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:

• 

  Return of the Wagon - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By CTDriver - July 28 - 10:00 am

  We were happy to welcome the 2011 wagon into our family. We owned a 2000 wagon, and contemplated purchasing the body style that came in between, but found it too small for our taste. The 2011 wagon, while not as quite as large as its predecessor 2 generations ago, is much roomier inside than the model that launched in 2004. Wagons seem to attract a dedicated audience, and deservedly so. This model is beautiful to look inside and out. It offers the utility of an SUV and the drive of a car. The third row remains one of our favorite features, not only for its ability to carry two (small)l people but also for its ability to hold grocery bags upright. More luxurious, more powerful. Winner.

• 

  JWW Review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Jack - July 27 - 2:40 pm

  I really like the exterior design. My wife likes a coupe but I like a sedan. When I first saw this car I knew it was just the answer to our needs. She loves the design too. It drives like "silk", smooth and quick.

• 

  Almost 1 year old and still in love! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By David - July 27 - 6:13 am

  I am one of those crazies who trades every year. This vehicle may finally be the one that passes the year mark for me. Perfect ride, perfect power. Still one of the freshest looks out there in the sea of bland auto designs. No, I still havent gotten use to the minivan stigma, but boy once they ride in it, the critics convert quickly. Interesting that other makers are rushing this look to market. Cant wait to see what MB does at mid-cycle to freshen the front end.

• 

  Much improved over 2000 year - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Rob Schlein - July 24 - 2:36 am

  Had an ML in 1999 and 2000. 1999 was noisy, and 2000 had many electrical problems. However, I needed the space so I tried the 2002 after I heard it was much more reliable. It has been! Great car.

• 

  Hummer of a car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By G A Zeller - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This is a"second" car ...just presonal transportation around town. I always liked the flexibility of a hatchback.Considering that this is the least expensive Mercedes it doesnt lack for features or quality. The need for premium gas is offset by rather decent mileage. And ...its a lot of fun to drive !

• 

  Lemon Law Mercedes - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bruce Flannery - July 24 - 2:00 am

  My wife has always wanted a Mercedes- Benz, so we purchased a new 2002 C-320 in October 2003. During the first month it has been in the shop on 2 separate occasions for multiple repairs for approximately 2 weeks. All repairs have been electronic in nature. This is a very sophisticated vehicle and I find many of the features very distracting when driving. The dealership has, at no charge, provided Mercedes-Benz loaner vehicles, extended the warranty 1-year and refunded our first months payment. I have owned many vehicles during my life, and this is by far the poorest quality car I have ever purchased.

• 

  Fun...but Merceces - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Cody Jackson - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Love this car overall but the E320 is still a Mercedes with quirks. Our third one so were used to it. Nothing serious. Things like occaisional electrical problems that magically fix themselves, undeterminable rattles, radio/CD/phone outage. None of these problems really take away from the enjoyment of driving the car. Hey, its a MERCEDES!

• 

  C300 4Matic - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By karma11 - July 22 - 7:33 pm

  Reliable, functional, excellent exterior styling. Very neat, clean & sober interior aesthetics. Before buying I compared it to 3 Series and Lexus IS350,ES. Interiors were one the primary reasons why I chose this car.

• 

  16 years later still a good car - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jurrell - July 22 - 10:41 am

  we have never had the car in the shop, for major problems, just o2 sensors replaced a few times and a few other maintenance parts, still drives well and has held up well 146k miles or so and you still take it on a 6 or 8 hour trip without worrying about anything bad happening to it

• 

  Avoid this thing - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By jch - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Poor design and poor execution sum it up. Transmission shifts roughly and balks at downshifts, rear seats impossible to get up, windows very slow to raise, CD changer rarely works right, HVAC doesnt like to change temps, very uneven and wobbly ride which is incredibly tiring, tiny gas tank in a gas guzzler, etc. etc. etc......