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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  This car is awesome - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Steve - March 16 - 5:33 pm

  I bought this car for my wife, but maybe somewhat for myself as well. Luxury package, sport package, upgraded 18 inch spoked rims with the low profile Conti tires. The ride is what you would expect from a German car, responsive, stiff, and you feel the road. We test drove a Lexus GS 350 and you cant compare the two. The Mercedes looks and feels better. The Lexus simply lacks pizazz and road feel. The other day my better half rubbed a curb and cut the tire. After hitting the little wrench icon in the center console, a Mercedes tech guy was out to change the tire within an hour, and since we purchased rim insurance (you have to get that, $800 for 5 years) the tire was covered!

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  2007 SL550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Mike_L - March 16 - 2:33 pm

  This is my first SL and I love it. The car moves like its connected directly to my brain. Steering is smooth and responsive. The engine and tranmission deliver loads of power, and braking is firm but well controlled. When you add in the superb fit and finish of the car, the amazing hardtop convertible, some of the sweetest exterior looks on the road, and this car is just fun to drive. Sure, there are a couple of things that could have been designed better, but they really arent bad they way they are now.

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  Mercedes are terrific cars and when purchased used can be great Value! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By justmyopinion - March 15 - 11:38 pm

  After buying my first Mercedes in 1997 E320 brand new, we became Mercedes bigots. Why, Looked and rode as good in 2009 when we sold it as when we bought it even with its 250km badge on the grill. In 2009, $60+k wasnt in the cards for a new Mercedes, & we discovered how many cars are leased these days coming off in 2 to 3 years with low miles and another 3 years on warranty. We found a 2007 E350 with 33k miles in great shape with all maint records in Mercedes dealer computer and paid $27k Out the Door. Here almost 5 years later we have $96k miles and no problems. We plan to buy our next Mercedes in 2019, maybe upgrading to a 2016 S class that will last us through our retirement.

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  USED C280 4MATIC - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mogirl12 - March 15 - 4:13 pm

  I bought this car for my 16 year old daughter. I found out a used Mercedes is a good deal financially. I love this Mercedes and try to borrow it when I can. It is so fun to drive. We have now owned it for about 7 months. This car is so quit, NO road noise, drives so smooth, and looks extremely sharp, black on black. The interior quality is immaculate. The only maintained we have done is an oil change $70.00 and purchased a tire at Hibbons because of a flat which cost about $190. I am sold and will not being buying anything other then a Mercedes in the future

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  flagship with great mileage - 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By davidcpeck - March 14 - 11:23 am

  had 2007 s-600. this is same car, but softer ride and less torque. so it took less time to learn all the toys. night vision now has added thermal. lane drift actually vibrates steering wheel like road bumps. at 70 mph, in cruise, i get 29-30 mpg, at 2,000 rpm. blind spot warnings in mirrors are great.

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  Poor Mrecedes - 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By E Collins - March 14 - 7:26 am

  I have had nothing but problems. Sure better not trust it on a trip. I have sat in a hotel room one week and looked at the wall while the car was in the shop. Navagation gave out on another trip . Plans were made for a trip this week but this time I never got out of town. All lights were on. I was in the service dept instead of leaving.This has been going on from the day I brought it home. Almost 2007 and only less than 35,000 miles. I am solving this problem.Talking to Lexus. Plans in the making for a 2007 LS 460 so I can travel again. I have driven nothing but a Mercedes and was a die hard lover of the car.

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  SL500. 10 Years Ahead of the Competition - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By cohiba4me - March 12 - 1:53 pm

  Everything about this car screams perfection. The only drawback is the amount of the check it takes to bring it home. She is sexy, yet bold. Her lines are timeless and forever. I have owned 6 cars that cost over $100k and this is by far my favorite.

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  Good reliability - 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By highlander - March 12 - 1:06 am

  I drive some 6000 miles every year on the snow and ice in the mountains and the electronics takes care of the occasional error. This car has has minor corrosion problems all corrected under guarantee at no cost to myself.

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  Lemon - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bynford - March 11 - 10:03 pm

  When I first bought the car I was in love!! I loved the way it looked and thought for the money Im in heaven! But... after 3 months of having the car it stopped in the middle of the road. I was mortified! The car needed a new transmission after 2300 miles. I got the car back and thought all was well.. until.. I got stuck 2 more times. Now a year later I am stuck with a lemon and going to court in a few weeks...

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  Glam no gutts! - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
  By Mushi - March 11 - 9:00 pm

  Looked liked a Honda on the inside. Too expensive for what you get. Might as well buy a CRV.