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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  Going on my 5th MBZ - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tom - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a 1999 C230 Sedan Kompressor with less than 69k miles, in great condition internal/external. Apart from a little cricket noise the car is perfect. Ive owned a 2001 coupe C230 Kompressor and I prefer the sedan for its solid stance and build quality. Ive owned 4 others E, TD, E4matic and very happy with all of them. I regret selling them - think this time will be a keeper.

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  Shame on you Mercedes - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By swat94 - October 11 - 11:39 am

  2007 E350, this is my 4th Mercedes and definitly my last!! Main seal went at 30K, power steering pump at approx. 55K and Transmission went DOA at 60K miles. What ever happened to Mercedes??? Quality stinks!! For the price of a Mercedes you can pick up two Jap cars and youll get your bang for your buck. I can assure you the transmission doesnt go out at 60K on Toyota, Honda etc.. Good bye Mercedes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go sell you cars somewhere else!!

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  Fun to drive - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By spanky - October 9 - 10:00 am

  So far so good. No major complaints, just a few minor noises. The Black Opal paint shows scratches from the car wash.

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  Wish I agreed - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By John Pflugh - October 8 - 6:40 pm

  Sorry to say I cant agree with most of the E350-4M reviews. It has been back to the dealer 10 times mostly for electrical problems (oil level message, ESP/cruise failure but also incl 2 recalls). Nice ride, good fuel mi (27 hwy) and good performance but the reliability has been a nightmare. This was always my "one day Ill have a MB" - didnt do my normal comparison testing and am paying for it. If you want further quantification just check out the resale - dropped from $57k new to $37k in 14 mos!!

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  small things make a difference - 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Brian S - October 8 - 9:00 am

  Always comes down to the little things. Outside mirrors are too small for this vehicle. Console armrest does not adjust up and down? Getting to third row not very "easy". Do this while its pouring down rain! Comand can be ( and should be ) much easier to use. Ok I admit my bias here. If Audi had more room in the back of the Q7 I would be driving that instead. Their vehicles are just more detailed and thought out. This is my first trip back to MB in 5 years. Not bad, just not as good as Mercedes should be. Love the diesel. Smooth, quiet, plenty of power for what I need and great fuel mileage. Got talked into the MB Tex interior. Should have gotten leather. Like the pwr up/down 3rd row seats.

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  Good but could be great if they could FIX MY CAR - 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By dvpriem - October 6 - 4:49 pm

  Nice car but I recommend road testing on the freeway before buying. Mine makes a whine between 70 - 80 MPH. Dealer replaced rear end twice in 2500 miles. Still whines. They opened a "factory Case File" on my car. MB representative promptly called me and told me the sound was a "Characteristic" and they would do no more fixes, even though no other E350 does what mine does. I am stuck with a car that makes a whine on the freeway, and I have to drive a lot on the freeway due to where I live. Hard to believe that for this price point MB wont stand behind their cars. They used the "characteristic" line to avoid the car being labeled a lemon. Very Dishonest.

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  Strong reliable car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MR.DPM - October 4 - 6:13 am

  I purchased My 99 E320 with 99k miles on it from the original owner with all of the records. I also own a sports car (Porsche 993) and a truck, and it seems I am always driving this car. The car just "fits" me and get good mileage (30 on the open road)and in solid as granite. I have owned several Mercedes and this car is as all of them tend to be, reliable and solid.

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  The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Beachlivin - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car to cruise the highway and indeed, a pleasure in L.A. traffic. Its very comfortable, turns heads, and will hold its own in an accident. The V6 & 4-speed are srong and reliable, with no major issues at 160,000 miles. However, the electrical problems are a nightmare. A dashboard light comes on every 3-4,000 miles. Notorious problems include faulty EGR valves, sensors, rattles, and a stereo amplifier that will eventually die. The only ugly thing about this car was the cost to maintain it. 10 months = $3,000, without a major repair.

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  repair-a-month - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Eminem - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent driving and looking car, very comfortable, but no fun to maintain. The front brakes wore out twice on me ( in 16k miles), and I was trying to make them last the second time around ( using factory pads you only get about 8k ) Other problems in 6 months: Water pump, sensor, air conditioning leak, antenna, and some engine rough problem that was fixed with new expensive plugs. Notice all the repairs were minor, but even minor stuff is expensive on this car. If you have money to burn on maintenance, than its a dreamy car to drive ( its huge and heavy yet quick and handles well ). I just wish is was as reliable as a japanese car.

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  repair-a-month - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By eminem - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent driving and looking car, very comfortable, but no fun to maintain. The front brakes wore out twice on me ( in 16k miles), and I was trying to make them last the second time around ( using factory pads you only get about 8k ) Other problems in 6 months: Water pump, sensor, air conditioning leak, antenna, and some engine rough problem that was fixed with new expensive plugs. Notice all the repairs were minor, but even minor stuff is expensive on this car. If you have money to burn on maintenance, than its a dreamy car to drive ( its huge and heavy yet quick and handles well ). I just wish is was as reliable as a japanese car.