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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  Well-engineered and poorly assembled SUV - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Miguel K - November 22 - 6:03 am

  It is not an extreme off road machine, or a full time all wheel drive hot rod. It is a tall minivan; so don’t expect a smooth ride like any MB sedan. Gas mileage is in the mid 20s, which is not bad for such a heavy car. The poor off road capability is due to the OEM tires. Once I replaced the stock 255x65x16 with a set of off road tires, my ML will go most places just like other mid size 4X4. MB needs to cut corners in materials to keep the sticker low. My only complaints are the doors. MB must have sub contracted the door design to Chrysler. ML door does not shut like German automobile at all. Driving lights could use some improvement. I added a set of driving lights to aid visibility.

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  Not too bad... - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JuniorBigShot - November 20 - 5:23 pm

  Wanted the new SLK350, but not enough to wait for it, so I settled for a 2005 C320 4MATIC (back in August) and saved a few $s. Its a good solid car - relatively comfortable, drives well, brakes exceptionally evenly/smoothly. Looks nice in metallic silver with the ash interior - seems to shine a little bit brighter than most other silver cars (of which there are too many these days). Quality sound system. Limited back seat room when taller front seat passengers move em back. Generous trunk space. Ive had better AC systems in less expensive cars; the center arm rest/storage console is a strange size, limiting its uses. Im happy w/the car, but not blown-away. Kind of expected to be...

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  Beautiful In All Ways - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Beth M. - November 20 - 2:40 pm

  I did my research before buying my ML350. I love it! Its beautiful and rides like a dream. Im on the road a lot and needed a comfortable ride. I am also tall, so it was important that there was great leg and head room. It runs great! Absolutely no complaints. The controls and gadgets inside are designed with a lot of thought to detail. Its a fun SUV to drive and I would recommend it above the competition any day. Drive one today if you are looking for beauty inside and out, you wont be sorry.

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  Amazing Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By DevGroup - November 20 - 1:13 pm

  Truly the best modern car Ive ever owned. The CL550 was my choice after driving it, CL63 and 65 AMGs. I live in the city on the west coast, not near the Autobahn, hence the CL550 was plenty fast for me. Getting to my destination a second faster in an AMG did not seem worth the extra money. I opted for the AMG "Sports Package", the added styling is very nice. The Premium Pack II is a must, as all the gadgets make the car even more fun. The CL550 is a winner all the way around - great looking, powerful, safety, awesome ride, and its got a stealth low-key look, perfect for those who want quality and performance without having to tell the world you can afford a fairly pricey car...

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  Stay away - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By NAVEEZEAL - November 19 - 6:23 pm

  I have had many mechanical issues and the to fix the cost is an arm and a leg. I have spent so much money trying to get it up to par to no avail. Every time something is fixed another problem comes up!

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  LUV this car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jimbo - November 18 - 8:10 pm

  Bought car 2 years ago with 13,000 miles on odometer. May have paid too much from dealer but what a great car! Knowing repair cost can be expensive I opted for extended warranty-waste of money so far. Great power, smooth ride, classic design, handles well. Probably be buried in this auto.

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  Best MB Diesel that I have owned - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Deezil Jim - November 18 - 4:53 pm

  This car has performed exceptionally well since I purchased it from dealer. It had approx 28k at purchase. I purchased the MB extended warranty out to 5 year/100k to cover major component replacements. Best mileage was trip from El Paso,TX to destination near Fort Worth,TX (609 miles)this year, using air, with cruise control set at 70 MPH. With a few stops along the Interstate, I averaged 42.5 mpg to destination.Onboard computer at arrival said I could go another 280+ miles till refuel.(E-320 CDI has 21.0 gallontank. On board computer says that I have overall average of 33.5 mpg since purchase of car-mostly city driving mixed with some x-country trips. E- 320CDI, BEST of 4 diesel cars I owned!

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  MB finally has a a car to exceed BMW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By BEMDBLU - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I have had 11 BMWs including 3 seies coupes and convertibles, 6 series, 7 series including a 750. This cars performance and styling has finally approciated and now exceeded what is available from BMW. The designers finally put together a package which I have been waiting for. Speed, looks and reliability.

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  I love the car - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Alan Vance - November 16 - 10:54 pm

  I WILL START OFF SAYING THIS IS MY FIRST MERCEDES. AND i FEEL i GOT A GREAT DEAL ON THE CAR FOR 2000.00,AND i HAVE ALREADY GOT MY MONEYS WORTH. AFTER 2 YRS AND HIGH MILES WHEN PURCHASED,IT HASNT GIVEN ME A PROBLEM ONE

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  Best Benz Yet - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ken - November 16 - 10:43 am

  I just picked up a CPO 2007 E320 Bluetec. This is my 3rd Mercedes-Benz diesel (74 240D 4 speed - 440K miles on it when the engine died due to loss of oil, and an 84 300D turbodiesel - sold at 337K miles and its still running strong, from what I hear. This one is by far the best of them - I cannot imagine a car needing anything more than this car offers - quiet, fast, excellent fuel economy, beautiful build quality - its all there. Only concern I had was repair cost, so I extneded the CPO warranty by two more years, to get me through 2013 - it was certainly cheap insurance, considering the labor rates and parts costs if something does go wrong out of warranty.