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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  170k trouble free milles on my 2015 4cyl - 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Ed - February 21 - 4:07 am

  170k trouble free milles on my 2015 4cyl

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  Best Car to Own! - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By Wendy - February 20 - 2:18 pm

  I loved this car. I was in a really bad rear end accident and these headsets deployed and saved my neck! I am so sorry that the car is totalled! I loved this car so much! Very reliable. Been owner since the purchase and had to give up at 93k miles. Sad:(

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  Mercedes S320 - 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Len Gaby - February 20 - 10:00 am

  First time I have driven a car to over 100,000 miles. Hard to imagine a better vehicle from any aspect.

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  2ND MERCEDES BENZ LEMON - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By JENJEN - February 20 - 10:00 am

  CAR IS FUN TO DRIVE, BUT YOU BETTER NOT DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN. IT WILL SHUT OFF WHEN ITS READY. THE DEALER DOESNT WORK TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST SAY WE ARE SORRY WE CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, THE C240 IS WORSE. THE SUNSHADES BREAK, THE WINDOW STOPS WORKING, THE KEYS ARE RECALLED AND THE DEALER NEVER LETS YOU KNOW. ALL IN ALL THE MB C240 AND CLK 320 ARE DEFINITELY A WORK OF CHRYSLER.

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  Some good some bad - 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By knight - February 19 - 10:23 am

  Purchased the vehicle in June and just took delivery the middle of October. First one for the dealer. It is one of the most stable driving vehicles I have ever driven. No wind noise, no sway or instability. Steering is on the loose side, but comfortable. Very quiet drive. You cant tell it is a diesel, except in the garage at idle. Seats are hard European like, with back seat not comfortable. The console control is very hard to learn, with everything (radio, sat. radio, navigation, audio,telephone) in one unit. A pleasure to drive. The best navigation unit I have owned. Center console is functional. Big fuel tank. Initial mileage did not meet expectations, but seems to be improving.

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  Comparing with Acura MDX - 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Royh - February 18 - 10:36 pm

  Have had ML350 for 1-1/2 weeks now. Very impressive, sylish, drives very well. Mercedes clearly pays attention to detail. I am replacing an Acura MDX which I liked very much. ML 350 has the pickup necessary for Dallas area freeways. It is very quiet inside. While the toys (voice recognition, touch screen, nav system) are not as sophisticated as the Acura, the comfort and safety features equal or exceed the MDX. The resolution of the rear camera is outstanding. The Acura has a few more storage areas which I miss, but the power liftgate on the Mercedes is a very owner friendly feature I am still getting used to the shifing lever. It is unlike anything Ive had before.

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  Outplays Bentley and BMW - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Proud S65 AMG owner - February 18 - 9:26 am

  The 2007 Mercedes Benz S65 AMG is the best car I ever owned. I have owned a Bentley Continental Flying Spur, a Bentley Arnage, Maserati Quadroppe, and have driven a BMW 760 Li. None can compare to the true luxury car, the S65. For a 604 horsepower V12, I get a great 19.8 miles to gallon highway as an average, and every so often, I get 22. The ride is comfortable. It has agressive AMG styling and performance. To all who look for a true luxury car under $200,000 that (technically) compares to a Maybach 57s or a R-R Phantom, forget Bentley( Let me remind you, thought, the Bentley is good). Go for the excellent 2007 S65 AMG V12 BiTurbo.

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  Love this vehicle - 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By GDH - February 18 - 6:20 am

  The 2014 model is a big improvement over the 2013 model. After experiencing the upgraded headlight system, I highly recommend spending extra for it. It is so well done that MB carried it forward several model years without making any changes. Over all I am pleased with the purchase. I think the solid quality feel of driving this model will confirm the choice for 100% of drivers.

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  Classy ride - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By scenic26 - February 18 - 2:25 am

  I purchased my 2010 glk350 with 36,000 miles on it. It was a dealer certified car and feld comfortable with my choice of vehicle, being I also own a 2005 ML350 since new with over 80,000 miles on it and love it as well. My GLK is a smaller version of the ML, and performs every bit as well as the larger vehicle. The ML is a bit more cushy and plush as far as the ride, but thats it in my opinion. My GLK is peppy, reliable, great in the snow and ice with great traction, and is fantastic on dry roads at any speed. I feel great driving this car and recommend it highly. You wont be dissappointed?

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  Why not to get the GL450/550 - 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By Lazy Labradors - February 17 - 10:06 pm

  Surprised at the fit and finish of an American assembled MB. Quite a departure from my 98 ML320 that my mechanic often cursed this is not a Mercedes! Why choose the GL450/550 when 1) gas version comes at a $2500 premium over the diesel (not the case usually with diesel vehicles) 2) gas version requires premium unleaded fuel (premium still costs more than diesel) 3) the diesel gets 18/24 gas gets 13/18 ( GL550 will fare worse); average economy for both cars at 12k miles/year and factoring price differences for premium vs. diesel youd save ~$600/yr in fuel savings on top of the $2500; Not noisy, not slow, no smoke or smell; 0-60 who cares?? its an SUV