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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  Great Car - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By huebear - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I tested the Lexus RX300 (lacking power) and LX470 (too big), Cadillac Escalade (for sports stars and rappers) and Acura MDX (cheap interior; sluggish). None of those cars could compare to the ML500. I love the navigation, comfort and all of the amenities. Great car. No rattles and no regrets.

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  Love my car - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By groovycoolbean - March 5 - 3:48 am

  I bought this car as a used car at a dealership. Got an excellent price. Has over 126k miles but drives like new. Everything works like new. The interior is in pristine condition. For people who spill the occasional drink the stainguard on the floor mat works marvelously. The gas mileage is averaging 35 mph with a/c in Phoenix at speeds averaging 70 mph. I read previously an issue with that but I havent experienced it. I drive 80 roundtrip miles daily and this car is perfect for it. My carpool buddy loves how comfortable the seats can be for his naps on the way home. The overhead lighting for the back seat passengers is very helpful for passengers to navigate maps, etc while Im driving.

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  Review of an S55 AMG - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Bernard K - March 5 - 12:46 am

  The car is very smooth and accelerates rapidly. At high speedon the highway, I could not hear the engine sound nor the wind outside. Comfortable and spacious. Takes sharp corners easily. I would recommend this car to any one looking for a luxurious ride and all around comfort!

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  We love our 320 ML - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By fcl2 - March 3 - 3:30 pm

  This is our first ML. We have enjoyed a lot. It is really safe and confortable and fun to drive. Fuel economy shouldnt be an issue when you buy a SUV, there are plenty of GEOs out there if that is what you are looking for. My wife love it, she can put 2 strollers, lots of shopping bags, 2 big car seats, 2 friends etc. I feel my family is safe when they ride in this car. There have not been important reliability issues and we are planning to buy again a ML. Service was great and 100% better than BMW.

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  Best all-round entry luxury car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jaybird ga - March 3 - 5:33 am

  This is the all-round best car I found in this category. There are faster ones, but with terrible ride quality. There are fancier ones, but without any soul. There are edgier designs, but Ill leave those for the kids. This is just a friendly, highly competent, extremely comfortable, and great looking car that will age gracefully, like a Benz should.

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  C230 in San Antonio - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Todds - March 3 - 1:36 am

  The car is a pleasure to drive. It has a lot of pep for a 4 cyl. The Kompreser kicks in and you can feel it take off. Everything about it is automatic makeing it easy to drive. The car handles well in the rain.

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  What a car ! - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Happy with my CDi - March 3 - 12:10 am

  I just plain love this car. I ordered from the factory with Obsidian black exterior and options like the HID lighting, and just could not be happier. The pickup, performance and handling are stunning, the interior is perfect, and the sound system performs as well as the car. I specifically wanted a certain set of options, so I sat with my dealer and made a build sheet and waited for delivery from Germay and I am not disappointed. The car is all I had expected and more. I am a diesel lover - I also have a VW diesel and I just cannot adjust to how quiet and quick this MB CDi is. Mileage has varied between 24 and 32 MPG, and tends to run higher when my wife drives it. She loves it as well.

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  Best car I have ever owned! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By cdrhoek - March 2 - 6:34 pm

  Totally trouble free. This car has been as reliable as my Honda (no small feat!). 36MPG on the highway at 70 mph. Quiet, passengers have no idea it is a diesel. Performance is better than the gasoline version of the same car. This is the last year with the straight 6 mercedes diesel, as bullet-proof a motor as Mercedes has ever made. I would never consider buying another Mercedes that wasnt a diesel.

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  A awesome car - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By merc2009 - March 2 - 2:43 pm

  Got the Mercedes after having being a happy driver of two Honda Accords since 1994. Then carefully planned a new purchase after having tried many similar size, entry level, luxury sedans, both German and Japanese. Went for the Mercedes for its optimal combination of smooth ride quality, plenty of power (last Honda was around 140 hp), quality built, and of course the looks. Mine came manual (still love the thrill of shifting gears), with all the "high end packages", so came to about 42,000 $, pretty similar to other cars in that category. So far driven it for a week, with a good combo of city and highway mileage, and love it. And any manual car only gets better with time!

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  The Best First Car!!! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ariegn - March 1 - 12:26 pm

  This is the 1st car I purchased for myself. I can truly call it my own. It was the first of the small luxury sedans I test drove and none of the others could live up to the MB C300. It is a gorgeous car both inside and out. Had MB not redesigned, it would not have even been a consideration. Id be driving a Lexus right now. The car is gorgeous, has been reliable for me and the service at my dealership is beyond excellent. I only have good things to say! Nothing says class, luxury and comfort like a Mercedes.