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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  Holy Cow! My Starship is now an Uber ! - 2013 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By James - January 31 - 8:50 pm

  My Mercedes Benz ML-350 continues to be as trustworthy and fun to drive as it was when I wrote my original review. Since my last review, I decided to become an Uber driver in the metropolitan area just northwest of my hometown. Its an 81-mile commute one way, but Benz is so reliable and such a joy to drive that I hardly realize time and distance. Of course, most of my passengers are amazed by the quiet cabin, smooth ride, and handling of my pre-owned certified Mercedes-Benz. Many of the riders range from 20-somethings to middle-aged professionals. Most of these passengers leave my car with a smile and write positive comments about their experience on their Uber apps. Since September 2017, I have logged more 200 five-rated trips. Oh, the stories we could tell from our rides across Central Ohio plains. Needless to say, I wouldve have done it with my starship.

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  7-speed transmission problems - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Keith K. - January 29 - 6:20 am

  Ive owned 6 MBs in the last 28 years, theyve all been reliable cars. Last year, I purchased a CPO 2006 E350 with 37,000 mi and an extended warranty. Thank God I purchased the warranty! Within six months a major oil leak had to be repaired on the engine and an interior trim piece on the center console pealed off; not so bad. Two days ago, I was driving and the transmission bumped hard down shifting from 2nd to 1st gear. When I drove off, it would not shift out of 1st gear. Had it towed to my dealer. They called today and said there was dark foreign fluid in the transmission fluid, that an interior part had failed and the transmission would need to be rebuilt or replaced. Not amused!

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  the best sedan ever..c32 AMG - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By khar - January 29 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car i have ever driven..i have driven porches and M3s, but this car is special, it has something that these other cars do not...it gives u performance and power as well as luxury..this is the best..

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  jjeworley33 - 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By JAMES - January 28 - 8:56 pm

  A delight to drive. Power plus with plenty to spare. Smooth shifting auto transmission. Superb sound system with cd pack etc. A sports car with out the outlandish looks of other sports cars. Has more than enough excelleration at any speed. Holds the road with trenesous control at all speeds. Even the wife loves to drive it over her Town Car.

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  My First Benz - 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By BKUNC - January 28 - 7:33 pm

  After comparing similar entry-level luxury sedans, the car was competitive in every category. My buying decision came down to styling. Despite the Edmunds editors review, i found the styling lines and the aggressively designed and low front end as final decision maker.

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  one year into owning...never again - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By damnnn - January 27 - 3:11 pm

  Bought mine with miliage 90k, car was 7 years old. I enjoyed it for a few months, and then prolems started to appear. First, transmission started to give me headache, and a month later it completely broke, next: radiator, pheumatic pump, sensors. all together about 6,000 in repairs...a little costly for one year into ownership... Although beautfull and fun to drive but (only in a straight, about 150). At the conclusion, my lesson learned, for germans "only lease"!!!!

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  1996 S500 Coupe - 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By jjf - January 27 - 10:00 am

  - Smoke Silver with a Creme Beige interior, showroom condition - Starmarked and in perfect condition - New MXV4s and new Artic Alpines - Integrated Nokia phone system

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  Best Car Ever Owned - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By MBZ Lover - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is the best road car made. It is comfortable and reliable. No car problems ever.

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  my 1997 300 series mercedes benz sedan - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By frasier - January 27 - 10:00 am

  great power, very reliable, only 3 oil changes in 5 years, paint job superb,seats very comfortable with electric controls

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  C320 IS PERFECT - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ALAN0917 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  have had my C320 for about 7 months now. mechanically excellent. Very satisfied.