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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  mine - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By palbertr - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Great car,but lots of annoying problems. rear computer failure,noise from gas tank (many cars affected) required 2 week replacement.tire pressure system,sqeeaking brakes,noise from under car while turning,squeeks from top.

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  A lemon with a good engine - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sonet - October 23 - 8:30 am

  The car was good when it was new. Then everything started to good bad. Audio system went bad several times. Transmission went bad. Sun roof malfunctions. Paint faded badly. Side moulding turns from black to tan. ESS went bad. Brakes vibrate a lot. The dealer was not able to fix this yet for the past 4 years. Gas mileage is way less than what was advertised. Lots of noise on bumpy roads. Engine is loud. Speaker went bad several times. Heating is slow. Vent solenoid went bad several times costing almost $1000 for each visit. CD Changer went bad twice. Turn signal bulb blows out too frequently. Cup holder gets stuck. More room is needed. Electronic diagnosis need to be more accurate. Cost me money.

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  Best Looking Wagon - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By NC Chris - October 23 - 2:40 am

  Purchased used for $20K with 22K miles. Has Command system with Nav & Cell phone. Probably best looking wagon on the road. Firm but compliant ride. Handles well and stops on a dime. Averaging about 20 mpg in mixed driving. No squeaks or rattles. Very good build quality although some interior trim pieces could have been of better material. Command system a bit complex but not bad after you become familiar with it. Steering is a bit heavy a slow speeds.

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  Sunroop Shatters While Driving on Highway - 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By fitness151 - October 22 - 5:24 pm

  Hello, I would like to share my review regarding a newly purchased 2013 GLK 350 4 Matic. I made my first long distance road trip on 18 December 2013 from Virginia to Tennessee, then Louisiana and to return back to Virginia after the Holiday. As I was making my drive through Charlotte NC on I 85, at approximately 4:23 pm on 27 Dec 13, I heard a loud pop. I thought my tire had blew. I heard wind like noise and looked up and there it was. My sunroof had shattered. My shade was covered so no glass entered the car. The outside of the sunroof had spider lines. Nothing had fallen...it just popped. So now the SUV is at MB of Alexandria. I read reviews of issues with other cars and MBs as well. Wow!

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  I love this SUV! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Fourth MB - October 22 - 10:00 am

  This is a great little SUV. Its built in Germany and is as solid as a rock. It handles with precision and has a smooth ride thats comparable to a Mercedes sedan. I test drove it back to back with the C-class and liked the ride in the GLK even better. I like that it doesnt look like every SUV on the road; its distinctive styling makes it easy to find in a parking lot.

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  Not perfect, but were enjoying it so far - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By RLinSeattle - October 21 - 7:40 pm

  Weve had our GLK350 AWD for a few weeks and are pleased overall with the purchase. The car inspires head- turning everywhere we go, and the driving experience is top-class. Seat comfort is exceptional, as are the quiet ride and visibility on all sides. Build quality seems excellent, other than a finicky rear liftgate. Sometimes it stops after raising about 6 inches - could be user error, but everything else is working great. Fuel economy is abysmal, as advertised. Hopefully rumors of a diesel version are true. Other minor complaints include the spongy brakes (you really need to lay on them, unusual for a German luxury car), lack of PDA holder, cruise wand placement and lack of RT traffic.

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  New S550 owner - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By tim hobbs - October 21 - 12:33 pm

  We have had our 2007 S550 for nearly one month and find it an excellent vehicle. Both interior and exterior are well thought out and everything works as advertised. It cruises most happily at 80 mph (at 2000 rpm) while getting 25 mpg on premium fuel. A bit more thirsty at speeds below 55 mph. We are quite pleased with our purchase.

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  Wunderbar - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Mikel - October 21 - 12:23 pm

  Love this little red conv. turns heads even at 7. Tires wear fast, some small electronic issues, mostly a nusance

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  Nice Pretty Car - Fun to drive - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Paul J - October 20 - 4:50 pm

  This car is great. Nice looking and a bit roomy - for a coupe anyway. For average size adults (under 6 ft) wont have a problem with the backseat. Only gripe is performance - this car is not a speed demon but has enough pick up to leave most cars and can hold a good cruising speed. Since I am not racing people it is not a real problem, But I would love to have the power of the 550 if the gas tax/mileage wasnt such a big hit. Overall, great cruising car and handles great.

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  Great Car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By a2zwebs - October 20 - 10:26 am

  I bought my E320 pre-owned with only 55k miles on it. The car is great handling, beautiful body style, and decent on gas mileage. My only complaint was with the headlights. I must have replaced 5 in the 3 years I had the car. Oh, and the expensive oil changes $89. (But that is because 5 quarts and synthetic blend) I will say the car was very safe. I was hit from behind 2 weeks ago and the only damage was to the trunk and back bumper (barely bent in my opinion) but the insurance company totaled it. Great Car!