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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  Sore elbow - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gtr - August 4 - 5:10 pm

  Ordered in June after driving 2005 demo. 2006 arrived with no arm rest; roll top desk top instead. After 5 weeks, driven it only about 100 miles. When I go to use it I think "sore elbow," and use a different car. I have a C240 wagon and until recently a CL600. Both had a plastic runner at the bottom of the door opening. This one has fabric - great for attracting stains. Mercedes appears to consider its customers incompetent when it comes to lowering the back seats. An interlock moves the passenger seat forward, after which it might just accommodate a five- year-old. All kinds of hassle to overide this interlock so as to be able to use the seat. Wonderful vehicle spoiled by dumb design.

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  Love it when it is out of the shop - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Joro - August 3 - 10:00 am

  It is a smooth quiet car with fair gas mileage. Very comfortable and easy to drive. However, many many small things go wrong and fixing it is difficult, at least for my dealer. Everything turns out to be not covered. The window lever went out 4 times in the first two years, the radio/navigation system went out 5 times while on warranty and now I have a 2500 dollar box that isnt working. The oil light went on for 6 months and they couldnt figure out how to fix it. The key did not recognize me for three weeks and three trips to the dealer, etc.

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  Brake Squealer - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jeff - July 31 - 1:36 am

  Great car performance wise except for the constant loud squealing brakes! Dealership refuses to fix problem . AMG does not respnd to Inquiries! Should be called the E 60 Squeeler

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  Open DTS case for misfiring - no fix available - 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By latette - July 30 - 8:39 am

  Love the looks, mileage and ride of the ML blueTec, but having to drive for a mile or so, every morning since I drove it off the lot, misfiring is getting old! Upon returning it to the dealer I was told that there were numerous open complaints on the issue, but a fix was not yet available. They hope to have a fix out soon.....$57k and I need to drive a misfiring Mercedes through my neighborhood every morning.....I guess that will teach me for buying the first year of a new body style. So now I wait.......or do I start the lemon law process...time will tell...

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  Poor mans Mercedes - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Chanze - July 30 - 2:56 am

  It has most of they features of the luxury Mercedes Benz like they S-class but it is priced reasonably. I just got out of high school and it is the perfect first car!

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  Not for family of 4 with kids - 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By MIBluetec - July 26 - 9:13 pm

  We bought the Bluetec for the fuel economy and the exterior styling. Little did we know that it is not designed for tall or larger people. I weigh 210lbs and 511" tall so I am not big. It is very uncomfortable to come in and out of the drivers seat. With the seat back, my kid does not have leg room from his car seat. I move the seat forward and have to drive uncomfortably. The rear entertainment is mounted very poorly in the back that my 4 year old has bumped his head hard 3-4 times. I do not recommend it for family of 4 with kids. With the 2 car seats, it is very difficult to seat 5. THe fuel economy is averaging around 24mpg which is not bad. Diesel is sufficient for daily drive.

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  Buy a Volvo Wagon - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kend - July 20 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable, excellent turning radius, spacious rear seating. Sacrifice reliability and quality for luxury. Loud brake squeak from day one Mercedes advised would diminish with use and it has not. By 15000 miles the window washer pump, a/c fan, CD changer, vanity mirror/light, cup holder all had to be replaced. Owned a Volvo wagon wished we had purchased another (Volvo T5).

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  Move over Rover....Benzo is taking over - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Bobby B - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Had a 01 range rover Hse great looks but built like junk. The G500 is rock solid and reliable. Although comparable in price the quality is so much better. I love the look, although most think that it is a big box, thats what I like. If it is so bad, then why does it always end up in the front of every valet lot in town....hmmm. I have put 22 inch wheels on it which has helped with the handling around corners.

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  BMW owner buys a Benz - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pj42nato - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I priced a 325I & a C230. With the same options the Benz came in $3K less and had more bells & whistles. The acceleration on the Benz is excellent from the 1.8SC engin. The sport suspension makes the car hold the road very very well. I compare this car to my 91 525, which was the best car I ever owned. The C230 driver seat SUCKS. There is no lumbar support. No upgrading to the multi-contour seat unless you spend $10k more & go to the C320. The std radio is a big disappointment. The bass is hardly noticeable. When you start off slowly the electronic trans gets confused & the car bucks. The car is worth the $30K.

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  Problems encountered at 3,070 mi - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jood - July 14 - 4:00 pm

  I cant complain much about the performance of this entry-level-luxury Benz. Though it has a weak V6(168hp), its still FUN to drive. At 3,070 miles today, Im taking my car to the dealer because of the SRS MULFUNCTION and a stereo system sound problem - sound was distorted last week, both radio & CD. Yesterday, there was no sound coming out at all -and i got the "entertainment package". But its the SRS problem Im worried about. Its a safety issue, and I still have to drive all the way to the dealer (without aibags and safety measure devices)