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:

• 

  10 years of happy ownership - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bickar - January 10 - 10:56 pm

  Bought this car with 5000 miles on it in December of 1999. Over the years, have had to repair various things, and spent a little more to do so than I had on my Hondas, but, not an outrageous amount. And, I cannot tell you the last time I had to do anything other than normal maint. (NOT at a MB dealer - use an independent!) The gas mileage is outstanding - nearly 30 mpg on the highway, 25 around town. Car feels solid still, and the trunk is very large and shaped well - much more usable than our current other car - Jaguar XJ. We use it now for any dirty jobs we have, as it is getting old, yet, the paint job is MUCH better than the Jag we have - seriously MUCH MUCH better.

• 

  GREAT CAR ONLY THING NOT GREAT IS SMALL BACKSEAT - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By BILL SHROP - January 10 - 6:17 pm

  GREAT CAR AT GREAT PRICE AFTER 3 WEEKS SHOPPING,SAVED MORE THAN $3000 WITH ONLINE SALES!!

• 

  ML320 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By johns - January 10 - 10:00 am

  ML320 has been so much fun to drive. Initially found the tires made a huge differnce in the drive. Michelin LTX are the best ride w/this vehichle. Has more road noise than the newer versions.

• 

  GOOD BUY - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jon Smithy - January 10 - 10:00 am

  In a sea of pretenders, the E430 is the real deal. You will not be disappointed!

• 

  The Best In The World !!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Sanjeev - January 10 - 10:00 am

  This is probably the best car in the world. Lots of features, mind-blowing performance and breathtaking looks. A benchmark. The benchmark !!!

• 

  Love it! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dyessy - January 8 - 8:50 pm

  I look so good in this car! Love the emblem. Cloth seat not such a good investment and handling in rain/snow can get a little scary. Overall, the car drives very well. It was purchased as a certified used & came with an amazing warranty. All service is free. There was an issue with the carbon intake valves that they said had been occuring so be aware, but thanks to my warranty that was also fixed for free. It has been an ease in every aspect.

• 

  Exceptional SL600 (R129 series) - 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By F1 Strategies - January 8 - 2:30 am

  Exceptional 2001 SL600; purchased pre-owned from a dealer whod gotten from the orignal owner. Totally stock,black, V12, 275/35 18s in back, 245/40 18s front, only 11,000 miles! Guess it just wasnt cool anymore for the country-club. Built like classic Benz cars were in-the-day. Heavy - more of a GT than a sports car; wonderful to cruise on the highway at any speed. V12 engine with 48-valves is a symphony. 5-speed automatic. Torque like locomotive. Low-down, brooding-and-mean looking, but a total gentleman. Leather everywhere. Wonderful, can border on scary-fast acceleration, but totally controlled Well cared-for examples are known to be reliable if maintained.

• 

  I love it! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jollar - January 7 - 9:50 pm

  I purchased the C300 sport, 7 speed auto, 18" AMG rims, multimedia, ipod kit, premium 1 package for a little over $40K OTD. This car is absolutely beautiful and will still look just as good in my driveway 10 years from now. The performance of this car is great and has sufficient power to press you back into your seat! The multimedia package is an absolute must for this car, especially if youre going to spend all this money. The interior looks fantastic and not ugly like the BMW 3 series. Eventhough its a "sport", this car is built more for touring and cruising than racing. But why would you want to drive off fast in this car anyway? Cruise and let people stare at it!

• 

  This Is It! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Warren - January 7 - 5:26 am

  This is absolutely amazing. To integrate total luxury with total performance (in an automatic) is an achievement. The handling is exceptional, particularly in sharp turns.

• 

  Love this car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By mbownwr - January 6 - 5:21 pm

  Driving it in city traffic is like having a domestic house cat sitting on you lap purring. Drop the hammer on the open road and it transforms into a Bengal Tiger.