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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  CLK 550 Barn Burner - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By BjM - December 16 - 11:26 am

  My experience is only 1 month old, but if my initial response is any indication of the future, this is one fantastic vehicle. I have owned over 80 cars in a lifetime of ownership from BMW and Jag to Corvettes, Porsche etc.. My CLK 550 is one of, if not the best of the bunch out of the box! Very fast and very smooth. Handles incredibly well under all but ice and snow for which I have no experience whatsoever. It will stay in the garage for sure during these periods! Fit and finish is everything one can expect from a $60K vehicle.

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  What a Lemon - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Lemon Car - December 14 - 2:20 am

  Bought it 6/29. At 1000 miles, notification of airbag malfunction. Mercedes tells me not to drive it for safety. 600 miles after it got fixed, another notification of airbag malfunction. Mercedes has too many electrical problems. Never had problems with any of my Japan made cars (Lexus, Infiniti).

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  Love My R-Class! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Cathy - December 14 - 12:20 am

  We traded in out 2004 Jeep GC Limited for the MB R-Class and I could not be happier! This vehicle handles beautifully and while the styling may not be for everyone, I find it very attractive. I was considering the Volvo SUV or Audi Q7 but fell in love once I test drove the MB (and got great incentives to buy, too). You dont see yourself coming and going in this car, which I like, plus it handles more like a car (dare I say sports car?) than most SUVs I have driven. The ride is comfortable, the interior is well-finished and luxurious, seating and leg room is ample, and cargo space is generous. There should be more standard options, considering the base price, though.

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  Best S series yet - 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By MTech8 - December 13 - 5:16 pm

  Had every generation of MB S class since 1991. This one by far is the best one ever! I cant truly comment on reliability yet since its still a new car. But so far no problems. The drive and the features of the car are great! Plenty of power for everyday driving. If youre a racer, you should be looking at AMG models. Gave the fuel economy an 8. It drinks gas like water, but not uncommon for V8. Think there is definite room for improvement though. Cross shopped against BMW 7 series. Choose this model due to the 7 series getting a model revision very soon.

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  What a great car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Alex - December 12 - 5:50 pm

  I never thought I would own a Mercedes. I always felt they were and old persons car. This CDI as a lot of power. I drove from south Jersey to 20 miles from Georgia on one tank of fuel. I bet I could have made it to Georgia. I lease the car and the only way I will not buy it after the lease is if Mercedes puts that motor in its S class.

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  1998 Mercedes 500 SL sport w SL1/SL2 opt - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By YOONSEOK - December 12 - 10:00 am

  This is a one of the top model for Mercedes 50yrs of SL making. With no doubt it has a impressive handling and sticks to the road. well balanced and super responsive. cornering with 18inch optional AMG wheels are crisp, and breaking is tight ( feels more like a Japanese car in breaking yet has engine roars like Italian Farrari. love the sound of Exhaust) beautifully stream lined and Optional HID is great. Planty of Torque at low RPM with total 350lb with 315 hp.

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  What a value - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Zipser - December 12 - 10:00 am

  ar is extremely fun to drive, and I havent had one problem with it so far with a little over 3,000 miles so far. Youll definately want to look into the Panorama roof, and leather seats. And the top of the car looks cool, because it looks all glass, which is a nice touch. The leather seats are comfy but not too firm. Theyre perforated, which adds an extra sporty touch. The steering wheel feels great in your hands, and the buttons on there operate the little info screen in the dash, which has a lot of info to offer at any time. Good head room in the front, but not that great in the back, because it slopes down so much near the rear of the car.

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  Wheeeeee - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sophie797 - December 12 - 10:00 am

  The new E500 is incredible. Nothing missing for luxury. Stands out in a crowd. Touch shift and sport suspension are awesome. After learning about the features the car is 10x better than the test drive. Yea MB

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  Amazing to drive & horrific to own - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Richard Hill - December 11 - 7:23 am

  I have owned over twenty Mercedes and this has been the most exciting to drive and yet the worst for reliability. The quality of the cabin components are cheap and tacky and a disgrace to the badge and the electronics are a complete nightmare. I cannot trust any of the onboard warning systems and my repair bills to try and get them sorted is like paying off the national debt. The depreciation on this vehicle has been alarming and I am so disappointed that this will probably be the last Mercedes Benz I will purchase.

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  Its all about the hoursepower - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Walter - December 11 - 4:50 am

  This is the most fun car Ive ever driven. When I went to trade in my 911 Porsche for a more practical car, I thought I would have to say good-bye to speed. This car effortlessly leaves everyone else in my dust. My office is next to an exotic car dealership. I love the looks of people who just plunked down over $100K, and didnt get nearly the car I did. This car never breaks a sweat as you go from a stop to highway speeds in a blink of an eye.