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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  Dont Bother - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Rick Marques - April 19 - 10:00 am

  After waiting over twenty years to buy my first Benz - finally getting one was an underwhelming exercise in futility. This is a TERRIBLE car, built like any other Pinto, Gremlin or Vega - HONESTLY. Bad build quality, rattles, squeaks, LOUD when driving it, alignment that cant be fixed, a transmission that cant be diagnosed, and a Corporate Office that refuses to deal with customers on ANY level whatsoever. I was told their Director of Customer Assistance does NOT read, or answer his mail, nor will he contact any customers. THIS is Mercedes Benz? THINK TWICE IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A BENZ.....

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  GOOD RE-DESIGN! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By FRONZE - April 17 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS BETTER IN ALL ASPECTS THAN MY PREVIOUS CLK 430.

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  2007 c-230 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Felipe Zak Zak - April 16 - 2:16 am

  I found the 2007 C230 a very reliable and a great performance together with the Mercedes-Benz quality. The car is compact and very agile that makes it a very impressive car. The price is also a great thing

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  Former Lexus Owner - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By indybenz - April 14 - 4:33 am

  After owning 3 Lexus Sedans, ready for a change. S350 stood out with athletic performance and spacious interior. BMW and Lexus trying to get to sleek, losing functional space. Firm ride, great sound system. Command system is ok, not too hard to learn. Plenty of power in 350 model.

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  Disappointed - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Chris - April 13 - 12:33 pm

  As the owner of three MLs since 1998, currently a 2005 Special Edition, I went into my local dealer today to test drive a new one. I love the exterior styling and wanted to love the interior but was very disappointed by everything. The gearshift on the steering column - what were they thinking? And the MBTec standard fake leather is ridiculous on a supposed luxury car. Inside much cheaper looking overall. So my love affair with MLs is coming to an end. My heart is considering buying the one I have now, but my head is telling my to give serious consideration to the Acura MDX I test drove yesterday - dont care much for the look but its all around higher rated and a better value. Im sad.

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  Hot ride - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By Jtatum - April 13 - 10:00 am

  I have had alot of exotic cars in the past but the G wagon gets more attention than all of them. Its a little rough on the ride and tough on gas but Im having alot of fun driving it.

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  Bad News - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By NewMexico - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle as a lot of power. The driver seat is comfortable the rest of the car is very uncortable. Very small if you have a family of two or more. Comes equiped with a horrible wind noise that sounds like you are driving a comfortable. Gussles gas 12 miles to the gal. Does not have hitch. Very disapointed for this type of money. Does not handle very well on turns.

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  Great Auto - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By ibleave - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Test drove the E320 (gasoline) and the E320 CDI. Wow, the E320 really moves and is a pleasure to drive. I was a bit nervous about the MB reputation for quality but so far my fears have been completely unfounded. Ive owned a number of Lexus autos (LS, LX, ES, GS) and the MB so far is my favorite auto. I took the car for a trip to San Antonio and averaged about 34mpg (odometer was under 1000 miles). I enjoyed the lower cost of diesel too. Keep in mind that most diesel pumps are designed for "truckers" and sometimes dont have the pay-at-pump option (especially out on the highway).

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  2007 Mercedes Benz 280 C 4matic Review - 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Thomas - April 13 - 2:33 am

  This car is an exceptional vehicle for use to commute to and from work. It has rapid acceleration akin to a high performance sports car with excellent manuverability based upon a 55-45 weigh distribution and low center of gravity. The V6 3.0 liter engine is peppy without losing its fuel efficiency at 23-26 mpg. The car is a smaller version of its larger E MBs, and the C280 is a joy to drive.

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  Black Series - Unbelievable Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JDB - April 12 - 11:50 pm

  This limited production car is truly a unique experience. The acceleration is impressive, but the handling is the vehicles true standout. The individually adjustable coil-over suspension allows one to not only adjust the ride height, but also the compression and the rebound of the shocks to tailor the handling to your individual taste. The AMG Performance Studio really outdid themselves when the produced this wonderful example of their capabilities.