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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  C280 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Dan - April 3 - 11:46 pm

  This is a great automobile to drive. Ride,comfort and performance are outstanding. Build qualiy is excellent and the C280 is just the right size for getting around town or on the interstate.

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  Great Value for the Money! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By mealz07 - April 3 - 4:30 pm

  I am a new MB owner and am glad to have made the switch. I purchased my used 4matic this year and have been pleased with the performance thus far. My only dislikes would be the automatic wiper sensors when it rains and comfort mode. I highly recommend Sport mode to really know what your driving. I also think the windows should be a shade darker.

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  Performance, safety, class! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Edward ohlert - April 3 - 11:07 am

  4 wheel 4matic version is superb in snow states. 2 wheel drive is great in Southern states. Be sure you get the right drive train. Superb appointments. Rear seat airbags!!

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  Jaguar NO...Mercedes... YES - 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
  By Mercedes Guy - April 3 - 7:53 am

  After being a Jaguar guy for over 10 years, It was time to move up the ladder to something better. I have been driving XJRs, and most recently the 2005 Super V8. And to the discredit of Jaguar, and the Service departments...I have moved on, and it has been to a better place. Mercedes Benz CLS 500. What a nice little rocket. Looks good on the street.I thought it was a car that stickered for well over $100,000 when I first saw it. Again, was I surprised. The interior is tight, and the seats are comfortable. The size is great for me, as an average size man, it fits me perfect. I couldnt imagine being over 63" and trying to slink into it. This car in black makes you want more. Yummy!

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  C400 Head Turner - 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By soccerman1313 - April 3 - 7:31 am

  Purchased Feb 2015. About 1700 miles. Great looks. Have almost every option. Lighting pkg a must. Drove both C300 and 400. Huge difference in power and driving fun with the 400. Really enjoying my Benz. However, a few negatives just for heads up for others. Right rear door handle broke. Bit of lag in tranny between 0-1500 rpms. No lights on air controls on dash. Cant control radio while Nav is on screen. Prefer auto mirrors go down when backing up. Lacks this option. Great hybrid car for power,comfort,sportyness, and performance. Didnt drive any of the competition because I wanted to try Benz. Look forward to great future with my pavement princess.

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  SL500 SL1 & Panoramic Roof - 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Barry - April 2 - 12:26 am

  I had driven a 1984 380SL for a while in 1987 and fell in love! Fast forward twenty years, and I decided to go with the R129, and 1998 was the last year for the twin cam 48 valve engine, so I looked for the Sport model with a Panoramic roof. Love the car! Very glad I went this route. The hard top still feels more "open" being mostly glass, so winter is less of a drag. I just feel good driving it, anywhere, anytime. Ive had a number of nice cars, but the SL is extraordinary in so many ways that I believe I will always want one. My wife and I take trips with our 45 pound Golden Retriever and even she loves it! Service is costly, but not frequent, so I highly recommend this fantastic machine!!!

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  I will never buy another brand of car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By atclew - April 1 - 11:13 am

  After being stationed in Europe and having a chance to drive the 3 major brands of European autos (Audi, BMW, and Mercedes). I was already a bit biased towards Mercedes Benz for the comfort of the ride alone. After purchasing the C320 with the 4-matic and having driven it for awhile now, I am just amazed at how well this car handles and performs. On longer trips, my wife has trouble staying awake because the ride is so smooth, a feat not accomplished in other vehicles weve owned.

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  So Far Very Very Good - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By Louie the Lug - March 31 - 9:53 pm

  This is my first "luxury" car. So far it definitely fits. Mindful about a couple of reviews slightly downgrading this cars roadholding capabiliy, I got the Night pkg option which includes the 20 inch sports tires. It grips/handles just fine around all the many curves Ive gone around. It steers & shifts like a dream. The ride at all speeds with the 20 inch tires is not overly soft or firm, about right for me. Comfort inside is outstanding, most notably for 238 lb me the front seat. Quality of workmanship is the highest. Except for some tire sound, noise inside is virtually non- existent. Exterior & interior styling with the polar white paint & black Night pkg & black anthracite interior trim is fully satisfying. My only quibble so far is the transmission shifting, a stalk on the steering column which takes concentrated effort to get used to - most especially you must remember to push the little button into Park before you exit the car, or it will automatically shift into neutral & possibly start moving! Ive got the hang of it now. Being an older geezer, Im also on a learning curve re the Nav, Media, etc procedures. In sum - truly so far very very good.

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  Worth the Price - 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Patrick Merkle - March 31 - 8:40 am

  We were lucky to find an off-lease E320S4 w/just 17K miles. Watch fuel capacity: its 18.1 INCLUDING reserve. Owners manual appears ambiguous re 2.4 g "reserve". A sporty ride, disguised as a family wagon.

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  First Mercedes-Benz - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By jsalemi - March 31 - 2:33 am

  It took a long time to finally get the MB I always wanted, and Im not disappointed. Were going to keep this car a long, long time.