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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  ML430 - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By cdrsdad - April 9 - 6:00 pm

  I waited a while to write this review because of the negatives I have read about the Mercedes-Benz ML430. I purchased this truck as a certified used vehicle. Other than the poor fuel economy, I could not be happier. Service on this truck has been far cheaper than on my previous Mercedes-Benz wagon. Some of the interior trim has a little trouble wih the dog...meaning he broke it. I love the GPS and the Bose stereo. I am at 75,000 miles and the truck still looks close to new. One other problem is that the odd tire size means very few choices for replacements.

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  Overall ownership - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By joe - April 8 - 5:00 pm

  We enjoy driving this one very much as comparison with our 99 E320. It rides very well, very quite, good sound system. We compared it with Lexus and BMW before making decision on this one, one of the reasons is the price. I do have a complaint about the storage compartment between the front seats, the small one on passenger side is almost useless.

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  2005 Mercedes 500 SL - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By 1975goldeneagle - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Just picked up the car at the factory in Germany. The car handles great on the autobahn at +100 mph. I also own a BMW Z-8, and much too my surprise I enjoy driving this more with the top down.

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  Biggest pile of crap I have owned! - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Tim - April 6 - 2:44 am

  Had the car coming up on 1 year. I have 6400 miles. The 1st week I owned the car driving 80mph down the expressway the power steering went out. The car had to be towed to the MB Dealer. A month later the sunroof would not close (it started to rain) again back to the dealer. 5 months in the sunroof broke again. This time I told the dealer last straw fix this thing or take the car back. Tomorrow I take it in again for a knocking sound when you turn. Also the sunroof is now once again broke. Previous I had a E-350 and had no problems. This 2015 C-300 has been a huge disappointment. For the money MB commands this is just unacceptable.

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  Only 4 passenger sports car! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By doublet - April 5 - 9:00 pm

  I traded my S500 for this car. I traded my Jaguar XKR for a SL500. The CLS55 is faster than my XKR and holds two adults in the back seat. The trunk is enormous. This is my daily driver. I love the sound, steering feel, power and look. Unbelievable to have something this cool and this practical. I am a senior and this is our sedan.

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  Perfectly Good Cheap Car - 1996 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Valo Grant - April 5 - 5:06 pm

  The 96 c class I am currently driving has been sold on to me from my folks and so, thanks to their good treatment of the car, I have had almost no problems what so ever. Granted, the few times it goes, it does a number. Nothing more than a few hundred dollars, easy maintenance and in the right hands, will keep running after 20 odd years of australian road trips. I am still quite fond of the looks as it is understated yet elegant. Even though it isnt the quickest off the line, it still gives a modest punch of power for its age and still loves the highways. With a good set of tyres, it can hold its own in the corners too. So for a cheap car, its a lot of fun and good value if you pick right.

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  A good family car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By JW - April 5 - 12:03 pm

  We traded in our Porsche Cayenne for an R350 due to passenger limitation in the Porsche. The Mercedes offered a spacious interior with comfort and luxury as well as easy maneuverability. The engine can be sluggish to start but the ride is smooth once you get going. If youre tall, you may want to think twice as there is little clearance between my head and the interior roof of the car without moving the seat all the way down. The sun visor is also tricky to put down without having to move my head back. Difficult to get used to after having 2 suvs with more height and flexibility.

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  ML500- Not a Lexus or BMW - 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ken - April 4 - 8:46 pm

  Squeaky brakes, annoying rattle in the hatch, stiff and sticky gas pedal...all of which the shop foreman has heard before. To fix breaks they will apply an anti-squeal formula for free that will get me through the first year, then what? Check engine light that will not go off...all in the first 5000 miles. Gas mileage is poor but I expected that. Best part is I have to pay for the service intervals....a cost cutting measure in 2005. After seeing all the plastic/rubber on the new 2006 model, I am glad I did not wait. This is my first Mercedes!

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  Good Car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JBfun4U - April 4 - 2:00 am

  This car has been fun to drive and very enjoyable to own. It is vehicle # 3 and I seem to have a tough time wanting to drive the other two vehicles anymore. So far so good, plenty of extra features, and great treatment at the dealership when its time for service.

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  The Best of the Best - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By P. Bracke - April 4 - 2:00 am

  Compared to my 2000 E320 which I thought was an outstanding car, this simply puts it to shame. The style, both exterior and interior is so much more comfortable and room to spare.Can it get any better?