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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  Oh Lord, please let me drive a Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mercedes Bobby - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a head turner. I had it moving very fast on the highway...The higher the speed the smoother the ride~absolute beautiful vehicle. I would like to say the heated seats are wonderful~Would recommend rear heated seats~Mercedes does not offer this in the rear~not a problem though, the rear heat is excellent~

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  c230 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sk1 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  great car with lots of options.

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  Performance, Luxury, Muscle Car all in one - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Jim - September 9 - 7:53 pm

  My SL55 has been the car I always wanted. It outperforms the 2 year old Porshe I turned, in all catagories. It is faster, corners better and much more comfortable. The hard top convertible gives you a quiet ride when up.I have had a few minor electronic problems that were fixed quickly I have the SL 65 sport package on mine. It is the same car as an SL65 without the extra 800 pounds in the motor and only 111 less H.P. This is the best production sports,luxury,Muscle car on the road. The downside, They charge you for all 3 cars.It beats almost everything. If you can afford a $145,000 car, This is the best car on the road.

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  Mine - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By bruss - September 9 - 7:53 pm

  Awesome car. Very sporty and fun to drive. Gas mileage seems to be fairly good so far for someone with a lead foot like me.

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  Computer replacement - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BW - September 9 - 10:00 am

  I had to replace the main computer board in their c320? Took my car in to carmax after the coolant light came on. First they said it was the fan and replaced it. I was told the tech broke off the sensor and now all I know is this simple repair has ballooned into a nightmare.

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  Never Left Me Stranded - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By CJBENZ1 - September 8 - 9:10 pm

  My suv has always been reliable Ive had it now for 12 years, the biggest problem has been the window switches that have been replaced twice for $300. Every other repair has outlasted the manufactuers recomendations. I suggest finding a good German repair faculty,repairs are on the exspensive side at the dealer. Ive gotten good gas mpg average 20.

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  2015 ML 400 - 2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By autofire - September 8 - 3:15 pm

  Looked at the 2014 cayenne, 2015 X5 , and ML 400 The porsche was way under powered and the BMW was nice but the dealer wouldnt work with me and the ML 400 had everything we were looking for and the dealer worked with us. We took the ML from Birmingham to New Orleans last weekend and averaged 21 mpg at 80 mph . When passing the rpm s never went above 3500 I would recommend this suv to anyone looking for luxury 5 seat suv

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  Excellent Customer Service - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Luis F. Montalvo - September 7 - 10:56 pm

  Had a 2005 C230 Kompressor with a total of 7 uncheduled visits to the Service department, 4 of them related to a problem with the check engine light and loss of engine power. The vehicle had around 7000 miles when problems started and this week had to trade in with 10000 miles. I traded for another Mercedes Benz 2006 C280. Even when I had lost of problems with the C230k , I loved this car and would not hesitate to have it back. I think I just had a bad one from a bunch.

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  Luxury Defined - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By gary k - September 7 - 2:10 pm

  This is my fifth Mercedes car and I really love this one. My last car was a 2004 S430. The CLS looks and feels more luxurious, and it gets noticed. People always think it cost much more than it actually does. The controls are well placed and the interior treatment is gorgeous. High quality materials cover every surface. You sit low in the car and you feel as though the car wraps around you, creating a very personal environment. Gas mileage is not great, but who cares, it looks and drives so well. Overall, a great car and definitely the best Mercedes I have owned. I shopped other cars including BMW and Lexus, but they didnt compare in overall design and luxury feel.

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  C300 - 4me - 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By JB - September 6 - 1:15 pm