power. interior is rich, grt styling inside/out. test drove all the 2dr 4dr comp, BMW530 was a close 2nd but couldnt match Benz design.

• 

  Great design and ride but quality stinks - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Island - August 29 - 6:26 am

  I have owned a 99 ML320 since new and it now has 105,000 miles on it. I love the ride and utility of the vehicle and to be fair it has never failed to start nor has it ever stranded me except when the battery failed (and then a nice MB tech arrived to replace it at cost of battery). That said, the quality stinks. The car has been in the shop about 20 times for various bits and pieces failing or falling off. Everything from rusting lug nuts (within 90 days of new) to a failed steering sensor (requires replacement of entire steering column). This car is expensive and annoying to keep on the road. Final insult is that now the drivers door has penetrating rust. Buy a Honda Pilot instead.

• 

  500,000 km and going strong - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jjroadtrip - August 28 - 4:31 am

  Just reached 500,000 km and its still a reliable SUV. Body starting to rust, minor wear and tear repairs. Still getting the occasional recall notice.

• 

  2002 320C Review - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jeannie19 - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This is my second 2002 C Class. I bought a 2002 230C and traded it in 18 months later for the 320C. I enjoy driving the car and like the feel of the larger engine. I had a lot of lights blow out in my 230 and have not had that problem in the 320.