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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  Sweet - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Buzzzz - June 12 - 2:00 am

  The 230s supercharger is one of the greatest things about this car. The first three gears will put a smile on your face and the grip is amazing.

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  Long Time M-B user - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By JerryM2 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Car steering is a bit lighter than what im used to in previous MBs. The 320 seems slightly underpowered, but not so much so as to make me want to spent the additional $s for the 500. Superior Road Car - Can drive for days at high speed with no fatigue.

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  100% bank vault mercedes @ 1/2 price of an "S" - 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mitchellrowe - June 11 - 6:36 pm

  when you shut any of the 4 doors , you hear thump . solid , like carved out of a block of steel . just like the old days . the 2013 V6 is the 350 used in the "E" car that is de tuned to 248 hp (up alot from 2012) grey mb tex ( just wipe it with a damp cloth ) maple wood , hot auto xmission with 2 modes , harmon kardon 510 watt radio ( harmon makes the levinson lexus radio upgrade ) , weather band , 6 cd , am/fm HD. light package ( xenons) with auto high beams (xenon ) , fogs (front&rear) . memory seats (3 settings) , ford down rear seat - makes giant trunk , navigation runs perfect , lane change and blind spots monitors are superb . bluetooth , tire monitor tells which tire ( 4 monitors )

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  Dont miss CLK550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By SteveGA - June 11 - 5:33 am

  With just 200 miles on the odometer, this car already says it all, power, comfort, and agility. There are probably other cars with more of each, but this one has a nice balance of all three. The Harmon Kardon sound system is worth the upgrade. However, the sound from the engine is even better. Just wish it had "real" fuel and temp gauges.

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  A mixed review - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By alan j. reis, m.d. - June 11 - 12:40 am

  The vehicle was ordered with a factory installed towing package. It was forgotten by the factory and can not be added post-market. It also mated with the Mercedes bicycle rack. This was a real bummer. The dealership said this was a fairly common factory problem. Not great for the Alabama Mercedes Quality Control. While I was offered a few sweeteners to take a vehicle without the towing package, it ended up leaving a somewhat sour taste in my mouth. I have contacted Germany to see if more can be done. I thought they were really committed to getting the US factory bugs worked out. The center console opens in two different ways and the latch sticks. That is a minor concern.

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  Glad I Chose The Merc - 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tom M - June 10 - 3:26 pm

  Just recently bought an E350 4Matic. Before this, I had an Audi A6 3.2, which was fantastic in the snow. This is just as good. I love the incredibly smooth ride, the huge glass roof, and the timeless look of the car. A few things though Im a little disapointed with. In my A6, on mostly the highway, I was averaging 32MPG. In this, about 24. Not as good as I hoped. A fun feature is being able to fold the rear headrests down from the front (especially if ppl in the back are sleeping) but they are very uncomfortable when they are up and theres no button to raise them once they are down(Annoying). Overall, the car is beautifully well done, but I think a facelift is needed sometime soon.

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  Wow car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Art B. - June 9 - 11:56 am

  I have no regrets in getting my 05 C240. I love everything about the car. Interior not only looks great, but is very confortable even on long trips. Only wish is the car should have 17" wheels instead of the 16" stock.

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  CLK320- a sporty luxury car - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By ajb723 - June 9 - 5:00 am

  I have had my CLK320 coupe for 2 months, replacing a BMW330i. I was hesitant to make the change, but Im glad I did. The 320 is much better looking, both inside and out, and the navigation system is a bonus. It is fun, easy to use, and frightening in its accuracy. Acceleration seems not up to the BMW, but is more than adequate for my needs.

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  Beast in Sheeps Clothing, Kind of - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By adambomb32 - June 9 - 4:03 am

  ive enjoyed the presence of this fine German Automobile for almost two years now and everytime I drive it I feel the same "excitement" as day one. Yes, Mercedes managed to make a very UNIQUE car not so unique by giving every entry level C-class the same aero-dynamic kit, but hey, it doesnt have the same AMG (brembo made brakes), hand built 3,2l supercharged V6 engine, suspension, wheels, etc... so to me its still very sepcial and with a few aesthetic upgrades can once again be "unique" as day one.

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  c 280 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MB MAN - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Overall great car, very fast luxurious to the max, my 280 has 90 thousand miles and still runs like the first day, never has broke down, just regular services.