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:

• 

  Great car hands down! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By doug - December 5 - 4:47 am

  I bought my 2010 c class in February 2011 with 4,200 miles on it. Exterior wise the paint is exceptional, no flaws whatsoever. Interior wise, fit and finish is great, seats comfortable and very adjustable. Bluetooth, very easy to pair up to 15 phones on this car. Standard audio is adequate. Mileage, I average 21 mpg overall. I change the oil every 5,000 miles, at 65,000 miles spent $1400 replacing brakes, fluids, shocks, plugs, full tune-up and computer analysis. Original tires replaced at 52,000 miles. Previous car was a Honda Accord, bought new for $29,000, I paid $29,000 for the c-class. Would buy another in a heartbeat.

• 

  My kid flipped my E300D - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Seismoa - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I drove this car 296,000miles in 10 years before my kid reminded me of why I bought it in the first place. Kid took a curve too fast and the car ended up on the roof, motor running, wheels turning. I never expected that this would really happen my desire to have a safe "old" car for my kid was my motivation in buying this car when my kid was ten years away from having a drivers license. What kind of person would complain about their kid wrecking a 15 year old car with nearly 300k miles and walking away without a scratch. I found my newest car on CL. Yes, it is another 1995 MB E300D (only 200k miles!). If lightning strikes twice, I want the same outcome as the first strike.

• 

  Love It - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By dmfelder - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Class and Guts.

• 

  I got it for my 16th b-day - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rodgerdodger90 - December 2 - 8:30 pm

  Dont get me wrong here, Mercedes-Benz makes some great cars and I believe this is one of the greatest. My mom had it first, then she bought the 2000 S-Class and gave this to me. this car has great pick-up speed, never looks old really, and its simple and practical luxury. Catches the eye everywhere you go and never ashamed to valet park. I think its their best sedan.

• 

  Good SUV but needs work - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Keith - December 2 - 10:11 am

  First good things. We had some long trips and Im surprised of its gas mileage. I get 23-25 on freeways going 80 mph. Good pick up, good interior and nice when you order all options. We have owned this SUV from new and still owning it (17 years). Key is maintenance. Now the problems. All I remember is I spent many weekends at dealers. They did the things they need to do but some problems werent addressed. For example my sunroof has been rattling ever since. Okay after warranty, I took over the maintenance. Oil change/ATF fluid/Coolant/Gear oil/brake fluid. Spark plugs. Dont believe what they tell you ATF fluid for life. Most of the problems are sensors which caused lights to come on. Engine valve covers leaked so I had to change the gaskets. I had to change a faulty crank position sensor which caused the SUV to shut down at stop, a YAW sensor which will brakes on its own, and a lateral sensor that leaves the infamous ESP/ABS light on. Battery drains fast through radio. Door switch have to be changed twice, and all door openers. Instrument cluster lights need changing as well. Things I have to bring to shops: AC and preventive water pump replacement. I can understand if you cannot do these things youll have to spend big bucks so only buy when you can deal with it.

• 

  My First Mercedes - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bronson - December 1 - 3:00 am

  I couldnt wait to get this car when it first came out. I test drove the BMW 3 series a few times before I made my decision to get the Benz. There is nothing like seeing the emblem on the hood of the car when you are driving down the highway. I have not had any issues with this car and the gas mileage is great. The service a A+ as well.

• 

  R Class - 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By R Class - December 1 - 2:46 am

  We love this car. It has a great ride and very comfortable.

• 

  The "Water Buffalo" Just Keeps Going Effortlessly - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By realrideracing - November 30 - 6:23 pm

  Weve nicknamed our E320 the "Water Buffalo" simply because its the work horse. She is as reliable as any car Ive owned (and Ive owned a lot!), just gets you to your destination effortlessly and smoothly, pretty comfy ride, handles well, and is all round a good solid car. Even in Los Angeles where everybody drives fancy cars, the valet still parks our E320 in the front. It just looks like an elegant and classy car.

• 

  Mercedes E320 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Z Fares - November 30 - 2:00 am

  It is most enjoyable i have ever owned . My car has 82000 miles and still ride and look new . BEST HANDLING SEDAN IN IT,S CLASS.

• 

  Luxury, Performance, and Fuel Economy - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By S500Driver - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Luxury, Performance, and Fuel Economy; what else can one ask? Maybe a lower price, but trust me the S class is worth every penny!