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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  2006 S350 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By notvanilla1 - July 30 - 7:22 pm

  Purchased this one two months ago with 51,000 miles on it. Was looking at a S430 also, but now glad I purchased the S350. I didnt buy the car to race and the 3.5L engine is more than adequate to power this vehicle. It doesnt have all of the gadgets the S430 has, but then there are less gadgets to fail later on. Comfort and quality are all a Mercedes should be. This is by far the best driving Mercedes I have owned (my twelfth one). I thought my 1985 500SEC (Euro) was nice and my 1994 E420 was great, but this beats them hands down.

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  Awesome - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By dct - July 30 - 3:10 pm

  Great car to drive if you can afford it. Hope it last like a Benz should. This is for the buyer that likes to drive a car for 5 years plus.

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  Back to the Fifties {rwd.v-8,2dr hardtop - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Ed Turney - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I like All except the poor rear view mirrors and their auto tint or dimming.additionally the computer style instrument paneland oil check feature are useless.the computer maint schedule is a fairy tale.i change at 3000miles period.

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  Excited and Smiling - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Highly Blessed - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Cedric Lector (my 2003 CL500 with sports package), I looooove him. I break out in hives when I think of him! CL had only experienced 32 miles when he came to me. He got eight of those during our first...encounter, as we got to "know" one another! Oh, the way he moves, and when he moves I just melt into his flow! I have never felt what I feel with him nor have I ever been moved as CL moves me...so quickly, yet with such gentleness, grace, agility. I dont know what excites me most, his rakish good looks, the way he makes me feel or the way he performs on demand!

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  Great car, Bad service - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By lneath - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I love this car!!! However, there are a couple of cheap points, the plastic drivers vanity mirror has broken twice, the cup holder has broken 3 times, and my catalytic converter 2 times. The material bottom of the door would be better like my 190e as plastic, the material gets too dirty. Service seems to send it out with problems it didnt previusly have.

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  a nice suv, poor gas mileage - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By roblewis635 - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The m-class benz is a stylish, comfortable, and reliable suv with two draw backs. The draw backs are gas mileage and the location of the cd player in the cargo area. It is an attention getter, if that is what you want in a vehicle. You probably wont go off roading in it. But it even with the draw back it is still one of the suvs for the money.

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  mmm - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ben Hartner - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I love the vehicle.needs a little work on the inside.

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  E320 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kevin Frabotta - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is a well crafted vehicle. I love the acceleration, and handling. I have owned an older E class, and a 98 C class, and this is the best of the bunch.

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  E500 Rocks - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ldangelo - July 30 - 10:00 am

  First time Mercedes owner and I love my E500. Its fully loaded. I was thinking of getting a Q45 or Jaguar S type R, Im glad I didnt. As far as the the overall style its sporty & youthful yet luxuriest & sophisticated all in one awesome package. As for the price its hefty but damm Im HAPPY. NO regrets.

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  E500 Sport The Best Auto Yet.. - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Dave Gibel - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The E500 sport is the best car that I have ever owned. It is luxury and fun all wrapped up in one vehicle.The suspension makes you feel like you are riding on a cloud.The audio system is incredible.This is a must own vehicle.