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:

• 

  pirus - 2004 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By piru - March 1 - 10:00 am

  For 76,000 Dlls. you expect something not as delicate. the tire replacement cover is very delicate alone is worth about 1000 dlls. for that money, the car should take care of me, not the other way around.

• 

  Benz is back - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Mbusa2 - March 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is great in every way. A great blend of performance and luxury. Mercedes is finally back :)

• 

  Above all else - 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
  By WkdLqd - February 28 - 5:12 pm

  I buy a new car just about since a year, have had everything from bottom of line models like Ford all the way to the top of the line Mercedes. When this model came out I had to have one and not a disappointment. I had a 2015 ML 350 for about a year (only because I missed having remote start) until I traded it for a 2016 Escalade, huge disappointment and couldnt wait to get into another Mercedes. This vehicle is a dream, you get power, comfort, space, and true luxury all wrapped up in the perfect size sport SUV. I would recommend this (or any Benz) to anyone looking to buying a new car.

• 

  Stable and reliable - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By bunny - February 27 - 7:13 pm

  This is my second Mercedes because my first one was totaled in an accident where someone traveling at over 65MPH hit me from behind. I walked out with 2 scratches, so I had to buy another Mercedes. Its been an extremely safe car, and it auto-corrects in slippery roads. Ive had the car for 7.5 years, and its been a very reliable, safe car to drive.

• 

  Great car- just looks a little different - 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
  By Mozart - February 27 - 3:13 am

  My husband first saw the car on-line and immediately loved the styling. I wasnt as sold on it as he was but he talked me into taking it for a test drive. Im glad he did! We love the car and all the room. The kids love it too.

• 

  A nice SUV overall - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By FFS - February 26 - 2:00 am

  This SUV is one of the safetest vehicles currently available. Its handling and ride quality are very good. The exterior styling is nice. The interior styling is ok. The instrument panel is, for the most part, ergonomically layed out. The third row seats are a nice option to have. The new auto climate controls for the front and the back work well. However, the sun sensor is a little too sensitive. As far as reliability, our vehicle has been solid and we have had zero problems to report in the last year. There are currently a lot of choices available in the premium SUV market, but MB is staying with the competition.

• 

  2003MBZ320ML - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By tiplada - February 26 - 2:00 am

  feel safe because of 8 air bags ( 2 front , 2 side , and top ), smooth ride feels like sitting on the sofa at home , auto light on as standard, auto matic shade so it wont be to bright in the car when the sun shines on glass and auto lock , antitow , alarm system all standard make the passager feel just like sitting in the comfort of living room at home , teleaid and conciege system , 3 build-in pre- program garage door opener

• 

  Ten thousand miles so far... - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Ananda - February 26 - 2:00 am

  I have a lead foot yet still exceed 22MPG - Daily commuting plus some long trips. Absolutely nothing has broken, rattled, fallen off or otherwise caused concern. It still makes me feel good to see it light-up in welcome whenever I press the remote. I have gotten to tolerate the rear view - the three pointed star helps. Still cannot believe the value for money. One of the best value cars ever.

• 

  Great car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By alexrazd - February 26 - 2:00 am

  I "upgraded" from E320 circa 2000 to the same model circa 2003. What a difference! The car is completely re-designed, everything is better - from seats that now include storage cmpartment in the front to trung that is twice as large. The car is much closer to S-class, it is larger and roomier than previous model. Overall - much better car.

• 

  Droptop fun - 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By SoCalFun - February 24 - 5:20 am

  After six months of driving this car, it is still a joy to get into. I have always enjoyed cars. This one simply takes it to another level.