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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  !!! - 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Oscar Crevetch - August 5 - 3:31 am

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  Excellent car, but gremlins live in the cabin - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By tcatter - August 4 - 8:52 am

  Ive owned this car for approximately 3 years and no one dares to race me, even Porsches. I bought it with 3000 miles on it and it now has a whopping 15,000. Ive had creaks in the seat that dont seem to go away and the fat foreman and Beverly Hills MB cant "identify" the problem because when he sits in the passenger seat the sound disappears to his his ass. Another problem are the sensors which buzz and ask to see the users manual. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR WITHOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. It is an exceptional piece of machinery but not for anyone who pinches pennies.

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  Love It - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Walter Silverstein - August 4 - 6:03 am

  The car looks and runs great. It is a pleasure to drive. This is my 16th Benz, and they are still great. I also have a BMW 745IL, but enjoy the Benz much more.

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  E320 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By mrjohnv - August 3 - 12:24 pm

  I purchased my E320 in April of 2011 so Ive owned mine now for about 14 Months. I purchased this car out of Necessity since our business sucked since 10 & 11 and I didnt want a car payment. I purchased this car from my mom and yes, I knew that she dose not take care of a car but I took it becase they sold it to me for 4 K. I didnt know it at the time but this car was in sad shape and it took 3 grand to get it back so it was no deal and I still have to paint it but you know what, If a car can take what my mom did to that car Mercedes is one hell of a car maker! This car is comfortable, trouble free and still looks good for a 12 year old car. I will keep it for two or three more years!

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  Mercedes-Benz c280 Sport - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Travis Leffew - August 3 - 6:26 am

  Had little to no problems with this car. It has 136,000 miles on it and everything works as it should. The only thing is where the inside lights and the moonroof button is, there appears to be a speaker (perhaps for the phone) and it has a light "buzz" sound. Other than that this is an awesome car. I have a 97 Mustang and after driving the Mustang, after I had been driving the Benz .. Lets say Ill stick with the Benz. Only negative feedback is Ive tried to get an aftermarkets sound system and rims, and it just seems more difficult and costly with this car. I prolly will never have another Benz (Mustang lover at heart) but def a great deal! And I get asked if it;s a 2000+ yr all the time!

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  2001 ML Disappointment - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By tomresource1 - August 2 - 3:28 am

  I am a die hard Mercedes Benz customer, having purchased many of their fine automobiles over the past 35 years. Notwithstanding, my experience with their ML product has been disappointing at best. Presently, we own a 2000 E320 and a 2006 S500. In recent years we have also owned a 2000 SL600 and a 1997 SL500, along with a 2002 S55, 2004 CL500 Sport, 1998 C230, 1993 300E and several 2000-2002 S430 / S500 Mercedes products. We also owned a 1999 ML320 that was a disaster on wheels and until this past week a 2001 ML320 that was one of the worst vehicles that we have owned to date.

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  Bad air conditioning system - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By kai - August 2 - 12:13 am

  The air conditioner continues giving out foul, sour, acidic smell even after 2 heater core replaced, 2 complete cleaning. The manufacturer call center confirmed its a known issue. Transmission adapter failed once and is now leaking agin. Independent service center called it a fire hazard. Does anyone experience the same as I do with this car, please let me know. I really appreciate it.

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  The best - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By xman - August 1 - 5:10 pm

  This car is amazing and it is fast for a diesel. The E class is also nice in the interior. The gas mileage is suprising for a Mercedes Benz of any kind, let alone the E class

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  My favorite vehicle in 35 years - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Denver commuter - July 31 - 12:36 pm

  I bought my 04 ML350 in june 05 with 18,000 miles on it. I commute about 50 miles per day. Ive taken it on about 6 long-distance road trips too. 107,000 miles as of March 10 It is the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever owned. Poor MPG (avg. 17.5). Wears out tires every 25,000 mi. Best mechanical reliability Ive ever had, despite chronic "clunking" tranny on downshift from day one. I spent $1500 and many dealer visits trying to get that fixed to no avail. Interior plastic skirts around front seats broke early on from pressure of sitting. Coating on all dark exterior metal rapidly deteriorated. I would buy another one if they still made them.

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  Perfect so far - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Gary - July 31 - 9:13 am

  Purchased used with 24k. still under warranty. Ride is quiet and firm. Gas mileage is 25 in town 30 on the hwy. Stereo is exceptional. Brakes are first rate. Turns on a dime. No shakes, rattles or rolls. No squeaks,thumps,or vibrations of any kind.Transmission is smooth and fun to drive in sports, manual mode. No problems at all in 10k of daily driving. A great car so far.