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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  Best and nicest car I have ever owned. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ktmolloy - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I would like the standard radio to produce a better-quality sound. In addition, I would like the passenger outside mirror tilt-down to be standard. The a/c on high or auto could be quieter. For some reason the parking brake (which I appreciate on the floor like American cars) seems to have loosened. However, when I called the 800 number, the person with whom I spoke (who was very attentive, interested, and nice) told me it could be normal. Yet he advised me to take it to the Dealer, and he would send me a tow if I were worried about driving the car (much appreciated).

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  Best MB - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Tully - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I traded my CLK55 and my wifes SLK320 for the SL500 - its the best of both worlds. Great fun on the curves, acceptable power and lots of comfort. Its the best of the 5 MBs Ive owned.

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  4 cylinder luxury vehicle - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By MTCS - February 25 - 12:33 am

  The 2014 E250 Bluetec 4matic has a vibration at higher speeds that sometimes goes away once the car finds the right gear. I have 700 miles and the computer on the dash says I am getting 34.5mpg. The car gets over 40 mpg on the highway easily. I bought the2014 E250 Bluetec for the fuel efficiency, the longevity, and it is the only E class they had that still has the 3 point star on the hood. I have read all the horror stories about Mercedes Benz but at 700 miles I have not had a single problem. I think I will keep this one for a long time.

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  2001 c240 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By P Melvin - February 24 - 1:40 pm

  I bought the car for safety. I have been disappointred with the reliability. The list of problems is long.

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  M-B Gets it Right - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By carl kaseman - February 23 - 7:16 pm

  Drives like a big M-B sedan, which is not perfect (like our BMW M5) but nonetheless very competent and solidly comforting. Unlike most other SUVs that weve driven, the steering feels well connected to the road and very safe at high speeds on the highway. And, it looks right at home in the country club parking lot. The exterior design combines elegance and muscularity in a way that should become the new standard for luxury SUVs. The same can be said for its ergonomics, which are simply outstanding. The controls for its many gizmos and gadgets are readily accessible and fairly intuitive, allowing us to avoid spending our nights reading the owners manual.

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  Good buy - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By neildd - February 23 - 8:33 am

  Have had the car for 2 months now P2 Appearance package. No problems. Technology takes getting used to. Great drive, nice ride. Kids love the rear ent system. Luxurious interior. Definitely a vast improvement in feel and comfort from MDX to a Mercedes.

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  Mercedes Got It Right! - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Kevin - February 22 - 2:36 pm

  This auto is a dream to drive! But, even sitting still it looks the part. Ours has the standard rims which have been triple plated. That really sets off the Pewter color. We dont have all the bells and whistles Id like but that just means I get to buy another at some point in the future. My wife has severe back and leg pain and this is the ONLY vehicle in which she adjust the seat to the point she is comfortable and depend on the vehicle to be smooth enough to keep her that way. We love it!

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  A $40,000 Mistake - 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Anthony O - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Dont be taken like we were... Had a 2001 ML320 which was absolutely horendous: Window switch panel replaced three times, Tele_Aid (like OnStar) controller replaced, brakes need to be replaced every 12K mi (with ROTORS every 2nd pad swap), poor fuel economy, trim peices that unsuspectingly fall off, glove compartment door hinge that breaks within the first 1K miles. Thought the ML350 would have all the bugs worked out. WRONG! Mercedes needs to listen to their customers a little more, and stop acting as though their cars are the best on the road. They act as though every time something goes awry, its YOUR fault.

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  Unique Car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By kittys house - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Unique combination of excellent acceleration, great gas mileage, good handling, and mercedes name

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!! :) - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By michellenjoel - February 22 - 10:00 am

  this car is the best car in the world. I went to new york for the week end last year and a friend of mine had one and we road around in it all weekend and after that i had to get one!!!