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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  Stock price for AMG look! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jamesvtm - July 5 - 10:36 pm

  Its my first MB. Previous car was a 96 BMW 328i. So my comparison is 2 top notch performers. After almost 6000 miles I have no complaints about MB.

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  My first Benz! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By d1benz - July 5 - 9:33 am

  Extremely slick and smooth ride! My first Benz and I am certain, it will not be my last!

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  MBZ and I like IT!!!!! - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Sanjosean MBZ - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car from San Ramon German Motors. It had 22000 miles when I got it. It has 25k now. Awsome car. The sound system is remarkable. The interior is well layed out. Everything is were you need it. I especially like the Adjustable seats. The integrated key and infrared fob thing is one of the best parts....No seperate fob. (jay)

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  Great Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By nPlano - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car in May of 02 and always wanted one ever since I saw them on msn autos. Runs great, gas mileage could be better, the front looks awesome but the rear could look better. The front looks similar to the SL class. Still a thrill to drive and sure do get looks. Afterall, it is a Mercedes and you get a lot more for your money, definitely a smart buy for a sporty car.

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  Im hooked for life - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kjs - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my C240, and I love it. Im now a Mercedes customer for life. I like all the added features - 4 years of scheduled service, etc. The car is a dream to drive - its ultra smooth no matter how fast youre going. The seats are comfortable, too. I test drove the 240 and the 320, and didnt feel a whole lot of difference in the horse power. I didnt feel that the "added" features on the 320 were worth an extra $5,000 to $6,000 on the price of the car.

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  The best or nothing! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Jim - July 3 - 9:07 pm

  When you want to step up to this level of car you will want to make sure everything works before you buy. Make sure to get a warranty also, (just in case). If you want a car that can transport you to the middle of next week "right now" this is the car your looking for. This car can break the tires loose at eighty miles per hour. Cornering is just as capable with the ABC able to keep the car level at all times. Luxury abounds as well. Key less entry, key less start, climate control, power sunshade in rear window, leather with wood trim, heated, cooled, and massaging, sixteen way power seats that I am very comfortable in just to mention a few goodies. So far after 5,000 miles I have had no problems. You will have to put in quality gas or the injectors will plug up. $120 for an oil change may seem expensive but it will be good for 10,000 miles which would equal what you would pay for three oil changes for the same distance. This year only made 52 so this is indeed a rare car. To buy one new would have cost close to $200,000, ($178,600 base price). You can buy one for a lot less now. A bargain in my book. Another "CL55" owner told me that the CL is the best model Mercedes ever made.

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  ML 500 Inspiration Edition - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Dan Steinborn - July 3 - 2:43 am

  We bought this SUV new (it is our first, and only, SUV). It has always been very reliable and has provided us with the hauling capacity we needed (moving household goods and garden supplies). It has been comfortable on trips and for in city driving. Fuel economy is not this models forte--its a heavy vehicle with a large engine. Even though we are light footed, our in city fuel economy has always been between 12 and 13 MPG.

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  I am happy - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By costa - July 3 - 2:23 am

  I love the car. Problems have been with normal service at particular dealers. Some dealers are so much better than others. Dont buy a diesel that isnt a turbo. 8.3 seconds 0 to 6 is not a bad time for a diesel.

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  Solid German tank - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By gyndoc - July 2 - 10:00 am

  Our family has owned three MB diesels, one reaching 530K miles (Ford truck hit it, o/w would still be driving it). Safety was our primary reason for puchase, along with MB durability. This Benz is typical solidity, heft ad assurance. There is some diesel grunt to the engine,but at 80 mph, its actually quiter tha the gasoline sister. Torque is breath taking.

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  Wanna turn heads? - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By FelixNYC - June 30 - 4:10 pm

  This car is SEXY , like an Italian car built by Germans. It looks fantastic, it goes like hell, seats four people perfectly (unless all you friends are in the NBA). The engine noise is sweet, the dynamic seats are a trip - heat, cool, massage AND inflating side bolsters to keep you in tight. Everyone stares and gives a thumbs up. The AMG version is worth extra money, the feeling you get when you blast down a highway is pure exhilaration. I traded in an Infiniti FX45 (a pretty quick SUV in its own right) for this baby and I never looked back.