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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  Amazing value. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Greg C - June 17 - 7:26 am

  I needed a car that could get me to work in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and also handle periodic days at the race track. I cross-shopped the Audi S4 and the BMW M3. It was a close call, but I have no regrets picking the C32. Very, very fast, but not very flashy. Good MB quality and reliability.

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  Solid Value and Fun - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By pidcoke44 - June 17 - 1:53 am

  The C230 has been a solid and reliable purchase and wouldnt hesitate to do it all over again. It has the classic MB good looks in a package that is fun to drive without hitting the wallet in a bad way. The 1.8L Kompressor engine provides ample performance and zip. It is both fast and quick as well as being responsive to the touch. My C230 has 50,000 miles on it and has yet to see a service bay for other than the scheduled maintenance. Its fuel economy is in keeping with other 1.8L engines. Bottom line... I never get tired of driving it and plan on keeping it a long time.

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  Black Beauty - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Neil - June 15 - 7:33 am

  A rocket with decent fuel ecomony. Comfort with a killer sound system. A joy to drive. I love that black birdseye wood trim and steering wheel. The sports package is a must

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  Great Car for the $$$ - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Joe - June 15 - 4:33 am

  Where else can you get a car that will smoke a prior gen M3, get 4 doors and take the family out to dinner? Great engine, lots of torque and easy to modify.

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  Great combo of performance and luxury - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By c300stick - June 14 - 4:20 am

  I initially looked at the Mercedes because it is one of the few 6 cyl cars that are available in a manual transmission. I test drove the 328i sedan on the same day as the 300. My whole family liked the c 300 better for the ride and the sitting position/comfort. The 328 was an auto. It seemed like the engine of the 328 was straining and a bit noisier than the 300. Also, it was difficult to get a 328i without a bunch of add- ons. Same with the Infinity G-37 MT. It was difficult to find without so many options. The only options on my 300 are the burl walnut dash trim and the ipod adapter. So the list on my car was around $34,000.

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  A Brilliant Car! We love it, but not for everyone. . . - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  By cla251 - June 14 - 2:42 am

  Upon my initial drive of CLA 250, the cabin was smaller and less traditional than any benz I had driven or rode in before, so much that the wife and I could not fall in complete love with it at first test drive. If you think of this as a sporty coupe, you will be fine. Need a roomy sedan? Look elsewhere. Proceeded to drive the A3, & BMW 320i. Truly liked each of these cars for different reasons, A3 was very fun to drive, lacked many standard comforts, VW ride 320i was a great, more solid traditional sedan, but short on innovation and a stingy w/ add ons. More same old. Drives great imo. The CLA resonated with us more after driving others in the price. We bought the CLA. Very pleased!

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  Its not inexpensive but its very nice - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Charles D.Harris - June 14 - 2:23 am

  I wanted an SL when they changed the body-style in 03. This has that classic design and style. You cant help but admire it and there are no shortages of folks who tell you that!

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  ONE OF A KIND LUXURY CAR - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By VICTORIA & WAYNE - June 12 - 2:00 am

  THE RIDE IS VERY SMOOTH. AN EXCELLENT LUXURY CAR.

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  MB poor quality - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By J S - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Brake pads replaced 15m and 30m mi.yellow light on in dash for something all the time. Oil comp test, had to add oil three times between oil changes. in shop 10 times 30m mi.

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  Very Strong! - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Rugby7 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Mercedes Benz has struck a terrific balance between a comfort and sport. When cruising on the highway it is smooth and very responsive. When moving through the twisties, it corners with remarkable aplomb, offering little or no dive or roll. Great drivers car!