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:

• 

  WHAT A CAR - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By FB1 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  JUST A GREAT CAR

• 

  Babyboomers rocketship - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JVOEGE - July 18 - 2:00 am

  As a performance enthusist, I was totally lost since my corvette days. Having a family with kids made 2 seaters impractical. I saw a write up on this car in a magazine and ordered it the next day. First one in the state I believe. The car is Platinum blue which the women love. Anyway, horsepower and torque make this the sweetest car Ive ever driven. Getting onto the highway is a blast. This car pulls so strong, Im wondering how I dont break something. The brakes have been noted as quirky, but to me they work great. This is, to me, the best family sedan made for us babyboomers who must have seating for four or five, and want to relive our youth.

• 

  No More Mercedes - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By One Time Texan - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive been pleased in general with my decision to purchase the C240. I love how the car handles and the smoothness of the ride. I would not be a second time buyer with Mercedes though. Had a terrible experience with Pete Mankins Mercedes in Texarkana, TX. Complained more than once to Mercedes Benz Corporation and have never received any response. Always that "independently owned" phrase from Mercedes Benz customer service. Never plan to purchase another Mercedes product due to the treatment from the company. Will stay with Honda from now on. Have owned 4 and will continue doing business with Honda.

• 

  Great car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By AlexRazd - July 18 - 2:00 am

  It is my third E-320, and every time it just keeps getting better. The new DVD-based navigation system has its flaws, and is not as accurate as in other cars Ive driven, but it is at times a life saver :-) Overall a great car.

• 

  ugh - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By junnah - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Multiple design flaws and even more build execution flaws: seats that go back and wont come up, groaning suspension, air vents to the windshield that do nothing but create condensation,poor quality paint, impossibly complex climate controls, even more impossibly complex key to seat setting control requirements................all exceeded by a service department that really doesnt seem to know what theyre doing, loaner cars with NO gas and rarely cleaned, blah blah blah. The sales rep (Calvin) was great; he is, unfortunately all too peerless. Im off to pick up a Lexus GS300; never should have strayed from the proven Japanese brand.

• 

  What an Amazing Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pjc - July 16 - 10:00 am

  I have had my new 2002 C320 for 7 months now and no repairs needed yet -- at all. The power moonroof occasionally gets out of sync, but by checking the manual, I discovered that I just have to hold the rear pop-up button for a couple of seconds to resync it. Other than that, no glitches at all in 7 months. Amazing! Its an absolute joy to drive. Amazing power, tho not quite as agile as my 75 MBZ, which had a tighter suspension

• 

  Not the Mercedes I previously owned - 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By ruth20 - July 14 - 4:23 pm

  Over $6000.00 in repairs in one year. Suspension, computer, and had to order a new key fob after the two that came with the R350 wore out, $180.00 for a new one, and it is made quite well and will probably outlast the wagon Had a 94 S500 and it didnt need anything done until it was 11 years old. Thought they were all made like that one. No, now if you own a Mercedes, you better have deep pockets

• 

  A luxury and fun to drive SUV - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By a women driver - July 14 - 1:16 pm

  I have close to 70,000 miles on this ML55 and I didnt have any problems with it. Very fine detail in the leather interior front seats, lots of punch in the engine when you need it most, and the transmission has very smooth shifting. Brakes are great but make sure you use ceramic pads or the wheels will get dirty. Anyone who wants performance will have to pay for it at the pump so dont think its free. If you drive expensive cars youll pay for it. Im very happy, Its an A+.

• 

  Civilian Version of German Humvee - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Ed Rabel - July 14 - 10:00 am

  This is the most coveted, most durable, best performing Mercedes-Benz Ive ever owned. Cant wait til the 2005 model appears. Built in Austria by superb craftsmen, this beats anything we Americans turn out in this class.

• 

  last mistake - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By lee1849 - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Unbeleivable that this car can have something go wrong every six months like clock work. I drove my Lexus for over 125000 miles with one repair (air) In 84000 miles I have had to replace both rear window motors, engine sensors twice, air fan unit,and a oil seal--a friend told me he carries oil in his trunk. I wont make this mistake again.