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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  Drives much worse than its looks - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By jh10880 - February 5 - 11:00 pm

  I bought 2010 C300 certified by dealer with 36K miles. After few days I noticed the power steering noise which is driving me crazy (unless I turn the radio on to drown the noise). The car has no power at all. After traffic stop, you can see every type of car passing by. When I take my foot off the gas, it feels as if someone has pressed the brakes. I took it back to the dealer who told me this is normal. I complained about the noise from the engine when it starts (the sound of metal pinging) and the power steering noise, the dealer kept the car for five days, after which they told me this is normal. If this is normal then shame on you MB, this is not what I expected (unfortunately t

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  Excellent ride incredible mpg - 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By bob494 - February 4 - 10:16 pm

  This S350 is smooth powerful and fun to drive. I have 6,000 miles on mine and its the bast car I have ever owned including other Mercedes, Lexus, and Audi models. Interior is well laid out with all controls within easy access. My car gets 37 MPG on the highway and I am averaging over 31 MPG in mixed city and highway driving. 4 Matic works great in the rain or snow as well. This truly an exceptional ride, but be aware of expensive options as they are way over priced.

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  Nice Ride! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Great Car - February 4 - 12:20 pm

  We bought ours used w/39k miles on it. The car is beautiful, well maintained. I have one problem with an ESP/BAS warning and this appears to be affecting the operation of the sunroof. Hopefully this can be corrected by the certified warranty. The car feels as solid and safe as any car Ive driven and after I got finished with it this weekend you cant tell its not new.

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  Love It - 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By emoore40 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Mercedes but first SL. I purposefully purchased the 320 over the 500 and consider I made an excellent choice. This car has performed far above expectations.

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  Smooth and sporty - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By PhilK - February 4 - 10:00 am

  A great vehicle in all aspects. Silky V6 engine provides good acceleration and excellent passing power, especially with the TouchShift transmission. Sporty styling almost makes you forget its a sedan, back seat is good for two people with decent leg room. Trunk swollows 2 or 3 regular size suitcases but not much more.

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  WOW - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By LuckyS - February 4 - 10:00 am

  First MB Ive owned. Nothing but MB from now on. Solid and responsive handling. Very quiet. For what its worth, also own a 2000 Acura 3.2TL, 87 Merkur XR4ti, 93 Taurus SHO and an 80 MGB.

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  This our second M-B - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By husky11 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  We traded in our 1999 C280 - Loved that car! This 2003 C240 4Matic is amazing. There are many improvements over the 99 M-B. It is very quiet and smooth on the freeway. Power is adequate for me. Sound system is good. Like the CD changer in the glove box. Heated seats are great. Love the ability to read functions on the dash area, is a big improvement with the much brighter readability. Love the rear window blind feature.

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  Worth It - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By edsoriano1 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Im in Southern California. The 2003 Mercedes E320 is a pleasure to drive. Its the best car Ive ever driven. It handles well on curvy mountain roads (Angeles Forest Hwy). It feels heavy yet agile and solid. You actually look forward to driving while enjoying the awesome Harmon Kardon sound system. I have 5,122 miles on it now and no malfunctions/problems whatsoever. Brakes are hydro-electronic so it takes some getting used to when slowing to a complete stop. Smooth V6. 28 MPG on hwy. 19 city. Steering communicates road feel and conditions with tight turn radius. Seats are comfortable. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Excellent Car - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By bhenry3 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Overall the car could not be better...

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  Solid and fun - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Brian - February 1 - 8:50 am

  So I just turned 40 and needed a new car. With a new daughter (first child) I needed four doors and safety, as well as a little fun for Daddy. My first thought and test drive was an Acura TL. Mighty fine car, but just a little more biased towards performance handling and the incumbent stiff ride than I or the western PA roads would tolerate. My wife wanted a MB, but my price range and minimum performance requirements didnt seem to meet on paper. Well, you can only learn so much about a car on paper. A trip to the dealer on December 31st definitely helped. With just a little space left here, let me say that buyers remorse will not be a problem here! Quiet, with a bank vault feel.