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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  Black/Java CL 500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Dr GMF - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Replacing passenger door electric window motor has been frustrating. Dealer service cut the leather then they broke every speaker grill (3) at the next three appointments. They replaced damaged wood trim on door and seat function panel. Always delivered car with grease spots everywhere they touched it and really did not care. Finally the center console split in half and needed replacement. Strange vibrations from wheels in the mornings that the dealer blames on low battery charge? The paasenger door is still not right but no body including MB cares.

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  boat review - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By me review - December 11 - 2:00 am

  This car was perfect right off the lot. After 5 years I have had minimal maintenance performed and no major problems. It is the best car I have ever owned in 40 years.

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  Happy Owner - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By terry jarosky - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Most are black or silver. I have white with tan interior. Different color, white, stands out and makes appearance of car look bigger. 493 HP is fantastic for a big sedan!!!

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  Beautiful car/ Prefer BMW - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By BOB/3553 - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful, handsome, styling. Not as willing to play as previous BMW. Handling is a bit ponderous. Car is at home on the highway at around 100mph.I ordered the sports package,but car came with standard rubber. Dealer replaced tires with correct high performances Conti Contact Sport II

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  E500 is tops - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Honeyman - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Superb vehicle--fast, sure, secure, and stable

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  Big Change For The Better - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By L. Huncilman - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Our third SL (1991 and 1999) - almost every feature has been imprcved - most notable improvements are ride, noise.handling and styling - Very pleased with this car.

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  Superb - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Frank B - December 11 - 2:00 am

  This car has the best combination of ride and handling and is the least tiring car to drive that I have ever owned. In one word it is "Superb".

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  2008 ML320 CDI Diesel - way to go! - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Peter Shiakallis - December 10 - 5:40 am

  Bought the ML320 CDI after much consideration vs the BMW X5. It is better than advertised on MPG! I get 24- 28MPG around town and 30-32MPG on the hiway! Minimum 600 - 700 miles per tankfull! Plenty of power and torque that no gas engine can match! No black smoke and no noise! Americans should re-educate themselves about diesel! No hybrid can match the power and range - period. It is way ahead of any competitor in this range and I am 100% satisfied and as a previous Mercedes Benz owner - this the best I ever had!

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  Economy MB? - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By hws1634 - December 9 - 10:30 pm

  I bought this car for its looks, i.e. its untraditional new exterior design. Being formerly from Germany, Im very disappointed about the interior, I expected a better quality. Over 15 years ago I had a 190 2.3 which had a better quality MB Tex material inside, but it felt like leather, In this car it is like rough sandpaper. Interior space is tight for me (6-3 ft). Storage compartments are small, the worst is its tiny glove compartment, not even the car manual fits in it and no sunglass compartment. I had an Acura Legend, a TL, a BMW 530 and last an Infinity FX35, all had by far better interior features and materials. I wish I hadnt traded in my FX!

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  Tenth Edition - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By K.Garnes - December 9 - 9:16 pm

  I purchased the ML after trading in the Lincoln Navigator. I purchased it for my wife who loves the look and comfort of the vehicle. I like the sound feeling and how easy it drives. We recently took a short two hour trip and found it to be all we expected and more. We have previously owned 6 SUVs in the past but this by far is the best SUV we have ever owned. For that matter it just might be the best vehicle we have ever owned. I would purchase it again without any reservation.