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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  G-500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Zielke6 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I view the G wagon as a fun to drive head turing everyday vehicle.

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  C230 & C240 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By delbell49 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  On the whole my c240 is an exceptional ride in comparison to its predecessor the c230. The New C has a tighter suspention, better acceleration, and traction controll which helps a great deal in the rain and snow.I have put about 10,000 miles on my c240 and have experienced no problems.

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  DONT BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By galewood478 - February 8 - 9:16 pm

  I bought this car new in 2007. It is now 4 years old. Had transmission problems, suspension problems and electrical glitches. Its only good point is its extremely comfortable ride. But whats the use in having a nice ride if it hardly moves down the road. Yes its a Mercedes, yes it looks classy, but dont waste your time. With the Purchase and repair costs, you couldve bought a nice Bentley. All I can say is this deceitful beauty will be traded in within the month.

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  Family Cruiser - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By jabbahop - February 8 - 7:00 pm

  For us this car fits well between the 3 row SUVs and the mini vans. We needed separation for my three boys, 4 wheel drive to get up our driveway in winter, and something that was fun to drive and comfortable for me. I only have 1100 miles so far but I like it better than either my ML320 (with third row) or our Volvo Cross country. Much more comfortable, quieter, and a smoother drive.

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  Best MB I ever had. - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Karl Klaft - February 8 - 11:03 am

  Most comfortable and quiet Mercedes Benz I ever had. Safety is outstanding. Handling is wonderful and the space for the sitting area excellent. Overall this car is the most recommendable vehicle for long distance convenient driving.

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  Aweomse! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Wezzy1 - February 8 - 1:53 am

  I just bought this used with 10K. It got 23 miles per gallon on average, and I drive crazily. Get the diesel, its quiet, quick (enough) and should last forever

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  Never buy this car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Melissa - February 8 - 12:20 am

  I bought this car with 50000 miles on it. I drove it off the lot of the whole sale dealer and the day after started having problems. It may be because its used and I dont know how the person before me treated the car. Ive had the car for a year and put over $4,000 into it already in repairs. As soon as its fixed something else seems to go wrong. Not to mention the gas mileage is terrible!

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  ML320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By PearlUlm - February 7 - 10:00 am

  When we first bought the vehicle the cd player did not work. Dealer replaced it under warranty. We paid $400 at the dealer (Mercedes Dealer) to install a trailer harness only to get it home and the harness did not work. My husband had to "repair" it for our trip. It seemed that every time we went to the dealer something else would stop working. Gave up on the dealer and have not had any other problems. Very happy with the vehicle now!

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  Best Car I have ever owned - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By fletcher - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is unbelieveable!! When I was looking at purchasing a new car, I test drove this SL65, a Viper, and a maserati spyder. This car, to me, was head and shoulders above all others. Unbelievable acceleration, wonderful sound, and unparalleled luxury. Seats are very supportive, yet comfortable. If you can find one, buy it.

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  Mercedes Flagship - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By R230SL - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Faster than a ZO6, more luxurious than a Rolls, and is built with quality that made Mercedes famous. This is the best 2 door roadster/coupe on the market, period.